Dr. Octopus accidentally transfers his consciousness into the body of Japanese schoolgirl Otoha Okutamiya. And what’s more, the girl’s consciousness also is still there, not only to try to mitigate the excesses of his supervillainy, but to do so with a wide-eyed belief in the goodness of everyone that he finds quite infuriating.

When I first heard of it, my impression was “That seems like a great way to transplant an American superhero into a manga-friendly premise.” Actually reading the book, I was surprised (and slightly embarrassed at my own preconceptions) to find it not only a very well told-tale leaving us with a compelling cliffhanger at the end, but to find it told by someone who is quite definitely far more well-versed in the nuances of Dr. Octopus and Spiderman’s characters than I am.

This volume rapidly and deftly spins out Dr. Octopus’ persona as a well-intentioned anti-villain who will do right when necessary, usually hidden beneath his hilariously massive ego, habit of launching into highfaluting villain speeches at any and every opportunity, and tendency to solve problems with octo-claws to the face. In the last few chapters, as we get into the dynamics of Otoha’s classmates, the plot becomes a bit harder to track, and the backstory leans a perhaps a bit heavily on the recent Superior Spider-Man comics, but not to the point of unintelligibility. I personally consider that the chest logo of the villain introduced in the latter chapters alone is worth the price of admission.

The art is amazing, showing the unsurprisingly strong influence of My Hero Academia at its best, with fluid fight scenes and excellent character designs. The coexistence of Otto and Otoha is perhaps envisioned in a few too many different ways, nondiegetic floating faces and talking Octopus hair clips and holographic projections from tentacle-tips all make it a bit hard to track what outsiders are supposed to be able to see in any given scene where the characters dialog. Additionally, I found that in one scene the realistic brutality of one of the younger characters being beaten up stands in troubling contrast to the more sanitized super-heroic violence that dominates the rest of the volume.

This is not a work without flaws, but it is still a very good work and I eagerly anticipate the coming volumes.

A Special Thanks Goes Out To Viz Media and NetGalley for the ARC

Before we begin this review, I would like to remind readers to be sure to check out our previous Marvel Manga-related reviews over in the Reviews Category.

It’s time once again to step into the world of Marvel and review another Spider-Man-related manga title, this time witnessing that nefarious Doctor Otto Octavius (Doctor Octopus) try to cheat death once more after falling in battle with his nemesis, Spider-Man. He woke up to find out that not only he was in a coma, but his consciousness was transferred into the body of a middle schooler in Tokyo named Otoha Okutamiya! Doc Ock becomes the Superior Schoolgirl in Spider-Man: Octo-Girl!

From the creative duo that brought you My Hero Academia: Vigilantes brings you a unique scenario that brings you a “What If” story that not only bridges the stories that Marvel has published but of the tales they have created in their collaboration with manga publisher, Shueisha. Spider-Man: Octo-Girl offers readers a different approach to another familiar tale, except where Otoha can have control over her body, unlike how Otto took over Peter Parker’s body in The Superior Spider-Man. It was a perfect blend of American Comics and Japanese Manga storytelling and ideas, not to mention it was originally marketed as a Manga Spin-off of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

One other thing I would like to mention speaking of blending ideas and storytelling is that this also felt like a Nostalgia trip down memory lane regarding their previous venture with the My Hero Academia franchise, incorporating humorous antics and Japanese drama, but with the mysticism of Marvel Lore. Without giving too much away, it brings a familiar hero from another Marvel Manga, Deadpool Samurai, which makes sense being marketed as a “Spider-Verse” tale.

For the artwork, Betten Court does great work not only with the action sequences but also with Character Designs and expressions, such as the humorous panel featured in this review. Doctor Octopus and Otoha are a surprisingly unique team, Otoha changing Ock’s view on things, while Otto helps her with having a better life and getting the bullies off her back. Like in the modern Spider-Man stories and Superhero comics in general, there are variants lurking in the shadows. It’s a perfect book for both younger and older Marvel fans, not to mention new manga readers, it doesn’t include any risqué material or situations.

Narratively, Octo-Girl balances action with moments of introspection, as the characters confront their motivations and the weight of their choices. It’s a refreshing, character-focused story that respects the legacy of Spider-Man while introducing elements that feel new and exciting.

For fans of Spider-Man and newcomers alike, Spider-Man: Octo-Girl, Vol. 1 delivers a thrilling, emotional, and visually compelling start to what promises to be a memorable addition to Marvel’s universe. It’s definitely a must-read for those interested in fresh takes on iconic superheroes.

As someone who still struggles with reading manga, I very much appreciated the mix of the familiar (Marvel characters I know!) and the new (Japanese middle school interactions) making this excursion not only more accessible but also very entertaining!

The evil Doctor Octopus falls into a coma after a battle with Spider-Man. When he regains consciousness he realizes something is off.. he is in the bottle of Otoha Okutamiva, a middle school girl in Tokyo.

