After the disappointing Sinister Six arc, with its surprisingly fast resolution and its confusing storytelling, I'm glad to say that Yost is on the ball again. Using Namor to remind Otto that he is, in fact, superior is inspired. After all, who better than Namor to remind someone what "superior" means? With Slott drowning in sub-plots and sub-plots of sub-plots in the main title, Yost continues to be the only one to focus on Otto struggling to do right by his pledge to Peter. Slott's Otto is completely delusional, truly believing himself the better of Peter in all moments and at all times. He lacks any emotional complexity; it's why that title has just slid to the point where the only thing that keeps your reading is wondering how much Otto is going to screw up Peter's life before he returns. On the other hand, Yost's Otto has always allowed himself moments of reflection where he realizes how hard it is not only to be Spider-Man, but to be a hero when your instincts aren't to be. Namor shares a similar problem (though he wouldn't see it as such) and Yost does a remarkable job in realizing the synergy of putting them together. Yost's Otto is still a villain trying to be a hero, where Slott's Otto is a villain not even caring about the difference. It's a shame to see him go, because we're losing a distinct, and potentially redemptive, view of Otto that we've never seen in the main title. Yost has made it clear that it would be a hard road for Otto to walk, but every time that I think that he's going to stray from it he finds it again.
**** (four of five stars)
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