I've always been a proponent of the new Otto-Spider-Man. When I first heard about or suspected what was about to happen in the waning issues of Amazing Spider-Man, I got really excited. Finally, Marvel was ready to do something very bold and really very crazy. They killed off their beloved Peter Parker and replaced him with one of his core villains. Remarkable.
Twelve issues into the new run and how is it going? Quite well, actually. Otto is an interesting and fun to read character with some endearing traits. His budding romance with a little person and genius is a truly inspired choice. Their scenes are very cute. They make a great couple. Unfortunately, the new love interest does not make an appearance in this issue.
We are hip-deep in the story of the botched execution of the Spider-Slayer. He is trying to escape the Raft while Jameson and some civies are trying to stay out of harms way. Well, Jameson not so much, he wants to take matters into his own hands and kill the Spider-Slayer himself, no surprise there.
Otto, on the other hand, is thwarting the Spider-Slayer at almost every turn, mocking him as he does so. Smythe has a few tricks up his sleeve as well, repowering Vulture, Scorpion, and Boomerang with spider-bot-thingies. At some point, the power goes out and the Lizard escapes. In the end Spider-Man is presented with a Hobson's choice: save Jameson from Scorpion or save the innocents from the Vulture. Our ever clever Octavius chooses neither.....he will simply kill Smythe. Ohhh....goosebumps. Another great issue from one of the most consistently great reads in the Marvel Now! lineup.
