Superior Spider-Man Team-Up Special Review
The Arms of the Octopus Part 3 of 3
Marvel Comics
Writer: Mike Costa
Artist: Michael Dialynas
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Alexander Lozano
Review by: Tom Barnett
The final chapter in this three part crossover proved to be a fun and satisfying read. This series reads like a throw back to the later days of the bronze age of comics. Writer Mike Costa delivers some fun plot points and snappy dialogue. I love the humor he brought to this book. In particular, there is a scene that everyone in comic book fandom has always questioned, Hulk’s pants! Buy it, read it, see it! It is a scene not to be missed. I think what really makes this feel like a throw back story is the light hearted nature of the book and it being such a self contained story. Yes, you should read all three parts, but you don’t need to read six other titles to get the full story.
As a bit of a story side note, Costa introduced a character in the first issue and she has become a bit of a love interest for the young Hank McCoy. I’m hoping that we haven’t seen the last of the character as Costa gave her a super mathematical mind and it would be a shame to leave a smart female lead on the sidelines in the Marvel universe.
Artist Michael Dialynas, brings an upbeat and slightly cartoon style to the story. Two pages that I really loved where a full page panel of the hulk dropping a containment chamber on the baddie and scene with Superior Spider-Man wearing a set of Dr. Octopus arms while falling from a helicopter explosion. Dialynas has a great knack for quirky and expressive faces, which add to Costa’s humor in the story.
And I want to give a shout out to colorist Rachelle Rosenberg too. I thought her work in this issue was great. I really enjoyed that fact that as the issue went on so did the day and by issues end the sun had set. Nice touch.
Get ensnared by the Arms of the Octopus, it’s worth the read. Knowing Marvel, it will probably be in trade before Thanksgiving, so if you didn’t buy the issues separately, then pick up the trade. It’s a fun old school read.
Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Tom is a contributing writer for Drunk On Comics. You can follow him on Twitter at @tphoto10.