Marvel Database
Register
Advertisement

Quote1 Octo-Arms! Otto, you shouldn't have! Now let's see how these tentacles tussle! Quote2
Spider-Man[src]

History

Origin[]

Dr. Otto Octavius constructed these to help manipulate radioactive substances from a safe distance, Otto constructed a chest harness controlling four mechanical, tentacle-like arms - earning him the nickname Doctor Octopus.

Otto Octavius (Earth-616) from Superior Spider-Man Vol 1 28
In a freak laboratory accident, volatile liquids exploded - bombarding the scientist with radiation. The substances left him capable of mentally controlling the arms, but the accident also caused irreversible brain damage - transforming the respected scientist into a megalomaniacal superhuman criminal. He has since used them as weapons to fight Spider-Man and other heroes.

Replacement[]

Seeing that the original tentacles which connected to his prefrontal lobe messed with his personality, Otto got rid of them. He then created countless Ocktoids that formed a new set of tentacles which connected to his amygdala and beared more resemblance to octopus tentacles.[2]

Doctor Octopus' Tentacles from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 6 29 001

Ocktoids forming a new set of Doctor Octopus' Tentacles.

The old set discarded went for help to J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man who rebuild it and in gratitude they helped the hero in battling their previous owner.[3]


Capacity[]

Spider-Man Doctor Octopus Negative Exposure Vol 1 5 Textless

"Doctor Octopus"

Tentacles: Doctor Octopus' superhuman abilities derive from the four mentally controlled, electronically powered, telescoping, prehensile titanium-steel tentacles attached to a stainless-steel harness encircling his body from lower chest to waist. Each tentacle, approximately five inches in diameter, terminates in three single-jointed pincers. The pincers are able to rotate in relation to the arm for 360 degrees, in a screwdriver-like twisting motion. Each tentacle segment contains four high-efficiency electric motors equipped with a clutched, helical-gear train, independently mounted on frictionless gimbals and housed in four thin, overlapping layers of titanium-niobium steel.

Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 600 Ross Variant Textless

The titanium-steel alloy is light, has high-tensile strength, a high melting point, and high thin-wall rigidity. The motors get their power from a small nuclear-powered thermo-electric generator, which can provide several hundred watts per hour for up to five years before needing to replace its U-239 core. The tentacles have been modified since the time of the original accident to include high-efficiency battery packs (enabling movement when cut off from the central power source) and individual micro-circuit control modules (enabling each arm to perform certain pre-programmed actions when Octopus loses conscious control). In the event that Octopus loses consciousness, the control module of each arm has enough pre-programmed conditional responses in its memory chip to enable it to perform a relatively complex sequence of actions, such as saving his life. The trauma of his arm or arms being separated from the harness causes a period of disorientation in which his arms flail about uncontrollably until the pre-programming takes over.

  • Telepathic Control over Tentacles: Octopus can control the actions of his artificial arms psionically, even when they have been severed from his body and are separated from him by vast distances (a distance of 900 miles has been recorded).
  • Telescoping: Each tentacle is approximately six feet long at full contraction but can extend to a maximum of 24 feet in length.[4]
  • Superhuman Strength: Each of the original tentacles is capable of lifting approximately 8 tons. Provided Otto uses one of the tentacles to support himself, this gave him the ability to lift 24 tons. Each tentacle is capable of moving at a speed of ninety feet per second and strike with the force of a jackhammer. Each tentacle's grip force is 170 lbs per square inch.[4] After crafting Adamantium tentacles, Otto managed to overpower and defeat The Hulk, and the tentacles he uses as the Superior Octopus were capable of overwhelming Strong Guy.
  • High-Wind Generation: The tentacles can generate 50 mile per hour winds if spun like a giant fan.
  • Wall-Climbing and Traveling: By combining the intrinsic strength of both his tentacles and the pincers, Doctor Octopus can scale stone, brick, or concrete walls by rending "handholds" in the surface of the wall. Octopus is able to use his tentacles for traversing horizontal distances as well. At full extension, he can travel high above the ground as if on stilts, either using two tentacles, or for maximum speed (approximately 50 miles per hour), four tentacles.
  • Sensation Feeling: Although there are no nerve endings throughout the length of his artificial arms, Octopus can "feel" basic sensations with them. As a result of the mutagenic changes from exposure to radiation during the accident, electrical connections have been made from his chest harness to his spine. Thus, Doctor Octopus can mentally perceive "tactile" sensations by feeling the amount of electrical resistance that the pincer's electric motors feel when the pincers grasp an object.
  • Muscle Memory: If the arms or something similar enough to them like Superior Spider-Man's Spider-Arms are used they leave a form of muscle memory on the body, even if a separate being was occupying that body. When Peter Parker bonded with the tentacles he gained access to the necessary knowledge needed to repair and upgrade them despite the fact that Otto was the one using similar technology whilst he was occupying Peter's body while leaving Peter trapped in his subconscious. It also caused Peter to briefly take on Otto's mannerisms and personality.

