Doctor Octopus made his comic book debut in Amazing Spider-Man #3 and immediately became one of Spidey's greatest foes. While he proved himself a dangerous adversary with villainous acts like assembling the Sinister Six and mind-controlling Spidey, stories like "Web of Death" and eras like Superior Spider-Man presented Otto Octavius as a complex, almost sympathetic character.
While he has achieved many things as both a villain and a hero, Otto Octavius isn't the only person to wear four mechanical arms and call themselves Doctor Octopus. Thanks to Marvel Comics' exploration of multiverses and possible pasts and futures, there have been many impressive (though "inferior," as Otto would call them) versions of Doctor Octopus.
10 The Doc Ock Of The Future Is An Atlantean
The Doctor Octopus of the year 2099 is unlike any Doc Ock before him. This Doctor Octopus, whose true name remains a mystery, is an Atlantean scientist. He has blue skin and, instead of four mechanical arms fused to his back, sports four, octopus-like tentacles. A blue, Atlantean Doc Ock is just another example of how different 2099 is from Amazing.
This version of the villain first appeared as a member of the 2099 Sinister Six in Spider-Man 2099 vol. 3 #10. Along with future alternate versions of Venom, Vulture, Sandwoman, Venture, and Electro, Doctor Octopus took control of Alchemax and battled Miguel O'Hara.
9 Doctor Octopus Became An Octopus-Like Monster In 1602
Marvel 1602 presented a universe where the classic Marvel heroes and villains existed during the early 17th century. Tie-in series like Spider-Man 1602 focused on specific characters. Doctor Strange was a physician for Queen Elizabeth, the Four From the Fantastick were explorers, and Baron Victor Octavius was a nobleman who suffered from a plague.
Octavius attempted to cure his disease by injecting octopi blood into his body. The experiment slowly transformed him into an octopus-like monster with massive tentacles growing from his back. Even in his monstrous form, Octavius searched for a cure and believed the blood of the Spider was the key.
8 Carolyn Trainer Became Lady Octopus In Amazing Spider-Man #406
For over 30 years of publication, Spider-Man battled the one and only Doctor Octopus until Otto was brutally murdered by Kaine during the Clone Saga. Several months after Otto's death, Carolyn Trainer, an old student of Octavius's, donned familiar metal arms and became the new Doctor Octopus in Amazing Spider-Man #406.
Her father, Seward Trainer, had been helping Ben Reilly for months, and their relationship made Carolyn jealous. After taking the name "Lady Octopus" to distance herself from her idol, she battled the Scarlet Spider several times in the '90s before reappearing in recent popular storylines like "Hunted" and "Sinister War."
7 MC2 Doc Ock Battled Spider-Girl
The MC2 explored an alternate universe where Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson settled down and had two kids, May and Benjy. May developed spider-powers, just like her father, and became Spider-Girl after her father retired from web-slinging. Otto Octavius was Doctor Octopus in this universe, as he had been in 616, and battled Spider-Man many times in their youth.
After learning of Spidey's retirement, Doc Ock went on a rampage and killed several Daily Bugle employees, including Robbie Robertson. Spider-Girl eventually defeated Otto one last time before he fell into a coma. Just as she had in the 616 universe, Carolyn Trainer became Lady Octopus after Otto's death.
6 A Deceased Doctor Octopus Aids Peter In Spider-Man: Reign
Written and illustrated by Kaare Andrews, Spider-Man: Reign presented one of the darkest versions of Spider-Man's world. Set 30 years in the future, Peter Parker has retired from web-slinging, and most of the superpowered individuals have either died or been outlawed. The world is governed by The Reign, an authoritarian force.
After Peter is forced out of retirement, The Reign unleashes the Sinister Six to stop him. Peter is nearly killed by the Sinister Six before the metallic arms of Doctor Octopus save him. Even after death, the arms, which were programed by Octavius, bring Peter to the graves of his loved ones. Octavius's final, posthumous act was to inspire Peter to become Spider-Man once more.
5 Otto Octavius Pulled More Mind-Swaps In Life Story
Spider-Man: Life Story presented the concept of a Marvel universe where characters age naturally through the years. Life Story mostly focused on Peter Parker, but the concept could be applied to almost any other Marvel character. In Life Story, Otto Octavius battled Spider-Man as he had in the main Marvel universe.
However, Otto was forced to retire after suffering a heart attack in the 1970s. In 2019, Otto returned, this time in control of Miles Morales's body. Peter, as he had in Superior Spider-Man, convinced Otto to return the body to its rightful owner. In the 616 universe and Life Story, Otto was not totally heartless and ultimately chose to do the right thing thanks to Peter's lessons of responsibility.
4 Ultimate Doc Ock Created Spider-Man Clones
The Ultimate universe allowed new readers to jump into Marvel Comics. The most popular Marvel heroes and villains were rebooted in a fresh world. In the Ultimate universe, Otto Octavius was an employee at Oscorp when the lab explosion fused the metal arms to his body. This Otto was younger and fitter than his 616 counterpart and became one of Spidey's deadliest foes.
When Ultimate Spider-Man adapted the Clone Saga, it wasn't the Jackal who created Spider-Man clones, it was Doc Ock. Doc Ock ultimately battled Spider-Man and his clones before being defeated and contained within the Triskelion, Ultimate S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters.
3 Doctor Octopus Returned In Clone Conspiracy
Many deceased heroes, villains, and supporting characters returned thanks to an advanced method of cloning. Otto Octavius was one such character who returned, but this Otto possessed the brain of the Otto who joined the Spider-Verse event as the Superior Spider-Man.
After the events of Clone Conspiracy, Otto transferred his mind into a body that was equal parts Peter Parker/equal parts Otto Octavius. This new Otto went on to become the Superior Octopus, then Spider-Man again. This revived Otto was still grounded in humanity thanks to his love for Anna Maria Marconi, the woman who helped reform him during the Superior era.
2 The Original Doc Ock Was One Of Spider-Man's Deadliest Foes
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Otto Octavius was a scientist who developed mechanical arms to assist him in his experiments. During a lab explosion, the arms fused to his body, ultimately transforming him into Doctor Octopus. Since ASM #3, Doc Ock has arguably been Spidey's greatest villain.
Doc Ock assembled the Sinister Six, mind-controlled Spider-Man, and was indirectly responsible for many of his allies' deaths. However, the character was not irredeemable. Even before he took Spider-Man's body, Ock was shown to have some sense of honor. "Web of Death" and "An Obituary for Octopus" are just two stories that presented Ock's humanity. He even saved Peter's life in the former.
1 Otto Abandoned The Octopus In Favor Of The Spider
Dan Slott provided one of the greatest Spider-Man twists ever in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #698, where it was revealed Otto Octavius had successfully swapped bodies with Peter Parker. "Dying Wish," the arc that climaxed in ASM #700, featured a nail-biting story as Peter raced to reclaim his body.
Shockingly, he failed, and Otto went on to become the Superior Spider-Man, but not before Peter imparted one last lesson of power and responsibility. The Superior Spider-Man era was exciting and controversial at times, but it provided an amazing character arc for one of Spidey's arch-enemies, turning him into a hero who ultimately sacrificed himself for Peter to return.