The best thing about Superman/Spider-Man #1 is that it leaves you wanting more. For the most part, this is because the eight stories contained in this latest DC and Marvel collaboration are so good you don’t want them to end. In a few cases, however, the writers spin tales that seem like the opening chapters to upcoming crossover event comics.
The opening story by Mark Waid and Jorge Jiménez sets the tone early on. Set in a reality where the DC Comics and Marvel Comics co-exist, Peter Parker is freelancing as a photographer and working with Clark Kent on a story. This leads to a good old-fashioned superhero team-up, as they discover their enemies, Brainiac and Doctor Octopus, have joined forces.
Waid has experience writing both heroes and makes a number of classic comic nods. And Jorge Jiménez’s art is excellent. Most of the stories in Superman/Spider-Man #1 follow this form, telling one-and-done tales set in this shared reality.
Conversely, the stories “Pages” and “Beyond the Cobwebs of Tomorrow” seem to be setting up something bigger. The former tale by Priest and Daniel Sampere finds Superboy Prime grabbing the black-suit Spider-Man for a mission to save reality. The latter story by Sean Murphy sets up an adventure to save multiple futures featuring Spider-Man 2099, the 30th-century Superboy, and Batman Beyond. Perhaps Marvel and DC are testing the waters for future crossovers?
Superman/Spider-Man #1 is full of action, heart, and laughs
Beyond the potential for upcoming events, Superman/Spider-Man #1 is about the shared humanity between two seemingly different heroes. No story better showcases this than “The Bridge” by Jeff Lemire and Rafa Sandoval. This “What If…?” story finds the Wall-Crawling Web-Head and Man of Steel talking about their foster fathers, as we see an unlikely team-up between Pa Kent and Uncle Ben.
The other common element between most of the stories in Superman/Spider-Man #1 is humor. Most have funny elements, but some are wholly devoted to comedic concepts. The levels of comedy vary too, with Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber going dark for their tale where Jimmy Olsen meets Carnage. Conversely, Gail Simone and Belén Ortega spin a screwball story where Power Girl‘s disastrous date at a mob-run club is saved by The Punisher.
The only real dud is Tom King and Jim Lee’s story teaming Mary Jane Watson and Lois Lane. King has been criticized for being unable to write women outside the context of their romantic lives. This story could be Exhibit A in that argument, as Lois and MJ dish about how great it is to have a man who “always needs you… almost as much as you need him.” To add insult to character assassination, their evacuating a bus full of children takes place entirely off-panel before the story starts! Lee’s artwork seems similarly phoned-in.
Overall, Superman/Spider-Man #1 is a must-read for any and all superhero fans. With the exception of one story, all these beloved characters are true to form, artistically and in terms of writing. Even if the teased continuations in this collection don’t get spin-off series, this will hopefully lead to more DC/Marvel team-ups.
Grade: 8/10
Superman/Spider-Man #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
