So, I finally read 698-700 (and Avengers 15.1) all in one go, since I wanted to read the story as a single piece.

I was optimistic about it before... I'm not quite as optimistic now, but still optimistic. We needed... maybe a page more of Otto dealing with Peter's memories. We didn't really get to see -why- they made him change his mind about things. But I assume we'll get more of that as time goes on.

In the meantime... I'm waiting for the inevitable moment where Cap calls an Avengers meeting, Otto-Man shows up, and realizes everyone is looking warily at him.

"... Hrm. I'd wager you all know, then. Mind if I ask how?"

*Cap hols up a golden Octobot that speaks* "Hiya, Doc! Miss me?"

"Parker. Of course. Well, it's been fun. All I ask is that you put me in a new body instead of just overwriting me completely. Given how many times I've helped you save the world these last few months, I'd hope I deserve that, at least."

My guess is that when this is all over, Spider-man's brain will have repaired itself to the point where Parker is Parker again. It'll be something like "We never really switched brains, the gold Octobot just hypnotized me so that I would think I was Ock. Due to being around my family and friends, the effect didn't last." Also, classic Doc Ock will still be alive... somehow...

I wouldn't mind an explanation like that either. I never really look at these deaths (or any plot with serious consequences) as lasting things. They're just weird events where we get to experiment with something different for a while before some boring writer brings things back to the way they've been for 50+ years (Bucky Cap, Dick Batman, split Bruce Banner, New Avengers, Dark Reign, ect.)

Let me start off as saying: I was very sad to see Peter go. I don't worry about it though at all.

This has about as much significance in comic books as a mosquito bite does on my arm.

Zero.

I point to Max Landis and the hilarious Death and Return of Superman video on youtube to remind us what will happen from here.

-PC

Yeah, I'd make a joke about Peter coming back as four different heroes... but we did that already with the 'Slingers.

Kind of a misleading description of the situation, seeing as if J. Jonah Jameson and the Marvel U knew the truth the way that the fans do, they'd probably consider the current "Spider-Man" a menace, too.

I don't think the fans consider 'Spider-Man' a menace so much as they consider Doc Ock impersonating Spider-Man a menace.

I think to make that claim, you'd have to overlook a lot of the Spider-Man work done in the interval between the period listed and Brand New Day (JMS's Amazing run, Millar's MK Spider-Man, Peter David's FNSM, et. al.).

I'm pretty sure you just said what Slott was saying.

"To me, the fun of this is, for years, thanks to J. Jonah Jameson, everyone thought Spider-Man was a menace and the readers knew the whole story. The readers knew this was a good guy, this was a hero who's not getting any breaks. They were rooting for him.

Now we've flipped that. It's the Marvel Universe that doesn't have the whole story, and they think he's a hero. And it's the readers who are going, "No! No! No! No! He's a menace! I don't like him!" The readers have become J. Jonah Jameson.

To me, that's the greatest challenge of all. This character of Superior Spider-Man is the most "meta" Spider-Man you can get.

This Spider-Man is going to have to prove to the readers that he's a hero. That's an exciting journey."

I'd be more interested in this if Peter hasn't been killed in the process.
As it stands, I have no interest because of the crappy way Peter was sent off.

I don't really care about Peter Parker or Doc Oc, so this whole thing is really only interesting to me as a fan of the industry.

Except Peter isn't dead...

Do I seriously need to clarify that much?
Peter's mind, the thing that made Peter, Peter is dead (for now at least).
Yeah, that body is alive, but it's not Peter in control.
Peter's "self" died in Ocks body.

Oh man, maybe Doc Oc is going to have sex with Mary Jane who will give birth to Peter Parker who will age rapidly and battle Superior Spider-Man for the cowl...

I don't believe that happened either.

I'm not trying to nit-pick, I'm saying I don't think Peter died at all. I think he's alive somehow.

One element a friend brought up that I want to see: Madame Web. What's going to happen with Julia now?

And again, I want to see if Carlie and MJ have a conversation...

If we go back to Madame Web's "Fortunetelling"...she always said that Peter was going to have to take a life.

Well.....700. He didn't take one, did he? Guess what? That means that he still has to take one.

If we are prescribing to the fact that Madame Web knows her future-####.

In regards to MJ and Carlie........threesome with Parktavius? You know Doc Ock wants to get his freak on. (this notion only brought to the realms because I know Jackstar7 would just shake his head!)

That would be the biggest selling book EVER! Bigger than the Death of Superman at the zeitgeist of the 90's. Not even featuring Wolverine or Ghost Rider. Bendis isn't writing it. Or Loeb (if you believe what the general population is buying, Lord knows why)

hated it more than a stepchild from a second marriage. the thing that really makes me mad is that Dan Slott knew people weren't gonna like it, and he still did it! what the hell? I mean I know Peter Parker will be back. I just hope they do it was style and not with Dan Slott.