Highlights
- Insomniac could explore the Superior Spider-Man storyline in its ongoing saga, even if making the body-swapping setup believable would be a challenge.
- Adapting Superior Spider-Man within Insomniac’s universe may be redundant if it is Peter Parker who is taken over, as players already fought a corrupt Peter in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
- Instead of Peter Parker becoming Superior Spider-Man, Insomniac could have Doc Ock take over Harry Osborn’s body for a more emotionally intense and interesting storytelling opportunity.
Though the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise has aimed to tell its own stories, the influence of all kinds of Spidey media can be felt throughout Insomniac’s series, and that includes comics. While the webslinger has had a rough time in recent comic book releases, with plenty of controversy around characters like Paul, there have been many great stories told about the friendly neighborhood hero over the years. One of those tales is Superior Spider-Man, a run with a strange premise that resulted in one of the very best takes on Doc Ock. If it wants to, Insomniac putting its own spin on Superior Spider-Man could make for a memorable “Final Chapter” in its ongoing saga.
The biggest issue with retelling Superior Spider-Man will be making its setup believable enough for audiences, as the comics see Doctor Octopus taking over Peter Parker’s body when his own starts to fail him. With Insomniac’s version of Otto losing control of his motor functions, he could have the necessary motivation to want a new body, though it is hard to imagine a Freaky Friday scenario being believable in Insomniac’s universe. While body swapping may be a step too far even in a world where aliens and the Avengers exist, if Insomniac does want to attempt it, it should have Otto take control of Harry Osborn instead of Peter Parker in the next Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 Could End Up Looking Like an Upcoming Comic Run
With how events are put in place, Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 could run parallel in its story to what an upcoming portrayal of Peter will look like.
Why Harry Would Be a Better Host For Doc Ock Than Peter
Having an Evil Peter In Two Games Would Be Redundant
One big issue with adapting Superior Spider-Man within Insomniac’s universe is that the developer only just tackled the Symbiote in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Miles saving Peter from himself made for great storytelling, but the young hero needing to fight a corrupt version of his mentor for the second game in a row would surely lead to a disappointing narrative that feels overly familiar to fans. Plus, with Insomniac introducing Silk and stating that Miles will be the main Spidey in the games going forward, players’ time with Peter may be limited. If Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 is his last appearance, Peter himself should be present throughout the game, not a villain inside his body.
A Fight Against an Otto-Controlled Harry Would Be Incredibly Emotional
However, though Peter Parker becoming Superior Spider-Man would be a poor idea, that does not mean that the Superior story in general has to be avoided. Instead, Doc Ock could take full advantage of the Harry Osborn situation. Currently, Harry is comatose, with Norman Osborn demanding the G-Serum to hopefully heal his son. If Otto Octavius escapes prison, he could take over the body of Harry Osborn after Harry has been given the G-Serum, giving him superpowers and allowing him to either ruin Peter’s life or seek redemption by trying to be a better Spider-Man like he did in the comics.
Otto Octavius overtaking Harry Osborn would not only be a way to torment Peter Parker, but also Norman Osborn, who he hates more than anyone. Otto could threaten Harry’s safety if Norman opposes him, allowing him to manipulate his former friend.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 could see Peter Parker realizing that something is wrong with Harry Osborn, spotting a personality shift in his former friend after Otto has taken over his mind. The story could build to an intense finale where Peter essentially needs to fight Harry and Doc Ock at the same time, combining the two final boss battles from the previous games into one emotional encounter. Insomniac has not been afraid to put its Peter through the ringer, so forcing him to beat down his mentor, who is in the body of his best friend, would be par for the course. Regardless of whether Superior Spider-Man is redeemed at the end of the story, or killed off during his boss fight, making him Harry Osborn instead of Peter Parker could lead to interesting storytelling. Miles fighting Peter proved a Spider-Man vs. Spider-Man fight can deliver, and a Superior version of Harry could tie several plot threats together.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man and its Miles Morales spin-off, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a PS5 console exclusive. Insomniac’s open-world game features Peter Parker and Miles Morales as dual protagonists, with the two heroes going up against the likes of Kraven, Venom, and Lizard.