Spider-Arms[]

Otto Octavius (Earth-616) from Superior Spider-Man Vol 1 14 001

Spider-Man using his Spider-Arms in combat.

As a possible homage to his life as Doctor Octopus, Otto added "Spider-Arms" to Superior Spider-Man's Suit,[5] as well as the Iron Spider Armor.[5]


Alternate Reality Versions[]



Image Description Issue
Otto Octavius (Earth-803) from Spider-Verse Vol 1 1 0001
In Earth-803, Otto Octavius' tentacles were steam-powered. They were operated by a control box worn on the front. The box itself used uninsulated radiation that would've killed him within a year had Lady Spider and Spider-Man hadn't confiscated the tentacles. Spider-Verse #1
Otto Gunther Octavius (Earth-1048) from Marvel's Spider-Man
In Earth-1048, Dr. Otto Octavius created his tentacles as an attempt to overcome a neurological disease that was going to make him disabled. He used a intracranial neural interface created by his lab assistant Peter Parker as a basis to control his tentacles mentally. Marvel's Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 1 55 Textless
In Earth-1610, Dr. Otto Octavius was a lab assistant to Norman Osborn and secretly a spy for Osborn's business rival, Justin Hammer. He was caught in a lab accident (the same one that turns Norman into the Green Goblin), grafting his traditional metal arms onto his body. After this incident, he was able to communicate with these mechanical arms via telepathy. He modified his arms to have the power to morph into different shapes via nanotechnology. Over time, it is revealed that the Oz Formula gave him a form of Ferrokinesis; the ability to manipulate metal. He created a new set of arms out of metal scraps and battled both Spider-Man and Spider-Woman before being knocked out. How similar or dissimilar his power is to that of Magneto is still unknown. Octopus could mentally control these mechanical arms, even when they were miles away. Ultimate Spider-Man #2
Octo Doctorpuss (Earth-7840) from What If? Vol 1 8 001
In Earth-7840, Octo Doctorpuss had nine mechanical tails. What If? #8
Doctor Octopus' Tentacles from Spider-Man Deadpool Vol 1 26 001
In Earth-18236, Doctor Octopus' tentacles was among the superhuman equipment stored by Deadpool. Spider-Man/Deadpool #26
Edward Brock (Earth-21619) from Spider-Man Spider's Shadow Vol 1 3 003
In Earth-21619, Doctor Octopus was murdered Eddie Brock, who took his tentacles for himself. Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #2
Otto Octavius (Earth-51920) from 1872 Vol 1 2 0001
In Earth-51920, Otto Octavius utilized six, small tentacles with revolvers attacked to each arm. 1872 #1
Otto Octavius (Earth-71928) from What If? The Punisher Vol 1 1 001
In Earth-71928, Spider-Man destroyed Doctor Octopus' tentacles using armor-piercing rounds. What If? The Punisher #1
Doctor Octo-Ball (Earth-88039) from Marvel Tales Vol 2 209 001
In Earth-88039, the arms of Doctor Octo-Ball's tentacles were made of springs. Marvel Tales (Vol. 2) #209
Otto Octavius (Earth-96283) from Spider-Man 2 (film) Poster 001
In Earth-96283, the tentacles are different. In the movie, they attach to his nervous system along his spinal cord, and he controls them mentally from the start. They also have a degree of artificial intelligence. Dr. Otto Octavius controls this with an inhibitor chip, but when the chip is destroyed in his accident (caused when the "sun" he creates becomes unstable, and a large "flare" from it strikes him in the back, giving him a huge electric shock that melts the tentacles' attachments to his spine), they are able to control his mind and drive him to rebuild his failed fusion device. The tentacles' influence combined with the loss of his wife and his failure is what makes Doc Ock evil in the movie, rather than him simply becoming (possibly) insane due to brain damage from the accident, as he does in the comics. Spider-Man 2
Otto Octavius (Earth-92131) from Spider-Man (1994 animated series) Season 3 3 0004
In Earth-92131, Dr. Otto Octavius created a fusion experiment, under the funding of Anastasia Hardy. He built his metal tentacles' exoskeleton to safely handle toxic or radioactive materials. However, Hardy's patience was thin, and she subsequently terminated Octavius' funding. Under substandard working conditions, his experiment then explodes, and Octavius' metal arms were permanently stuck to his back. He then used them to battle Spider-Man. Spider-Man S1E06
Peter Parker (Earth-11983) from Spider-Man (1994 animated series) Season 5 12 0001
In Earth-11983, Doctor Octopus does not appear, but among the other Spider-Men from different realities was a Spider-Man with metallic tentacles and sunglasses like Doc Ock's. He explained it was a "souvenir from my last fight with Doctor Octopus". Spider-Man S5E12
Otto Octavius (Earth-26496) from Spectacular Spider-Man (Animated Series) 001
