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Spider-Man: Miniseries
Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One
Peer behind the curtain to witness the birth of a mad genius! Featuring Doctor Octopus's first encounters with both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, the first appearance of Doc Ock's arms, and the true inspiration that led him to build his remarkable appendages - which may have come from a certain web-slinging wall-crawler! Collecting Spider-Man/Doctor Year One #1-5.
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Zeb Wells
711 books72 followersZeb Wells is an American comic book writer known for his work at Marvel Comics, as well as his work on the animated TV series Robot Chicken.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 23, 2019
Quite the dark, horror approach to Dr. Octopus's origins. Otto is obsessed with radiation as a kid after sitting through a "duck and cover" drill. (Schools did these during the Cold War in case of a nuclear threat. Yes, it would be pointless.) I really liked the visuals where Otto would imagine those he hated being blown away in a nuclear blast. Once he grows up, he's recruited by the military and the story shares a lot of similarities to Bruce Banner's origin. There's some nice, dark twists along the way and Spider-Man does eventually show up towards the end. Anyway, I dug it.
February 22, 2022
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
This tells the origin of Dr Octopus and we see his origins of being bullied and beat by his father until his genius identified by one of hs teacher who recruits him into a military project, something to do with radiation I think and then the growing ego, weird thing wiht his mother and a new lover in Ms Anders and well the tragic accident that bonded the arms he made to him well permanently nad the fallout of that, the first battle with spider-man, becomign a criminal and then going to some nuclear reactor to do what idk but the big battle with Spider-man and well his new obsession with him and a new twisted look into the psyche of the man called Otto!
Its amazingly done and its dark and grin and gritty and Zeb wells does a great job of giving us a look into who Otto really is and showing how dangerous he is and exploring his ego and psyche and hubris and that twisted love story with Ms Anders was something and both the battles with Spidey were awesome. Knowing that wells is gonna be taking over ASM now has me excited after reading that story and I really hope he uses this story to explore more of Doc Ock! Amazingly done and the art being dark was a good choice, but was not the most easiest to read but I digress.
This tells the origin of Dr Octopus and we see his origins of being bullied and beat by his father until his genius identified by one of hs teacher who recruits him into a military project, something to do with radiation I think and then the growing ego, weird thing wiht his mother and a new lover in Ms Anders and well the tragic accident that bonded the arms he made to him well permanently nad the fallout of that, the first battle with spider-man, becomign a criminal and then going to some nuclear reactor to do what idk but the big battle with Spider-man and well his new obsession with him and a new twisted look into the psyche of the man called Otto!
Its amazingly done and its dark and grin and gritty and Zeb wells does a great job of giving us a look into who Otto really is and showing how dangerous he is and exploring his ego and psyche and hubris and that twisted love story with Ms Anders was something and both the battles with Spidey were awesome. Knowing that wells is gonna be taking over ASM now has me excited after reading that story and I really hope he uses this story to explore more of Doc Ock! Amazingly done and the art being dark was a good choice, but was not the most easiest to read but I digress.
June 28, 2019
This was a really nice, dark, twisted, surprise.
This is all about Doctor Octopus life and how he started as a kid who was bullied to become the monster he becomes. The thing is, this is much more horror approach than I expected. He starts as a dude bullied, but so was Peter, but instead of focusing on a better future becomes bitter. With mother issues, failed experiments, and just becoming outright insane, this tale takes a few dark twist I didn't see coming.
I'll say this, I loved Peter here. While he was only in part of it, watching him fight Doc Oct the first time was horrifying. It was also great to see how brutal Doctor Octopus can be when he fully unleashed. The art was different but worked in a lot of ways. I thought the ending was dark and sad but worked. Overall, almost everything worked here.
I really dug this. A 4 out of 5.
This is all about Doctor Octopus life and how he started as a kid who was bullied to become the monster he becomes. The thing is, this is much more horror approach than I expected. He starts as a dude bullied, but so was Peter, but instead of focusing on a better future becomes bitter. With mother issues, failed experiments, and just becoming outright insane, this tale takes a few dark twist I didn't see coming.
