Dr. Otto Octavius, better known as Doctor Octopus or Doc Ock, is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an archenemy of Spider-Man. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #3 (July 1963). It has been speculated that his appearance was originally based on that of Roy Orbison. Stan Lee has cited that Doctor Octopus is one of his favorite Spider-Man villains. In his first several appearances, Dr. Octopus' last name was spelled "Octavious." All stories since have spelled it Octavius.
Octavius is a stocky, myopic man who utilizes four powerful, mechanical appendages. A highly intelligent mad scientist, he is obsessed with proving his own genius and destroying Spider-Man. Doc Ock is considered by many to be Spider-Man's greatest adversary (rivaled only by the Green Goblin).
Doctor Octopus, like the Green Goblin, is one of Spider-Man's greatest and most enduring enemies. He has been featured in most Spider-Man animated series and video games and was played by Alfred Molina in the 2004 movie Spider-Man 2, as well as by Peter MacNicol in the new The Spectacular Spider-Man which will premiere on The CW in March, 2008.