In Earth-26496, Dr. Otto Octavius has constructed four-set of tentacles on his back much like the ones his other versions have, though they are more like his movie self's than any other, to help manipulate radioactive substances from a safe distance, Otto constructed a chest harness controlling four mechanical, tentacle-like arms - earning him the nickname Doctor Octopus. The tentacles, or "arms" as they've been more commonly called, are controlled via a neural transmitter chip which has been fused into his spinal cord. In a freak laboratory accident, volatile liquids exploded - bombarding the scientist with radiation. The substances left him capable of mentally controlling the arms, but the accident also caused irreversible brain damage - transforming the respected scientist into a megalomaniacal superhuman criminal. The tentacles allow for multitasking and have a considerable amount of superhuman strength, never tiring as he tells Spider-Man in their first battle. However, during Octavius' first appearance as Dr. Octopus, had a problem with maintaining power to his tentacles for prolonged periods of time, though he appears to have solved this problem by his next appearance. Spectacular Spider-Man S1E08
Otto Octavius (Earth-12041) from Ultimate Spider-Man (animated series) Season 4 22 001
In Earth-12041, Dr. Otto Octavius is physically paralyzed and entirely dependent on his tentacles to move following a lab accident which Norman Osborn saved him from. He has an unclean appearance with long hair, wears an apparatus similar to an iron lung, and the tips of his tentacles can convert into various weapons. Overtime, Doc Ock attempted to create upgraded variations to better suit and cure his sickly condition. Such as creating an Iron Octopus Armor from schematics he stole from Iron Man, however the Arc Reactor schematics were incomplete which led to his armor to malfunction. Doctor Octopus then received armor similar to the Destroyer from allying with Loki. The tentacles can elongate without limit at high altitude and is powerful enough to go against Asgardians. This armor was then removed by Loki after their falling out. Eventually Otto developed his Nano Tech, micro machines that can rearrange an object's structure while he was under Hydra's force, he is upgrading his original tentacle suit but, in a form, to keep him in check. After freeing himself from Hydra, Otto used his nano tech to recreate a new set of tentacles that are fused to his spine was well as curing his physical illnesses while giving himself a new healthier and muscular body, no longer entirely dependent on his tentacles. His Nano Tech infused arms are able to transmute any substance they touch to construct almost anything he desires. Ultimate Spider-Man S1E01
Doctor Octopus' Tentacles (Earth-120703) from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (film) 0001
In Earth-120703, Doc Ock's tentacles appear briefly at the end of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie, though Otto Octavius did not appear in the film. The tentacles appear to be similar in appearance to the comics. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Serena Patel (Earth-TRN579) from Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions 001
In Earth-TRN579, Serena Patel created her own tentacles while employed at Alchemax. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Olivia Octavius (Earth-1610B) from Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse 001
Unlike other versions of the harness, Olivia Octavius' were designed using soft robotics, meaning mechanical motion is created using inflatable tubes. This grants her a greater degree of concealment, as she can unnoticeably wear a deflated harness under her lab coat, in spite of their great length. They are capable of extending razor sharp propellers from the ends for use as buzzsaws. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-616B) from Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
The tentacles of Peter B. Parker's universe Doc Ock appear briefly on-screen during a montage sequence. A photo of him with the tentacles appear later on in Peter B Parker's bedroom along with photos of some other villains. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-65B) from Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse 001
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-TRN926) and Peter Parker (Earth-199999) from Spider-Man No Way Home 001
In Earth-199999, the universe-displaced Doctor Octopus of Earth-TRN926 enhanced his tentacles with nanobots stolen from the Iron Spider Armor. He returned the technology after Spider-Man repaired the inhibitor chip that connected Otto's tentacles to his brain. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Otto Octavius (Superior Spider-Man) (Earth-Unknown) from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse 001
A variant of Superior Spider-Man having the tentacles instead of the regular arms was seen apprehended by the Spider-Society Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Doctor Octopus (Earth-Unknown) from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse 001
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-Unknown) from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse 001
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-Unknown) from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse 002
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Otto Octavius (Earth-TRN979) from Marvel NOW WHAT! Vol 1 1 001
In Earth-TRN979, Otto Octavius used his tentacles to be a puppeteer before becoming a super villain. Marvel: NOW WHAT! #1

See Also

Links and References

References

Advertisement