I'll say this, I loved Peter here. While he was only in part of it, watching him fight Doc Oct the first time was horrifying. It was also great to see how brutal Doctor Octopus can be when he fully unleashed. The art was different but worked in a lot of ways. I thought the ending was dark and sad but worked. Overall, almost everything worked here.
I really dug this. A 4 out of 5.
February 25, 2018
Growing up during the Cold War under the threat of the atomic arms race Otto Octavius quickly develops a morbid fascination for radiations.
His genius finally recognized he joins Army labs where he intends to dig deeper into the secrets of the atoms.
You all visualize Doc's features, right? Stubby, bowl cut, inch thick glasses, the very definition of a nerd. So what do you think is childhood/teenager years were like? Finally Otto becomes some genius Norman Bates, mother issues included, a pure sociopath focused on morbid nuclear visions.
Okay, it's not very original, I'll concede that to you. But Wells and Andrews manage to write something actually not too shabby from very used material.
The book clearly has a Loeb/Sale vibe. Same kind of subject as Gray, Blue and Yellow, same kind of storytelling, (very) close visual style.
The narration is very clear, very cinematographic even though there's not much action. Andrews deftly uses some good visual tricks- notably Otto's glasses- to bring up an ominous presence to an otherwise insignificant lab rat with delusions of nuclear winters.
Doc's condescending speeches are a bit boring- though totally in line with the character- and I found his obsession with Spidey a bit weak but it didn't dim my appreciation much.
His genius finally recognized he joins Army labs where he intends to dig deeper into the secrets of the atoms.
You all visualize Doc's features, right? Stubby, bowl cut, inch thick glasses, the very definition of a nerd. So what do you think is childhood/teenager years were like? Finally Otto becomes some genius Norman Bates, mother issues included, a pure sociopath focused on morbid nuclear visions.
Okay, it's not very original, I'll concede that to you. But Wells and Andrews manage to write something actually not too shabby from very used material.
The book clearly has a Loeb/Sale vibe. Same kind of subject as Gray, Blue and Yellow, same kind of storytelling, (very) close visual style.
The narration is very clear, very cinematographic even though there's not much action. Andrews deftly uses some good visual tricks- notably Otto's glasses- to bring up an ominous presence to an otherwise insignificant lab rat with delusions of nuclear winters.
Doc's condescending speeches are a bit boring- though totally in line with the character- and I found his obsession with Spidey a bit weak but it didn't dim my appreciation much.
November 14, 2019
A mad scientist with a troubled past undergoes an accident, rendering him as a mad scientist with a troubled future.
The book explores the early life of Otto Octavious aka Dr. Octopus. The beginning of the book is written very well, dealing with the physical and emotional trauma that he had to face while growing up. Rest of the book has tons of dark and tragic moments. But there are some which haven't been executed to their full effect.
The art is average at best.Art in some panels look very jumbled and it is difficult to make things out.
Year One is an okayish book with high and low points, but deserves a read by long term Spider-Man fans.
2.5/5 stars
The book explores the early life of Otto Octavious aka Dr. Octopus. The beginning of the book is written very well, dealing with the physical and emotional trauma that he had to face while growing up. Rest of the book has tons of dark and tragic moments. But there are some which haven't been executed to their full effect.
The art is average at best.Art in some panels look very jumbled and it is difficult to make things out.
Year One is an okayish book with high and low points, but deserves a read by long term Spider-Man fans.
2.5/5 stars
September 6, 2021
Otto trying to flirt with a genius who literally goes to M.I.T: "So, do you know who Röntgen is?"
Joke aside, this was a fast-read disturbing twist into the mind of Doctor Octopus, surprisingly good!
Joke aside, this was a fast-read disturbing twist into the mind of Doctor Octopus, surprisingly good!
May 1, 2013
An interesting re-work of Dock Ock's origin. I now see where Dr. Octopus' superiority complex and treatment of women in Superior Spider-Man comes from. This adds more depth to the Spider-Ock character in the recent comics. It is interesting to see the similarities and differences between the upbringing of Peter and Otto.
