Is Superior Spider-Man, Superior?

I have to imagine when Amazing Spider-Man #700 was released, no one expected what happened at the end, myself included. I associate the final pages of this historic issue with page 271 of Star Wars: Vector Prime. What happened was so unexpected; so terrifying that it had to be read again. I couldn't believe what was on the printed page even after reading it the second time. The final pages of ASM #700 had me experience the feeling of What The...? once again. Dan Slott had me riveted with excitement, followed by dread. The impossible was possible, Peter Parker was no more.

Issue seven hundred ended a series beginning back in 1963. This changed to Volume Two with a new #1 right after issue #441 somewhere in the late nineties (Nov. 98') and reverted back to its original numbering with its milestone five hundred (Dec. 03') while becoming volume one, once again. And if that's not confusing enough, Marvel might start over again to make sure the readers aren't thoroughly confused. Oh wait, they did, this time however, instead of starting over in a brand new direction with Amazing Spider-Man #1 (or #701), they started over with something superior.

But is Superior, superior? A CGC copy of Amazing Spider-Man seven hundred in a 9.8 condition has sold anywhere between $18 and $2550 (with a universal label), variants included. To be fair, the $18 price tag had a broken slab; if you do not include that particular copy then $22 was the next cheapest sale price. If I include the signature series versions, the price tags become loftier. I could only imagine if one eventually turns up with Steve Ditko's signature on it. And if the last issue is fetching these prices, did speculation cause the first issue of Dan Slott's re-visioning of Stan and Steve's 1963 creation to be just as successful?

An encapsulated copy of Superior Spider-Man issue #1 sold for $13 while the highest cost was a variant by Joe Quesada (sketch cover) at $450, (once again, a universal label). This is nowhere near the famous issue where Peter Parker dies (?), which was released only a few months earlier. Covers might not make a comic superior, although it could make it somewhat more desirable, look at the recently released Forever Evil #1 lenticular 3D cover. Although the cover might be the reason to pick the comic book off the shelf, I feel it's the writer that keeps you coming back.

Dan Slott has completed almost two years with an exceptional title, I speak of Superior Spider-man and not the amazing title that preceded it. Even after death threats and hate mail (aplenty) he chugged away to tell a story. It might not be Peter Parker's story, but it is Spider-Man's story, which once again begs me to ask, is Superior Spider-Man superior? With the recent annual released, written by Christos N. Gage, I had the chance to find out. Ever since the first New Mutants Annual was published I always believed the extra issue added to the overall story. This favorite tale of mine, “The Cosmic Cannonball Caper” was written by X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, the same writer of the first fifty four issues; two more in the sixties, one in the eighties, and the first three annuals. Superior Spider-Man could not say the same. 

Christos N. Gage started writing comics in 2004. Dan Slott started in the early 1990's as an intern at Marvel until his big break with his first monthly title, Ren and Stimpy. After his first successful title, of which number one was a scratch-N-Sniff polybagged issue (and yes I bought two), Dan cut and sharpened his teeth on many titles before landing the "big comic book". Although Christos has co-writing credits on a few Superior Spider-Man issues (11, 12, and 13), it was Dan's creativity that filled in the slot. (I am so sorry, I couldn't pass that up.)

With great power comes great responsibility was not only Ben Parker's greatest advice, it was also Peter's greatest crutch, which is what made him Amazing. Otto Octavius wasn't the first Superior Spider-Man. That credit goes to Kravenand J.M. DeMatteis. Otto isn't even what makes Spider-Man superior, as the unexciting annual that was recently released ascertains. 

I perused through the copy at Fat Jack's Comicrypt in Philadelphia and decided against its purchase. The money would be better off spent in other ways, but at least it helped me answer the question of "Is Superior Spider-Man, superior?" Yes it is, but only because of Dan Slott, much like the reason why Spider-Man was so amazing when it was written by Stan Lee.

Thanks for Reading