The Superior Spider-Man Returns #1 proves that Doctor Octopus is a scientific hack, a remorseless villain, and Marvel's undisputed most toxic "hero."

Warning: contains spoilers for The Superior Spider-Man Returns #1A shiver just went through Peter Parker's spine as The Superior Spider-Man Returns, with the infamous Doctor Octopus proving that even when he was acting as Spider-Man, he was always Marvel's most toxic "hero." Although Doc Ock pretended to be an honorable hero while inhabiting Peter's web-slinging body, his violent tactics always left much to be desired, and he could never rise above his condescension and superiority complex.

The original Superior Spider-Man series saw Octavius taking over Parker's body as Spider-Man lay dying, inspired to take over as a "superior" Spider-Man to prove that he could be a better hero, and person than Peter ever was.

Now, in the 10th anniversary The Superior Spider-Man Returns one-shot - from writers Dan Slott and Christos Gage and a handful of artists like Ryan Stegman and Humberto Ramos - Otto's forgotten time as Superior Spider-Man is revisited, emphasizing his merciless and unheroic actions, as well as proving that he is the ultimate scientific hack.

Doctor Octopus Is Willing To Pass Off Stolen Ideas As His Own

The Superior Spider-Man #1 introduces a new employee for the Superior Spider-Man, the brilliant scientist and PhD candidate Estrella Lopez, who begins working for "Spider-Man" when he is still employed by Horizon Labs in the past. Otto Octavius is the definition of a toxic male in a workplace, treating all of his staff like cockroaches without brains, and forcing them to treat him like the iconic genius he views himself as. Working to finally create the doomed fusion reactor that caused his original tentacles to merge into his spine, Otto is desperate to accomplish his life's goal and destroys Estrella's life to achieve his aims.

Even when acting as a hero, Otto Octavius is unable to stop himself from villainy, stealing millions of dollars worth of stolen tritium from Slyde, as well as attacking A.I.M. solely to steal the technology he needs from them. Beyond this, the Superior Spider-Man is also willing to pass off stolen ideas as his own. It is Estrella Lopez who thinks of an alternative solution to help stabilize Otto's reactor, and Doc Ock immediately steals her idea and pretends as though he thought of it himself, a sexist act that many women experience in the workplace. Octavius goes so far as to book a celebratory dinner with his partner Anna Maria Marconi, claiming credit for Estrella's success.

Superior Spider-Man's Vileness Will Come Back To Haunt Him

To make matters worse, Lopez turns the reactor back on, but something goes wrong, turning her into the super-powerful living energy being Supernova. Instead of helping her, like a hero should, Otto traps her in his containment unit, comfortable and happy locking her in a horrific decahedron prison for potentially 3.2 billion years. In the present, Doc Ock accidentally lets Supernova out of the decahedron, and it is clear that she has been conscious the entirety of her imprisonment, resulting in her losing her sanity. Now, Supernova is convinced she must kill Spider-Man to avenge herself.

However, like most of Doctor Octopus' schemes, his secret Supernova sin will almost assuredly come back to haunt him. If the Superior Spider-Man really is returning, then Lopez will most likely turn her attention towards him, potentially after realizing that Peter Parker is not the webslinger she is gunning for. Doctor Octopus has always been an unscrupulous and conniving villain, but his time as the Superior Spider-Man proves that not only is he a pathetic scientific hack, but he is undoubtedly Marvel's most toxic "hero."

The Superior Spider-Man Returns #1 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.