June 21, 2023
Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One is a Doc Ock origin story and his and Spidey’s first encounter. And it’s not bad for all that - Zeb Wells did alright given the tone of story he was going for and the characters he’s working with.
I’ll explain: “Year One” is usually something you see on DC books - Batman, Robin, Green Arrow (the less said about Superman: Year One the better…). This one originally came out in 2005 (probably to capitalise on the popularity of Spider-Man 2 which had Doc Ock as the villain) and maybe the DC identification with the Year One label wasn’t as firmly as entrenched as it is today so Marvel decided to slap it on.
But I think why “Year One”-style stories work well with the likes of Batman and Green Arrow is because those characters are essentially just human. It means a grounded story and a serious tone is more easily achieved when your protagonists are like you and me because it’s instantly more relatable.
Now take Spidey and Doc Ock - they’re something else. Spidey isn’t like Batman or Green Arrow because he has superpowers. Doc Ock isn’t like Joker because he’s got sci-fi machinery fused to his spine. That makes it more challenging for Zeb Wells to achieve the same serious and grounded story that you expect to see in a Year One-style book - and he sort of does and sort of doesn’t.
Otto’s origin isn’t especially imaginative - he’s bullied at school by mean boys and at home by an overbearing father, while his mother is also very controlling - so it’s no surprise that he grows up to become a warped person who has trouble fitting in or relating to others. He gets fused with the robot arms in the usual cartoonishly mad scientist style (there’s no other way to do it), but I did like the addition of Otto being fascinated by Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man, which is a clever touch. There’s also the panel where Otto is drawn with people standing behind him, foreshadowing the multiple arms he’s soon to have - a cute nod.
I like that Otto isn’t one-dimensionally evil - Wells hints that he might’ve stood a chance at a loving relationship with Mary Anders, or a valuable friendship with Peter, but that his broken psyche and outsized ego stood in the way, making him a tragic figure. Besides the origin aspect, there isn’t a strong narrative here except something about Otto’s fascination with nuclear power and how it transfers over to Spidey conveniently, so it’s not the most memorable story.
I’m not a huge fan of Kaare Andrews’ work. Some of the figures are drawn like kaare-catures (couldn’t help it) which could be viewed as fitting as quite a few of the “characters” are very broad (the bullies, the love interest, etc.). He draws a decent Spidey though who’s made more striking by Jose Villarrubia’s great choice of red. It is odd though that in some scenes Otto is able to hide his robot arms perfectly within his coat and then in other scenes his arms are sooooo long he can clamber across the New York skyline on them, and then up close they’re thicker than thighs. It sticks out as a funny detail but I get it, it’s just one of those superhero comics contrivances.
It’s not up there with the likes of Green Arrow: Year One or Batman: The Man Who Laughs (about Batman and Joker’s first encounter), but Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One wasn’t a bad read and is about as good a serious origin story as you’re likely to get for this wacky character.
I’ll explain: “Year One” is usually something you see on DC books - Batman, Robin, Green Arrow (the less said about Superman: Year One the better…). This one originally came out in 2005 (probably to capitalise on the popularity of Spider-Man 2 which had Doc Ock as the villain) and maybe the DC identification with the Year One label wasn’t as firmly as entrenched as it is today so Marvel decided to slap it on.
But I think why “Year One”-style stories work well with the likes of Batman and Green Arrow is because those characters are essentially just human. It means a grounded story and a serious tone is more easily achieved when your protagonists are like you and me because it’s instantly more relatable.
Now take Spidey and Doc Ock - they’re something else. Spidey isn’t like Batman or Green Arrow because he has superpowers. Doc Ock isn’t like Joker because he’s got sci-fi machinery fused to his spine. That makes it more challenging for Zeb Wells to achieve the same serious and grounded story that you expect to see in a Year One-style book - and he sort of does and sort of doesn’t.
Otto’s origin isn’t especially imaginative - he’s bullied at school by mean boys and at home by an overbearing father, while his mother is also very controlling - so it’s no surprise that he grows up to become a warped person who has trouble fitting in or relating to others. He gets fused with the robot arms in the usual cartoonishly mad scientist style (there’s no other way to do it), but I did like the addition of Otto being fascinated by Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man, which is a clever touch. There’s also the panel where Otto is drawn with people standing behind him, foreshadowing the multiple arms he’s soon to have - a cute nod.
