Reading guide · 2012–14
Superior Spider-Man: reading order and where to read it
Everything you need to read Superior Spider-Man: the issues in order, what it is about without spoilers, why it matters, and the books in print today.
Read Amazing Spider-Man #698–700 (2012–13), then Superior Spider-Man #1–31 and Annuals #1–2 (2013–14). It is all in Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, or in one Superior Spider-Man Omnibus.
- Published
- 2012–14
- Length
- 36 issues
- By
- Dan Slott, with Ryan Stegman, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Humberto Ramos and others
- Good for new readers?
- Mostly. You need to know who Doctor Octopus is. Everything else is explained.
- Start with
- Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Reading order
In this order. The notes are spoiler-free.
| # | Read | Year | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazing Spider-Man #698–700 | 2012–13 | Dying Wish: a dying Doctor Octopus swaps minds with Peter Parker. |
| 2 | Superior Spider-Man #1–16 | 2013 | Otto sets out to be a better Spider-Man, and a better Peter Parker, than Peter ever was. |
| 3 | Superior Spider-Man #17–26 and Annuals #1–2 | 2013–14 | Spider-Man 2099 comes to the present, and Otto's methods start to cost him. |
| 4 | Superior Spider-Man #27–31 | 2014 | Goblin Nation: the Green Goblin makes his move. |
| 5 | Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1 | 2014 | What comes next. |
What it's about
Doctor Octopus is dying, and his last plan is his greatest: put his mind in Peter Parker's body. Now Otto Octavius is Spider-Man, and he means to do the job better, with science, an army of spider-bots and none of Peter's mercy. He takes over Peter's life as well as his costume and runs both his own way, and he is sure he is the superior Spider-Man.
Why it matters
Fans were furious when Dying Wish came out, and then Superior turned into one of the most praised Spider-Man runs of its decade. It asks what Spider-Man is if not Peter Parker, and it made Otto a hero, of a kind. It led into Spider-Verse, and Otto has returned to the role since, most recently in Superior Spider-Man Returns (2023–24). See Superior Spider-Man (Otto Octavius).
The big twist (spoilers)
Show the spoilers
In Superior Spider-Man #30–31 (2014), with the Green Goblin winning, Otto realizes Peter is the better Spider-Man and gives him his body back, sacrificing himself to do it.
Where to read it
Part 1
Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #698–700; Superior Spider-Man #1–16
Paperback, 512 pages (2018).
Part 2
Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects: Superior Spider-Man #17–31 and Annuals #1–2
Paperback, 440 pages (2018).
Everything in one book
Superior Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #698–700; Superior Spider-Man #1–31 and Annuals #1–2
Hardcover, 960 pages (2023).
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Who would win?
The characters at the heart of this story, rated one-on-one under this site's fight rules.
- Superior Spider-Man vs. Green GoblinSuperior Spider-Man (Otto Octavius)Superior Spider-Man wins 66%
- Superior Spider-Man vs. VultureSuperior Spider-Man (Otto Octavius)Superior Spider-Man wins 88%
- Spider-Man vs. Doctor OctopusOriginal Sinister SixSpider-Man 55%
What to read before and after
- One More Day and Brand New DayRead before · 2007–084 issues
- Spider-VerseRead next · 2014–15About 40 issues
Questions and answers
What order do I read Superior Spider-Man in?
Amazing Spider-Man #698–700 (Dying Wish), then Superior Spider-Man #1–31, with Annual #1 and #2 read alongside the later issues.
How many issues is Superior Spider-Man?
Thirty-one, plus two annuals, after the three-issue Dying Wish in Amazing Spider-Man #698–700.
Where can I read Superior Spider-Man?
In Superior Spider-Man: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, or the Superior Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1, which has all of it. It is also on Marvel Unlimited.
All Spider-Man reading guides · The essential Spider-Man comics, in order