Webhead and Man of Steel Together Again!

50 years ago, the meeting of Superman and Spider-Man blew my mind. House ads in the comics I picked up at Rhonda Valley Rexall Drugs convinced me this would be the greatest thing ever. For only a dollar? This was before I started going regularly to comic shops, so if I didn’t find it on a spinner rack or a magazine rack, it wouldn’t be mine. I gave up.

Then on a family trip across country, my dad was kind and let us stop in a comics shop in Colorado. There it was. Still only a dollar, which my dad was absolutely convinced was a rip-off. He bought it for me anyway. That night in the hotel I read it three times. I still vividly remember both Peter Parker and Clark Kent looking for a phone booth. Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus supercharging Spider-Man so the (then) required fight before the heroes teamed up would be equal. And… well, if you haven’t read it, just know the whole thing was better than I could have imagined.

Now it’s in a box in my office, and I passed up the chance to buy the anniversary edition, as I was told it had nothing new. Because even now, I want more. Yes, there was a sequel in around 1980, teaming Brainiac and the Parasite. Then Batman and the Hulk, which shouldn’t have worked but did. And then the greatest of them all — The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans, when both teams were small and absolute fan favorites.

Point is, we’ve entered another era of two titanic companies coming together, and as long as they can keep making the crossovers feel special, I’ll buy every one. From a smart marketing perspective, Marvel and DC brought Deadpool and Batman together first, as using either character alone seems like a license to print money. But now — Spider-Man and Superman will meet again.

Here’s how they’ve made it special: Brad Meltzer writing his first ever story for Marvel. Putting fan favorite artists on all the stories, because these clashes of titans have to have several back-up stories woven around their respective “families.” To write those, Marvel brought Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli back to their co-creation Miles Morales. Geoff Johns has a story, returning to Marvel after changing the face of DC Comics. And Dan Slott, currently killing it writing Superman, gets to play in the Marvel sandbox again.

Although I don’t buy multiple copies, I’ve loved seeing the variant covers both publishers have put out for these crossovers. Spider-Man/Superman is no different. These are danged cool. 50 years later, that’s all I want. Enthrall me again!

From Marvel:

Following the massive success of last year’s Deadpool/Batman and celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, the first-ever Marvel/DC crossover, Marvel Comics and DC Comics unite again this April in Marvel’s SPIDER-MAN/SUPERMAN #1! Like last year’s crossover, fans can look forward to a double-dose of history-making comic book storytelling with DC publishing a separate one-shot, Superman/Spider-Man, in March.

The lead story where Spider-Man and Superman join forces will be written by New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer in his first full-length Marvel Comics story, and drawn by one of Marvel’s most acclaimed artists, Pepe Larraz. In addition, the one-shot will feature various bonus stories by a monumental lineup of industry talent, each co-starring Marvel and DC characters, including a few surprises readers will be talking about for the next fifty years!

Here’s what to expect:

• THWIP, THWIP AND AWAY! Brad Meltzer and Pepe Larraz pit SPIDER-MAN and SUPERMAN against LEX LUTHOR and NORMAN OSBORN as their greatest villains exploit some of their greatest weaknesses!
• In the shadow-laden 1930s, SPIDER-MAN NOIR encounters the original GOLDEN AGE SUPERMAN as told by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin!
• Industry powerhouse Geoff Johns delivers his first Marvel story in over 20 years, teaming up with frequent collaborator and fellow superstar Gary Frank! A crisis ensues as the hit creative team bring the Super- and Spider-families against each together at the summons of MYSTERIO…but is their true foe an ally out of control?!
• SYMBIOTE hordes invade Metropolis as a new War of the Realms ignites in Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s epic reunion starring Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor, Wonder Woman and more!
• Co-creator of STEEL Louise Simonson and artist Todd Nauck hammer out the tale of John Henry Irons’ clash with the HOBGOBLIN.
• Current Amazing Spider-Man scribe Joe Kelly and artist Humberto Ramos deliver a campus crossover between GWEN STACY and LANA LANG!
• SPIDER-MAN (MILES MORALES) teams up with SUPERMAN in a tale by Miles’ legendary co-creators, Brian Michael Bendis, who recently made his grand return to Marvel, and Sara Pichelli!
• And more!

“I’ve been waiting fifty years to write this book,” Meltzer shared. “Superman and Spider-Man have affected me more than most real people. I carry them with me everywhere — and our story cuts to the core of what it means to be a good person. I’m honored that Nick Lowe and everyone at Marvel even asked. Just wait until you see Pepe’s work. Get your capes and web-shooters ready…”

“Everyone here at Marvel is excited to be re-teaming with our friends at DC for another colossal crossover, this time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our two icons, Spider-Man and Superman, first teaming up!” Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski added. “I can’t wait for fans of every generation to read these spectacular stories that our titanic talent are telling, featuring all-new, easily accessible stories about the ever-growing Spider-Man and Superman families meeting for the first time.”

SPIDER-MAN/SUPERMAN will include a main cover by Pepe Larraz and an assortment of stunning variant covers by top artists, some of which reflect the one-shot’s bonus stories. Today, fans can check out variant covers by Sara Pichelli, Walter Simonson, Greg Capullo, Marcos Martin, Ryan Stegman, Peach Momoko, Erik Larsen, Jerome Opeña, and Russell Dauterman along with a wraparound cover by Kaare Andrews and a Foil Cover by Mark Bagley. A Logo Mash-Up Variant Cover will also be available.