Issue #23 of The Superior Spider-Man is chock full of Spidey goodness as well as a host of Spidey characters including, MJ, Carlie, Aunt May, Venom, 2099 Spidey, Cardiac and Goblins galore! This issue kicks off some great story arcs and the best is still yet to come.

Official Description from MARVEL:
DARKEST HOURS Part 2 of 4: ‘Complications’ As Otto Octavius takes another big step in his life as Peter Parker… could a big part of Flash Thompson’s life be coming to a close? Will he be… VENOM NO MORE?! After half a century, one of the most cringe-worthy moments in ALL of Spidey-history! You do NOT want to miss this one!

Love Ock-Spidey or loathe him you certainly can’t deny writer Dan Slott, with co-credit to Christos Gage, have made him interesting. Since Otto finally banished the last remaining bits of Peter’s conciseness from his brain, Superior Spider-Man has been in high gear. The issue kicks off with Flash Thompson’s struggle to fend of Spider-Man from last issue and trying to remind Otto that he and Flash are friends while not losing control of Venom’s alien symbiote. Yeah, that’s a mouthful.

Meanwhile, Carlie is interrogated by Green Goblin about Spider-Man’s true identity, Anna cooks for Aunt May and Jay after May has nanosurgery from Cardiac, Flash needs to find a friend to confide in, MJ’s opening her new club and Captain Watanabe puts Peter at the top of the suspects list for the disappearance of Carlie. Not much to see here folks! Seriously, this book jam packed with multiple story lines which Slott and Gage maneuver with dexterity and ease. It also grows increasingly entertaining that Otto is losing his grip ever so slightly and gradually with each issue. For fans who still cry out for Peter’s return they should be especially happy with Otto’s slow crumble.

By the end of the issue we will get a new Superior and it spells even more trouble for Spider-Man. This book continues to entertain and the plot literally thickens each issue with Goblin, Venom, J. Johan, Carlie with 2099 Spidey lurking in the wings. There is also a very funny and cringe inducing moment of levity between Aunt May and Anna that adds to the humor that is the undertone of this book.

Humberto Ramos’ work is a perfect fit for the fluidity and pace of Superior Spider-Man and he brings his classic cartoony vibe that sells so much of the humor and high intensity action so densely packed in a single issue. His ability to be so expressive which characters and action just makes Superior so much fun and exciting.

If you dropped Spider-Man after issue ASM 700 or even into SSM’s run then you are missing out on a terrific read. I’m a huge fan of Peter and hated what Slott did but it also made for a fantastic story and in the end isn’t that what good comics should be all about? Superior Spider-Man has had it’s ups and down’s since it’s launch but definitely many more ups and is simply a great story no matter how you feel about Ock-Spidey. Do yourself a favor and pick it up, you won’t be disappointed.

4/5