According to author Dan Slott, some people at Marvel Comics wanted to end his “SuperiorSpider-Man” story arc after just a few issues, butthe commercial and critical success of the story, which featured Doctor Octopus taking over Peter Parker’s body, ultimately forced the publisher to let Slott’s vision run its course.
As revealed by awrite-up on ComicBookClubLive.com, Slott spoke extensively about “Superior Spider-Man” during his appearance at WonderCon 2025, including commenting on the fact that the plot was almost more controversial within Marvel than without.
“I had a lot of guys who did not want Doc Ock as Spider-Man,” Slott explained to the crowd in attendance.
“Superior Spider-Man” Author Dan Slott Says Marvel Wanted To End The Arc After Six Issues
Success Saved The Story, Which Has Become A Fan-Favorite
It goes without saying that the “Superior Spider-Man"era ofSpider-Manloreranks high among the boldest creative swings Marvel has ever taken. The storylinefeatured Doc Ock, after finding out he’s dying, managing to successfully swap his consciousness into Peter Parker’s body, seemingly killing off the hero and leaving an arch-villain in his place.
“Superior Spider-Man” proved to be a huge hit, with the issues ofAmazing Spider-Mancontaining the ongoing story selling out, and the plot generating a lot of positive buzz.
However, rather than using his new powers as Spidey for evil, the remarkable twist was that Ock set out to prove he could be a “superior” hero. According to Dan Slott, though,once the storyline was underway, some people at Marvel got cold feet about it, and began to suggest that the arc would wrap up in six, or perhaps twelve issues.
Instead, it wound up lasting thirty. What changed? “Superior Spider-Man” proved to be a huge hit, with the issues ofAmazing Spider-Mancontaining the ongoing story selling out, and the plot generating a lot of positive buzz. In the end, the gamble paid off spectacularly, proving Slott right, and many Marvel Comics insiders wrong.
“Superior Spider-Man” Lasted Over Thirty Issues, Proving Dan Slott’s Patient Approach Was Right
The Author Reflected On His Pivotal Arc At WonderCon 2025
The crux of the opposition to “Superior Spider-Man” boils down to discomfort with the idea of"permanently” killing off Peter Parker.Of course, while turning Doc Ock into Spider-Man was never actually meant to be “forever,” even making it indefinite left some at Marvel weary, and eager to restore the character to his normal status quo.
The success of the arc, though, allowed Dan Slott the creative freedom to see it to fruition;what began in the lead up toAmazing Spider-Man#700 lasted until issue #733, remarkable longevity for such a major upheaval in Marvel lore.Now, it is regarded as a modernSpider-Manclassic, but it had to be given the chance to become that.
