I'm just about ready to give up on him, too. But I can't, because 1). I'm far too forgiving for my own good; 2). I owe most of my current position in life to the character; 3). he's still a fun character, "Superior" or not; and 4). he always bounces back. Sure, One More Day is still canon. On the other hand, we have Spider-Man/Human Torch, Spider-Island (which only I seem to like), The Fantastic Spider-Man-arc, Ends of the Earth, and (forgive me for this) Dying Wish.

Peter Parker is always going to get screwed over. That was established back in Amazing Fantasy #15. But he'll get over it, rise up, and save the day. Because that is who he is.

That's why we read his stories. It's not for the fact that he gets put through numerous tragedies and tribulations for the sake of tragedies and tribulations. It's for that moment when he picks up the pieces and defeats his opponent.

But that's not how I want The Superior Spider-Man to end. If OctoPeter is supposed to be the hero, he needs to go out like a hero.

KRX, don't mistake characterization & terrible editorial decisions.

I never said all of those decisions were wise. I'm just pointing out why people read Spider-Man's stories.

The last time I really enjoyed reading Spidey's adventures, it was Sensational Spider-man by Dezago & Wieringo, like... 15 years ago.
I blame Quesada for his constant efforts to ruin this great character, & Straczynski for being a pathetic writer...

Dan Slott's run is pretty fun (except for the whole "I-murdered-your-childhood-with-Peter-Parker" thing, but even that has its moments).

I get you man, I really get you.

The thing is that everybody at Marvel is so interested at keeping Spidey the same way he has been for years that basically every story will be retconned or ignored in a few years or even months, so I guess some writers have been exploiting that to make some crazy stuff.

Ock is no hero, at least not the way Peter was, he's more of a sociopathic orwellian vigilante (a fun one nontheless), so I can honestly expect him to fall like a villain.

Which is precisely why he needs to go out a hero. The only way that The Superior Spider-Man can be something more than another dark period in Spider-Man's history is if Peter doesn't defeat Otto and reclaim his life, but instead Otto makes the heroic sacrifice to give Peter his life back. If Otto Octavius can learn to be a hero, than I can say with the utmost confidence, 'While I didn't appreciate it at the time, The Superior Spider-Man was a great story."

I guess we'll have to agree on disagree, I think one of the great things about Superior is that it ultimately proves that no matter how many crazy inventions or ruthless techniques Ock uses Peter is still and undeniably the true and superior hero.

While Ock undeniably can be a hero given the right conitions and circusntances I don't think a heroic sacrifice to restore Peter would go along with his characterization... Unless it's to save the only person he truly cares about, but it would feel kind of cheap to me.

Then again, whether Ock leaves peacefully or Peter wins, what ultimately matters is the writing quality.

I will give you that.

However, while it would go against Otto's current characterization to restore Peter by sacrificing himself, I'm hoping that he'll develop into a hero. Goblin Nation seems like it'll push OctoPeter to the absolute limit. Combine that with all of the other decisions that he made throughout the series, plus the fact that solicitations are constantly saying that it will all be Otto's fault, I think Otto will be able to learn why he was not a superior Spider-Man.

If Otto just goes down like a villain, I won't mind. I just want him to learn what it means to be a hero, even if it's just a final lesson-type deal.

I'll admit I kind of forgot about Goblin Nation, so I defintely get you point better now, it could be an interesting turn.