If you are a fan of Marvel world, comics or manga I recommend this book. The plot is adventurous, fast-paced and well develop. Perfect for children to adults who enjoy Marvel stories. The illustrations are perfect.

Thank you the author, VIZ Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This review is my honest opinion.

In a last ditch effort to save his life, Doctor Octopus accidentally transfers his consciousness to a young Japanese girl, Otoha Okutamiya. The premise is what caught my attention and made me raise and eyebrow. In execution, its a fun and cute story. The dynamic between Doc Ock and Otoha are sweet. With Doc Ock's chaotic personality and Otoha's kind nature, you can see the clash and understanding that comes from these two minds inhabiting the same body. There are some neat cameos and inside jokes too for Spiderman fans.

This was just so cute! I love when comics go down the multiverse "what if" route. Its a great way to bring in new readers who aren't sure if comics/manga are for them.

I really love it when comics show off how "just go with it" they can be! Okay, so Doc Oc falls into a coma and now shares the body with a Japanese school girl, hijinks ensue. Cameo's from Deadpool Samurai also show up. The whole thing is a fun mix of American comics by way of Japanese sensibility, and it works. There are a lot of moving parts to make it work, but it's a fun and silly premise that does what it set out to do. I mean, I was entertained!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this. So fun and cute. I watched so many Spider-Man movies and shows growing up, but I've never thought about his villains beyond their surface bad guy value. This manga takes a dive into Doc Ock, as his mind was accidentally transferred to a young girl in Tokyo. Chaos ensues. I love MHA Vigilantes, and this is by the same people, so I went into this with high hopes. They did not disappoint. Definitely will buy a physical copy when this releases.

Marvel manga has already given us a wealth of wild “what ifs.” What if Deadpool led a Japanese-based Avengers team? Or what if Spider-Man met Ultraman? Next month, there’s a new possibility on the table: what if Doc Ock was a Japanese schoolgirl?

Spider-Man: Octo-Girl hails from the Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court, the team behind My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Volume 1 goes on sale from Viz Media next month. So what’s it about? Is it worth your while? And what’s even going on? Read on to find out!

Spider-Man: Octo-Girl starts with a fight between eternal foes Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. But as Doc Ock falls to his imminent death, he triggers a failsafe. His consciousness will be transferred to one of many clones prepared for just such an occasion, allowing him to cheat death. But when he wakes up, he finds he’s not in a clone body. Instead, he’s sharing a body with Japanese schoolgirl Otoha!

Now, Doc Ock and the shy, bullied girl must share a body while they figure out how to get him back to himself. Only one can be in control at a time, with the other speaking to whoever is “up front” via a cute little octopus hair clip. But getting home won’t be so easy, and friends and foes old and new stand in the way of Doc Ock’s plans. Moreover, it seems as if time with Otoha may even be changing the mad doctor just a bit…

Taken just as a Marvel spin-off, Octo-Girl is a lot of weird fun in its first volume. Naturally, it’s fun to see Otto Octavius rage against his current situation. (Even author Furuhashi says his greatest dream is to see the manga referenced in Western media someday.) But there’s a lot of super-antics going on here. For one thing, Sakura Spider leaps from the pages of Deadpool: Samurai into the action. But she isn’t the only variant stalking the pages of this manga!

If elements of this storyline sound a bit familiar—specifically the Octavius clones—you may be able to guess who else makes an appearance. As it’s toward the end of this volume, we won’t spoil the reveal. Suffice to say this story digs deep into some Marvel lore. Which is great… but also not the only thing going for it.

Octo-Girl could thrive solely on its Marvel connections and drum up an admirable fanbase. But where it really shines is in using this super story to flesh out the character of Otoha. A shy shoujo manga fan who doesn’t realize she’s being bullied, Otoha is surprisingly upbeat for someone in her situation. Even the bullies in her life have their own extenuating circumstances. The schoolgirl tales that take place around the fringes of Doc Ock’s misadventures take this from a fun novelty to a legitimately compelling story.

Whether you’re a Marvel maniac or more into manga, Spider-Man: Octo-Girl will have something you enjoy. Come for the quirky story concept; stay for the surprisingly heartwarming school drama.

VIZ Media provided an early galley for review.

I am a long-time fan of Spider-Man comics, in part due to his varied rogues gallery. And one of the most iconic of those enemies is Doc Ock. The description of this manga was enough to make this a "definitely check out" book for me.

And the ride was exactly what I expected - wild and crazy. The creative team captures the personality of Ock perfectly, and the interplay between him and Spider-Man is pitch-perfect Marvel style. The addition of the bodyswap and the world of Japanese teen drama just adds to the fun. This is a fantastic "what if" kind of scenario.

There are also several more surprises in this first volume that further tie this story into other published works (both in the main Marvel 616 titles as well as other manga projects). I liked that as well. I am eager to see where this goes in the next edition.

This had all the elements of a Spider-Man, wit, fighting, and supervillains, but it was also SO cute.