Dave-El's Spinner Rack: Superman & Spider-Man

While at Acme Comic a few weeks ago, I picked up the new DC/Marvel collaboration that teams up Superman and Spider-Man once again.   

There were two different editions of this crossover: DC took point on one and Marvel on the other.

I somehow missed the DC book but I purchased the Marvel ediion.   

The book features a main lead story followed by a series of short subjects with various Spidey/Supes combos as well as appearances by other DC and Marvel characters.   

Brad Meltzer and Pepe Larraz provide the lead off tale that begins in medias res with Superman and Spider-Man caught in a trap, a dark cave like structure that is radiating kryptonite and steadily collapsing on itself.  The predicament has been orchestrated by Lex Luthor and the Green Goblin.  

What drives this narrative is the dialogue between our friendly neighborhood wallcrawler and the Man of Steel as they trade witticisms and barbs as well words of encouragement and insight as their dilemna grows more dire. 

Then the villain's secret weapon reveals itself.

VENOM!!

Venom has got a hold of Superman! 

With help from Spidey, Superman is able to assert himself over venom through sheer force of will and a display of raw power.

A big honkin' super hand clap disperses the Venom symbiote.

Time to confront Luthor and the Goblin.

Superman: Do us a favor?

Spider-Man: Fight back! 

Superman: Please! 

But the story is not over. 

Clark Kent meets up with Peter Parker at  Uncle Ben's grave site.   Comparing notes on what they learned about each other in their fight with Luthor and the Goblin, Clark offers a positive alternative to Peter's guilt ridden angst. 

The story ends with Peter and his Aunt May joining Clark and his parents for a home cooked mean. Martha Kent makes a mean apple cobbler.   

The rest of the stories that fill out the issue are short, no more than 4 or 5 pages a pop but each provides interesting insights into Spider-Man, Superman, their supporting casts and other heroes that make up their respective worlds. 

It's back to 1938 with a meet up between the original Superman (leaping tall buildings with a single bound!) and Spider Noir.

Jane Foster's Thor encounters Wonder Woman.   

The Miles Morales Spider-Man has his own meet up with Superman.

There's a bittersweet meet up with Lana Lang and Gwen Stacy as they commiserate about Clark Kent and Peter Parker with both imagining they're going to marry these guys one day. (They will not.) 

The issue is a fun collection of stories with varying takes on these most iconic heroes from DC and Marvel.

It was 50 years ago that DC and Marvel united for the first inter-company crossover team up of Superman and Spider-Man.   

Click here for Alan Stewart's Attack of the 50 Year Old Comic Books for a detailed look back at that seminal issue. 

And on the subject of comic books from 50 years ago,  next week we're back with Comic Book Retro 50 as we look at what a young Dave-El was buying in May 1976.