I like that Otto isn’t one-dimensionally evil - Wells hints that he might’ve stood a chance at a loving relationship with Mary Anders, or a valuable friendship with Peter, but that his broken psyche and outsized ego stood in the way, making him a tragic figure. Besides the origin aspect, there isn’t a strong narrative here except something about Otto’s fascination with nuclear power and how it transfers over to Spidey conveniently, so it’s not the most memorable story.
I’m not a huge fan of Kaare Andrews’ work. Some of the figures are drawn like kaare-catures (couldn’t help it) which could be viewed as fitting as quite a few of the “characters” are very broad (the bullies, the love interest, etc.). He draws a decent Spidey though who’s made more striking by Jose Villarrubia’s great choice of red. It is odd though that in some scenes Otto is able to hide his robot arms perfectly within his coat and then in other scenes his arms are sooooo long he can clamber across the New York skyline on them, and then up close they’re thicker than thighs. It sticks out as a funny detail but I get it, it’s just one of those superhero comics contrivances.
It’s not up there with the likes of Green Arrow: Year One or Batman: The Man Who Laughs (about Batman and Joker’s first encounter), but Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One wasn’t a bad read and is about as good a serious origin story as you’re likely to get for this wacky character.
November 14, 2025
Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One is such a refreshing take on a classic story. It’s essentially a retelling of Amazing Spider-Man #3, but it manages to stand on its own and feel entirely new at the same time. The story has a nice balance of tension, emotion, and action, and it really captures the essence of Spider-Man while giving Doc Ock the attention he deserves as a formidable, complex villain.
One of the first things that struck me was the artwork. It’s clean, expressive, and just downright beautiful. I love how simple the panel layouts are; they don’t feel cluttered or overstuffed, which allows each moment—whether a tense standoff or a quiet character beat—to really breathe. There’s a rhythm to the visuals that makes the story feel more cinematic than most retellings, and it’s easy to get lost in the panels.
I also can’t help but marvel at the writing. Zeb Wells is behind this, which is wild considering what he did in his Spider-Man run. If you know “that” Spider-Man run, it’s shocking to see him handle a story this grounded, focused, and emotionally resonant. Doctor Octopus isn’t just a villain to be punched. He has depth, ambition, and a tangible presence that makes him genuinely threatening.
Overall, Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One is a strong, beautifully executed retelling that I think both new readers and long-time fans can appreciate. It respects the source material while adding just enough flair and depth to make it memorable. The art, the character work, and the pacing all come together to make this a standout Spider-Man story.
One of the first things that struck me was the artwork. It’s clean, expressive, and just downright beautiful. I love how simple the panel layouts are; they don’t feel cluttered or overstuffed, which allows each moment—whether a tense standoff or a quiet character beat—to really breathe. There’s a rhythm to the visuals that makes the story feel more cinematic than most retellings, and it’s easy to get lost in the panels.
I also can’t help but marvel at the writing. Zeb Wells is behind this, which is wild considering what he did in his Spider-Man run. If you know “that” Spider-Man run, it’s shocking to see him handle a story this grounded, focused, and emotionally resonant. Doctor Octopus isn’t just a villain to be punched. He has depth, ambition, and a tangible presence that makes him genuinely threatening.
Overall, Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One is a strong, beautifully executed retelling that I think both new readers and long-time fans can appreciate. It respects the source material while adding just enough flair and depth to make it memorable. The art, the character work, and the pacing all come together to make this a standout Spider-Man story.
