Doctor Otto Octavius is one of the most recognisable Spider-Man villains ever. Debuting in Marvel comics in July 1963 as Doctor Octopus in Amazing Spider-Man #3, he was created by Steve Ditko and comics legend Stan Lee. Doctor Octavius has been both a bad buy and an antihero. Across his appearances, he has been known by three names; Doctor Octopus, Superior Spider-Man and Superior Octopus.
Otto was a member of the following groups:
- Sinister Six
- Masters of Evil
- Thunderbolts
- Legion Accursed
- Avengers
- Mighty Avengers
- Parker Industries
- Horizon Labs
- Spiderlings
- Superior Six
- Spider-Army/Spider-Warriors
- HYDRA
- HYDRA’s Avengers
Doctor Octavius was born in Schenectady, New York and had a horrible childhood. His father, Torbert, was a horrid man who was violent and abusive. Otto and his mother, Mary Lavina, were often his targets.
A Bright Future
Otto was a bright boy who was often bullied at school due to his intelligence and often labelled as “the teacher’s pet.” Torbert was aware of the bullying and ordered his son to fight back, despite his son’s shyness. Mary did the total opposite and defended Otto against his father. She also hated men who worked manual labour and wanted her child to use his brains rather than his fists.
The future villain vowed never to become like his father, so he threw everything he had into learning. Otto was offered a scholarship but was undecided about what he wanted to study.
Otto’s first year of college was interrupted by his father’s funeral after he was killed in an accident on a construction site. However, it was Mary who gave the future Doc Ock to study science. It when from being a passion to an obsession.
Doctor Octavius Was Bullied By His Mother
Octavius became a respected nuclear physicist, amongst other things and eventually developed his mechanical arms. He would later remark that his idol inspired the components, Leonardo Di Vinci’s sketch of the Vitruvian Man.
As his genius grew, Otto became hostile towards his colleagues. Finally, Octavius met Mary Alice Anders, who he would later become engaged. However, his mother was not impressed and declared that no woman would ever be enough for him.
Mary Octavius Isn’t Exactly A Saint
Mary Octavius made Otto feel guilty that his fiancée was taking him away from her. The future villain broke off the engagement and later discovered that his mother was dating someone, and they got into an argument, which led to a heart attack that proved fatal to the scientist’s only living parent.
Doctor Octavius became bitter towards everyone, with both women out of his life. Furthermore, it also caused him to avoid safety precautions. As a result, his colleagues cruelly labelled him Doctor Octopus, though he didn’t care.
First Encounter With Spider-Man
After the legs were fused to his body during an explosion triggered by a radiation leak, he had his first defeat of Spider-Man by throwing him out a window.
Due to this defeat, Spider-Man briefly thought about hanging up his spandex but was told to keep fighting by Johnny Storm, better known as the Human Torch.
Doctor Octavius Has His Mechanical Limbs Removed… With A Catch
Otto was able to get his mechanical legs removed; however, given his exposure to the radiation that caused the explosion, he effectively became a mutant.
Wit the legs removed, Octavius could use his brain to control them from afar.
