Does ASM 698 Restore Dr Octopus As Spider-Man's Greatest Enemy? SPOILERS

[Duke Togo]

I think Doc Ock is a better villain, but what he has done to Peter in the long run doesn't even compare to what Norman has done.

Putting Kinglsey on the list, was that meant to be a joke?

[Scott Taylor]

Personally I think not. Ock has always been a big huge threat, but he has nowhere near the kind of crazy anarchist tendencies of a Norman Osborn. Ock is more like Doctor Doom, more interested in his own agenda and anyone who happens to get in the way pays the price. Norman is focused specifically on Peter (when he knew) and Spider-Man. Norman is like the Joker, Ock is like Dr. Freeze.

Part of this, I admit, is the influence USM has had on me, where Norman is the ultimate Peter/Spidey-Obsessed villain and Ock is a mad scientist villain with no personal axe to grind.

In ASM #698, its an extremely nasty thing to have done to Peter, but its mostly Ock being practical and trying to survive. Slott has been building this personal vindictiveness thing between Peter and Ock for a while, with his "omg you hit my head soooooo many times" theme. For me, its not quite to the same level. Norman and Spider-Man have way more personal history together, as opposed to just history. This - its about where you expect Ock to be. Cold, focused, scientific, prepared for anything. Same Ock we have been seeing since the Master Planner saga.