March 30, 2020
A pretty interesting take on the evolution of Doctor Octopus. I was first introduced to him through the Sam Raimi movie--a stalwart scientist who experienced a tragedy and then turned to obsession--so seeing him as someone who had always been emotionally disturbed and obsessed--and watching as he grew from unsettling to downright dangerous--was definitely a new twist for me. (I'm not sure, canonically, which one is more correct; I admittedly haven't read a TON of Spidey graphic novels, at least in comparison with what I've read of DC's characters.) Still, this was a pretty good story that had some nice chilling moments as the genius turned into a madman. My one issue was that I didn't quite understand how the Spider-tracers affected Spidey's spider-sense (say that three times fast, lol). I always thought they were just regular old tracers? I didn't know they were tied to that power. (Again, this could just be because I'm not as well-read with Spidey.) So that part was more than a little confusing, especially since it was supposed to be a big "a-ha!" moment for Doc Ock. Still, that aside, this is definitely worth reading if you're a fan of this particular foe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
An extraordinary miniseries that digs deep into the tragic origins of one of Spider-Man’s most iconic foes. Zeb Wells and Kaare Andrews portray Otto Octavius not as a cardboard villain, but as a brilliant, fragile, and tormented human being whose fall into darkness feels both inevitable and heartbreaking.
We witness how an exceptional mind, crushed under the weight of a domineering father, a smothering mother, merciless bullying, and profound isolation, slowly spirals into obsession and madness. The contrast with Peter Parker could not be sharper: two scientific prodigies, but with such different family environments and choices—one becoming a hero despite his struggles, the other consumed by bitterness and rage.
The writing is sharp and compassionate, the artwork atmospheric and unsettling, and the pacing perfectly builds toward the inevitable clash between Otto and Spider-Man. The final full-page image is simply unforgettable—a powerful closing note that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.
Unmissable for any Spider-Man fan, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys complex, human-centered storytelling in comics.
We witness how an exceptional mind, crushed under the weight of a domineering father, a smothering mother, merciless bullying, and profound isolation, slowly spirals into obsession and madness. The contrast with Peter Parker could not be sharper: two scientific prodigies, but with such different family environments and choices—one becoming a hero despite his struggles, the other consumed by bitterness and rage.
The writing is sharp and compassionate, the artwork atmospheric and unsettling, and the pacing perfectly builds toward the inevitable clash between Otto and Spider-Man. The final full-page image is simply unforgettable—a powerful closing note that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.
Unmissable for any Spider-Man fan, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys complex, human-centered storytelling in comics.
March 7, 2019
I didn't see this one coming. I figured it'd be a goofy throwback to the 60's Spidey.
Instead, it's a Shelley-esque dive into the mind and origins of one of pop culture's most identifiable villains. It's horrifying, gripping, and fully realized. I'm reminded of the recent 'Into the Spider-Verse' film with regards to how the ole webcrawler is handled: he's hardly the focus, and when he does show up here and there, the reader is left to fill in his backstory. Wells trusts that we know enough about Spider-Man to forget him and focus on a tragic Octavius, and that gambit pays off in spades.
I don't know if I'd recommend this to anyone under fifteen, though. Doc Ock's soliloquies could be used in the critical reading portion of the SAT. And then, it's just so depressing.
Instead, it's a Shelley-esque dive into the mind and origins of one of pop culture's most identifiable villains. It's horrifying, gripping, and fully realized. I'm reminded of the recent 'Into the Spider-Verse' film with regards to how the ole webcrawler is handled: he's hardly the focus, and when he does show up here and there, the reader is left to fill in his backstory. Wells trusts that we know enough about Spider-Man to forget him and focus on a tragic Octavius, and that gambit pays off in spades.
I don't know if I'd recommend this to anyone under fifteen, though. Doc Ock's soliloquies could be used in the critical reading portion of the SAT. And then, it's just so depressing.
March 25, 2023
I remember liking Doctor Octopus when I was younger, but could never put my finger on why. Now, all these years later, I read this origin story and it hit me how he has a lot of similar traits to my all time favorite comic character and villain, The Riddler. They're both brilliant but tortured souls. I feel like there's a lot to unpack there, but it will have to be for another day.
Not having much background on the character, I enjoyed this story and felt sympathy for Octavius throughout most of the book. The art is decent, nothing spectacular but not distractingly simple by any stretch. Spider-Man plays an important role but is more of a bit player. Octavius takes up pretty much every panel of this one. I believe I'll read more about this character, and I'm glad that I started here.
