SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN Vol. 4: NECESSARY EVIL
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman, Giuseppe Camuncoli
$17.99, Marvel Comics, 112 pgs.
ISBN 978-0785184737
Peter Parker is dead, but Spider-Man lives on! Inhabiting Peter's body is the mind of Dr. Otto Octavius, better known as Dr. Octopus, one of Spider-Man's greatest foes. And yet, Octavius has embraced the role of Spider-Man, determined to prove that he can be a greater Spider-Man than Peter ever was... a superior Spider-Man. Octavius reinvents the Spider-Man persona with ruthless efficiency and scientific brilliance, resulting in one of Marvel's most consistently entertaining—and, given many comics fans' resistance to changes in their beloved characters, controversial—ongoing series.
In this fourth volume, Octavius grapples with trying to earn a doctorate in Peter Parker's name (something Peter never did, much to Octavius's disgust), juggling his school commitments with his start-up business and his personal life. Enter the Spider-Man of the year 2099, here from the future to correct a ripple in time, even as the mysterious Goblin King continues to marshal his forces for the inevitable confrontation with Spider-Man. In short, there is a great deal going on in this book, but writer Dan Slott juggles all these disparate plot threads with ease. It's not the strongest volume in the series, but it's breezy, funny, and fun, and the tension building up to the series' conclusion is palpable.
TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS: Volumes 5 and 6 of this series—the finale—are scheduled for release in April and July, respectively. With a new Spider-Man film set for release this summer, now is the time to ensure your Spider-Man collection is up-to-date! In addition to the four existing volumes of Superior Spider-Man, you might want to consider these volumes, which lead up to the series' current status quo. In order, from first to last...
Amazing Spider Man: Big Time: Ultimate Collection ISBN 978-0785162179
Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: Complete Collection Vol. 2 (Marvel changed the title convention from "Ultimate" to "Complete," confusing things as usual...typical Marvel shenanigans!) ISBN 978-0785185406
Amazing Spider-Man: Trouble on the Horizon (This picks up where the 2nd "Big Time" book leaves off.) ISBN 978-0785160045
Amazing Spider-Man: Ends of the Earth ISBN 978-0785160069
Amazing Spider-Man: Lizard - No Turning Back ISBN 978-0785160083
Amazing Spider-Man: Danger Zone ISBN 978-0785160106
Amazing Spider-Man: Dying Wish ISBN 978-0785165248
...and that leads right into Superior Spider-Man!
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy ISBN 978-0785167044
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: A Troubled Mind ISBN 978-0785167051
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 3: No Escape ISBN 978-0785184720
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 5: The Superior Venom ISBN 978-0785187967 (scheduled for release later this month, April 2014)
Now, if your patrons want to read some vintage Spider-Man tales from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, here are some classics...
Amazing Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys ISBN 978-0785167273
Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt ISBN 978-0785134503
Spider-Man: Birth of Venom ISBN 978-0785124986
Spider-Man: Origin of the Hobgoblin ISBN 978-0785158547
Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff ISBN 978-0785157212
Spider-Man: Revenge of the Sinister Six ISBN 978-0785160564
If your patrons are interested in the original 1960s Spider-Man comics, those vintage stories are available in black-and-white paperbacks called "Marvel Essentials" and in color editions called "Marvel Masterworks." The Essentials are cheaper and easier to find, but they're printed on newsprint, which doesn't weather circulation all that well; the Masterworks are better suited to circulation, but they go out of print from time to time, making them harder to obtain, and they don't collect as many issues as the Essential volumes. Still, the production values on the Masterworks editions (paper quality, color, etc.) make them a smarter investment of your collection development budget overall, so I've chosen to list them here.
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1 ISBN 978-0785136934
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 2 ISBN 978-0785136941
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 3 ISBN 978-0785136965
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 4 ISBN 978-0785142805
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 5 ISBN 978-0785145653
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 6 ISBN 978-0785150541
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 7 ISBN 978-0785159353
Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 8 ISBN 978-0785188070 (scheduled for release in August 2014)
In addition to the Spider-Man with which the average reader is familiar, Marvel publishes what they call their "Ultimate Comics" line, which re-imagines marquee Marvel characters in a separate, standalone continuity. The Ultimate line first launched back in 2000, so it's acquired plenty of continuity of its own since then. That said, the Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man title underwent a re-launch a few years back, debuting a new Spider-Man, teenager Miles Morales, and creating a perfect jumping-on point for new readers (the Miles Morales Spider-Man is also a face of color in an otherwise too-often monochromatic superhero landscape).
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 1 ISBN 978-0785157137
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 2 ISBN 978-0785157151
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 3 ISBN 978-0785161769
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 4 ISBN 978-0785165033
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 5 ISBN 978-0785168027
Spider-Men (This is a crossover starring both the Peter Parker Spider-Man and the Miles Morales Spider-Man!) ISBN 978-0785165330
READERS' ADVISORY NOTES: Spider-Man has been one of Marvel's most popular characters since the 1960s, so there are many, many Spidey stories available for just about any reader who enjoys superhero comics. Spidey's continuity can be a challenge, though, so use the lists I've provided here to ensure your readers are able to enjoy the various series in order.
CONTENT ADVISORY: Superhero action/violence
Review©2014, C.
Michael Hall.
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