Marvel has always had a tendency to twist villains into heroes. Sometimes it sticks, like with Black Widow going from a Red Menace to Avengers mainstay. With the more iconic baddies, it’s always a temporary turn. Following in the stead of characters like Magneto and Doctor Doom, Doctor Octopus is the latest villain to get a heroic do-over in the upcoming Superior Octopus. With his rocky path to heroism so defined and his potential impact so strong, Otto should stay a good guy.

The Master Planner

VIA: Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy #1 (Slott/Cheung)

Otto Octavius is among the most prominent villains in Spider-Man canon. He could even make a legitimate claim to be Spider-Man's arch-nemesis. A gifted scientist and inventor, he’s also selfish and demented. He formed the Sinister Six, tried to marry Aunt May to steal an atomic plant (because comics) and even legit tried to destroy the world.

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His greatest victory came in Amazing Spider-Man #700. Successfully swapping bodies with Peter Parker, Octavius was able to become Spider-Man. But imbued with Peter’s memories and morality, he decided to become a hero. Specifically, he wanted to become a superior Spider-Man. And that idea at the core of Superior Spider-Man makes this take on the character stand out.

There’s an argument to be made that Otto is more effective then Peter. He builds drones and recruits assistance. He enhances his suit. He doesn’t hold back in battles, putting real fear in the villains of NYC. He killed. He was a superior Spider-Man, but without that empathy and hope he wasn't amazing.

VIA: Superior Spider-Man #5 (Slott/Camuncoli)

That's what Otto learned over the course of Superior Spider-Man. He realized that being superior shouldn’t be the mission. Being a hero requires heart and sacrifice, not just logic, to be amazing. In the end, he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to help Peter save the day (and Anna Maria Marconi, the woman he loved).

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Doc Ock Fights For Good

Then it was revealed Octavius had made a robot with his mind in it, because of course he did. But even when he got an actual body again, he ultimately chose to be a hero, coming to the rescue of Aunt May during the events of Going Down Swinging. After saving her life by risking his own, Otto earned himself a clean slate. Otto has the freedom and the power to do whatever he wants.

At the end of the day, the Spider-Man franchise gains more with a good Otto than with an evil Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man has plenty of mad scientist baddies, and Doctor Octopus especially has been done a lot over the years. This could be an exciting take on the character, still rough around the edges but trying to be good nonetheless. Juxtaposing him against other heroes could be fascinating.

VIA: Superior Octopus #1 (Gage/Hawthorne)

RELATED: Marvel Comics Tease New Series: The Superior Octopus

His arc mirrors what Doctor Doom went through in Invincible Iron Man. The relatively short nature of the book (along with the pending return of the Fantastic Four) ended that series prematurely and began shifting him back into his old role, wasting all the neat tweaks of a heroic Doom. Otto doesn’t have to do that. He can embrace his heroic qualities and become something new for Spider-Man.

Spider-Man’s Own Magneto

His bombastic over-confidence and former villain mentality could make for a fun counterpoint to other heroes. He could be the bad cop to Peter’s good one. He could be the tactically-minded one alongside brawlers like Venom or Kaine. Otto could even be a dark mentor for Miles or Spider-Girl. Having Otto around as a hero leaves him open to interact with other characters in a new, interesting way.

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As Superior Octopus, Otto becomes more like Magneto. Magneto's differences in morality and actions compared to the X-Men make him fascinating. You empathize with him, until you remember what he's willing to do. His nobility is clouded with anger, but he’s been warped that way by life. If he could push through his flaws, he'd become a great hero. But, of course, Magneto’s now heading back towards villainy. Marvel won't even let him stay a hero, and he's been trying to go good since the 1980s.

VIA: Magneto #1 (Bunn/Walta)

In his current form as a bad man trying to refine his honor and stop his impulses, Otto could become that complicated figure of twisted nobility for Spider-Man comics. He could rise above his role as a supervillain and become something better. Marvel has the chance to make him one of their best anti-heroes -- they just have to commit.