Not having much background on the character, I enjoyed this story and felt sympathy for Octavius throughout most of the book. The art is decent, nothing spectacular but not distractingly simple by any stretch. Spider-Man plays an important role but is more of a bit player. Octavius takes up pretty much every panel of this one. I believe I'll read more about this character, and I'm glad that I started here.
April 23, 2025
LOVE that this series insists on the Year One subtitle as though it's anywhere near as good as Miller and Mazzucchelli's groundbreaking Batman run!
LOVE that this miniseries builds on events previously detailed in Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #3 but does so in grim 'n' gritty 2000s fashion!
LOVE to follow Kaare Andrews' bizarre career at Marvel as he goes from this, to Spider-Man: Reign, to doing all those weird photo-realistic covers over at Ultimate Comics, to becoming Marvel's Jim Lee homage guy!
LOVE that Zeb Wells will go on to write fifty-plus issues of Spider-Man that everybody hates!
More like Dr. Oedipus. What a treat!!
LOVE that this miniseries builds on events previously detailed in Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #3 but does so in grim 'n' gritty 2000s fashion!
LOVE to follow Kaare Andrews' bizarre career at Marvel as he goes from this, to Spider-Man: Reign, to doing all those weird photo-realistic covers over at Ultimate Comics, to becoming Marvel's Jim Lee homage guy!
LOVE that Zeb Wells will go on to write fifty-plus issues of Spider-Man that everybody hates!
More like Dr. Oedipus. What a treat!!
September 17, 2018
Todo villano tiene su origen. Y el del Doctor Octopus me ha sorprendido para bien. No solo vemos como se hizo con su poder, su inteligencia, su obsesión y el inicio de su rivalidad con Spiderman. Vemos una historia trágica de un hombre puesto bajo presión y desdichado por no saber relacionarse con sus congéneres, incluido su familia. Ni siquiera cuando realmente está cerca. También es una historia de la obsesión del hombre por llegar a controlar todo en base de la ciencia, llevándolo como una religión.
September 21, 2019
I really liked this much more than I expected. I've always liked Doctor Octopus, and this expansion of his origin story really amped up some of the craziness. This definitely isn't the essentially good-hearted Doctor Octopus of the Sam Raimi movie; this Octavius is crazy to the bones in multiple ways. But the story is told poetically, with recurring themes and images (made better by Kaare Andrews' excellently unusual artwork), and I felt that the whole thing came together really well.
January 22, 2022
I really struggle with comics - my brain doesn't naturally want to absorb pictures so there's times I don't understand what's going on because I don't pause to look at what's happening visually - but I liked this little story. One of the harsher interpretations of the character, but still compelling.
July 9, 2022
Estuvo interesante.
Me gustó que hayamos podido conocer del pasado de Otto, y cuales fueron los eventos que lo condujeron a convertirse en lo que es. También me gustó poder ver a Spider-Man desde otro lugar, poder leer como lo ven desde afuera.
Me gustó que hayamos podido conocer del pasado de Otto, y cuales fueron los eventos que lo condujeron a convertirse en lo que es. También me gustó poder ver a Spider-Man desde otro lugar, poder leer como lo ven desde afuera.
October 6, 2018
A look at the tragic origins of Doctor Otto Octavius. It's a very good story.
March 9, 2019
Really had low expectations...but this really goes deep into who Doc Ock is.
Art was very stylistic but works well with this volume.
Art was very stylistic but works well with this volume.
Read
October 28, 2020El padre de Octopus, borracho y maltratador, su ambición que le desfigura y un Spider-Man alineado ante un fracaso. No está mal este derivativo Año Uno, pero no termina de cohesionar.
September 14, 2021
Unironically amazing? A very interesting story about the repression one has to deal with after years of bullying and a catastrophic environment at one's home. Why does it has so many good pages lmao
December 22, 2021
Nicely told origin of Doctor Octopus, cool seeing Spider-Man from a different perspective. Typically stylish and lovely art from Kaare Andrews
January 9, 2022
Sensitive portrayal of hero and villain
In recent years Most writers Focused on spider-man As a hero. It is good to read a comic which On as the characters legacy.
In recent years Most writers Focused on spider-man As a hero. It is good to read a comic which On as the characters legacy.
