Editing Doctor Octopus (section)

===Criminal career begins===
During an accidental radiation leak that ended in an explosion, the apparatus became fused to Octavius' body. It was later revealed that the radiation, or possibly his own latent mutation, had mutated his brain so that he could control the movement of the arms using his thoughts alone. The tentacles have since been surgically removed from his body, although Octavius retains the power to control them telepathically from great distances. The accident also seemingly damaged his brain (although it was later suggested that what was interpreted as brain damage was, in fact, his mind rewiring itself to accommodate four extra limbs<ref name="untoldtales">{{Cite book|last = DeCandido|first = Keith R.A.|author-link = Keith R.A. DeCandido|editor = Stan Lee and Kurt Busiek|title = Untold Tales of Spider-Man|year=1997|publisher = Berkley Trade; Boulevard edition|chapter = Arms and the Man|isbn = 978-1-57297-294-0|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/untoldtalesofspi00stan}}</ref>), and the scientist turned to a life of crime, first taking the hospital hostage and calling himself "Doctor Octopus" from the derogatory name that his co-workers had given him.<ref name="The Amazing Spider-Man #3"/> Though Doctor Octopus himself is portly, in poor physical shape, and is [[Myopia|near-sighted]], with his harness attached he is physically more than a match for Spider-Man. The accident also made his eyes very [[Photophobia|sensitive to light]], requiring him to wear glasses with shaded lenses.<ref>''Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Negative Exposure'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In their first encounter, Doctor Octopus defeated Spider-Man, tossing him out of a window. Following this defeat, Spider-Man considered giving up his heroic career, but was inspired to continue by the [[Human Torch]], and ultimately defeated Doctor Octopus.<ref name="The Amazing Spider-Man #3"/>

Over the years, Doctor Octopus has become one of the most identifiable members of [[List of Spider-Man enemies|Spider-Man's rogues gallery]]. Doctor Octopus formed the original [[Sinister Six]] to fight Spider-Man after taking [[Betty Brant]] and [[Aunt May|May Parker]] hostage.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> He has led subsequent Sinister Six groups and usually takes offense when someone else leads the team. Disguised as the '''Master Planner''', he organized theft of atomic equipment. After he stole a formula that Spider-Man needed to cure his Aunt May, Spider-Man tracked Doctor Octopus' gang to their base. In the ensuing fight, Spider-Man became trapped underneath a collapsed building. Seemingly doomed, Spider-Man was ultimately able to draw upon the sheer force of his will to summon the strength to escape.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #31-32. Marvel Comics.</ref> It is later revealed he used a scuba tank to escape.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2012}}

Doctor Octopus later attempts to steal the Defense Department's Nullifier device, and sets a trap for Spider-Man.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #53. Marvel Comics.</ref> He became [[Aunt May|May Parker]]'s tenant,<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #54. Marvel Comics.</ref> then got close enough to use the Nullifier on Spider-Man; although he had hoped that it would merely nullify Spider-Man's web-shooters, the radiation in Spider-Man's blood resulted in the Nullifier's interaction with Spider-Man's unique biology rendering him amnesiac,<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #55. Marvel Comics.</ref> Doctor Octopus subsequently tricking Spider-Man into helping him before Spider-Man's own better nature resulted in him turning against his 'partner' despite his memory loss long enough for [[John Jameson (comics)|John Jameson]] to use the Nullifier to shut down his tentacles.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #56. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Doctor Octopus later exhibited the ability to activate his mechanical arms remotely, and used them to free himself from prison.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #88. Marvel Comics.</ref> His resulting battle with Spider-Man resulted in Captain [[George Stacy]]'s death.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #89-90. Marvel Comics.</ref> Doctor Octopus later waged a gang war with [[Hammerhead (comics)|Hammerhead]].<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #112-115. Marvel Comics.</ref> He attempted to wed May Parker to acquire an island with an atomic plant which she had recently (and unknowingly) inherited.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #130-131. Marvel Comics.</ref> Doctor Octopus escaped death when the island was destroyed in a thermonuclear explosion and began a life as a homeless person.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #152, 154 and 156. Marvel Comics.</ref> He next battled the "ghost" of Hammerhead, unwittingly returned him to his corporeal form using a particle accelerator and defeated him after forming a temporary alliance with Spider-Man.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #157-159. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Doctor Octopus later attempted to hijack an atomic submarine.<ref>''The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> He also attempted to poison New York City with printers' ink, and battled the [[Punisher]] and Spider-Man.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #15. Marvel Comics.</ref> He next battled the [[Owl (Marvel Comics)|Owl]] and his gang.<ref>''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man#Volume 1 (1976-98)|Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #73 and 75-76. Marvel Comics.</ref> He successfully deactivated a nuclear reactor in a laboratory before meltdown.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #124. Marvel Comics.</ref> He later displayed symptoms which [[Mister Fantastic]] diagnosed as multiple personality disorder.<ref name="Fantastic Four #267">''Fantastic Four'' #267. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Secret Wars]]" storyline, Doctor Octopus was taken to the [[Beyonder]]'s [[Battleworld]], where he fought a horde of heroes and plotted against [[Doctor Doom]] for the leadership of the group of villains. He was able to defeat the [[X-Men]], until [[Magneto (Marvel Comics)|Magneto]] came to the mutants' aid.<ref>''Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars'' #1-12. Marvel Comics.</ref>