August 12, 2023
Good story !!
March 10, 2024
Interesting origin story on Doctor Octopus, nothing revolutionary but a decent takes on the story. I was fun to read!
June 15, 2016
Zeb Wells and Kaare Andrews are teamed up to unnecessarily rewrite the origin of Doctor Octopus in this cash grab of a series. The five-issue collection attempts to explore the backstory of Otto Octavius in order to maximize the profits from the second Spider-Man film. As such, Otto is initially portrayed as a bullied child who is beset on all sides by both peers and his father alike. His eventual scholarship to MIT is supposed to be his way out, offering him the opportunity to test his scientific genius in the burgeoning field of radiation. Instead, Otto begins to descend into a growing madness; he whispers to his research, he fires his attractive lab assistant due to sexual tension, and he becomes obsessed with the arrival of enhanced beings like Spider-Man. When a chemical reaction fries his sensitive arm apparatus to his spine, the new Doctor Octopus seeks an opportunity to finally show the world his brilliance. Zeb Wells hits every required trope to make Otto a pitiable figure throughout this volume, thus cheapening the character via his interpretations. Violent father, repressive mother, social awkwardness, fantasies of violence - every check box on the list is ticked off. The uneven art style from Kaare Andrews does not help matters, as switching from detailed cartoon one minute to gritty chiaroscuro the next hinders the overall read. Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One should have remained Year None.
April 1, 2008
This book was a calculated cross-promotion with the Spider-Man 2 movie, yet it really works as an examination of just why Doctor Octopus becomes a villain. Like any "Year One" comic, it's an origin story. The real strength of this book is Kaare Andrews' art. He uses Doc Ock's glasses as a symbol for intellect, cowardice, and inhumanity. His high-contrast style is much more evocative of Frank Miller than the standard Spidey style of Steve Ditko. It sort of looks like a non-campy Dark Knight Returns
Doctor Octopus is a really tricky villain because it's hard to figure out exactly why he turned to a life of crime after his accident. Writer Zeb Wells tries to rationalize it as a combination of broad misanthropy due to childhood beatings and radiation poisoning. It mostly works. His Doc Ock is driven and creepy, especially after his accident when he constantly repeats "Now, I would have my glasses" (what weird grammar...).
Doctor Octopus is a really tricky villain because it's hard to figure out exactly why he turned to a life of crime after his accident. Writer Zeb Wells tries to rationalize it as a combination of broad misanthropy due to childhood beatings and radiation poisoning. It mostly works. His Doc Ock is driven and creepy, especially after his accident when he constantly repeats "Now, I would have my glasses" (what weird grammar...).
August 12, 2009
Around the time Spider-Man 2 was released in theaters, Marvel handed Wells and Andrews the reins of detailing the early life of Otto Octavius and his first encounters with our favorite neighborhood wall-crawler. Taking an artistic cue from Peter Snjebjerg and Tim Sale, Andrews deftly handles the artistic duties in bringing to visual life the childhood pain of Otto, and how his early abuse and humiliation twisted and corrupted his mind; setting him up to become one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes.
Of course, we learn to be a little empathetic towards Otto, as there is plenty of blame to go around. That is, Wells shows us that both evil and goodness lie within us all. And that those who perform the former are often mistaken into believing they are doing the latter. (Ain’t that the truth?) Although relatively new as a writer-artist team, Wells and Andrews are worth watching in the years to come.
Of course, we learn to be a little empathetic towards Otto, as there is plenty of blame to go around. That is, Wells shows us that both evil and goodness lie within us all. And that those who perform the former are often mistaken into believing they are doing the latter. (Ain’t that the truth?) Although relatively new as a writer-artist team, Wells and Andrews are worth watching in the years to come.
August 1, 2016
This is essentially a Doctor Octopus origin story; it is not a Spider-Man story. It gives us insight into why Otto Octavius is a mad scientist. I didn't particularly care for how Spider-Man was drawn, but Erik Larsen is my favorite Spidey artist. Overall, I found it a quick read that ties in with Spider-Man 2 neatly, but not necessarily something worth owning myself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews