REVIEW: ‘Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman’ Issue 1

Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Brad Meltzer, art by Pepe Larraz, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Superman and Spider-Man find themselves trapped with a collapsing ceiling and poisonous Kryptonite.

There are also backup stories. A Spider-Man Noir and Superman story is written by Dan Slott, art by Marcos Martin, and colors by Muntsa Vicente. Gwen Stacy and Lana Lang both appear in a story written by Joe Kelly, with art by Humberto Ramos and colors by Edgar Delgado. A mega-crossover featuring Superman, The Thing, and Mysterio is written by Geoff Johns, art by Gary Frank, and colors by Brad Anderson.

Hobgoblin battles Steel in a story written by Louise Simonson, art by Todd Nauck, and colors by Rachelle Rosenberg. Ghost Spider finds Supergirl in a tale written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Phil Noto. Miles Morales teams up with Superman in a story written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Sara Pichelli, and colors by Federico Blee. ‘Symbiotes in Metropolis’ is written by Jason Aaron, art by Russell Dauterman, and colors by Wilson. Finally, Spider-Man and Superman meet again in a story written by Jeph Loeb, art by Jim Cheung, and colors by Jim David Ramos. Letters for all backup stories by Joe Caramagna.

The plot for the main story in Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 keeps the heroes pinned down, but has certainly not sacrificed intensity or pace. The story begins with Superman and Spider-Man trapped in a shrinking, dark space. With the ceiling coming in and Superman weakened by a Kryptonite-infused goblin bomb, Spider-Man is forced to hold up the roof to stop both him and his formerly invincible ally from being crushed.

It’s interesting that after such a bouncy, city-crossing adventure in the previous crossover issue, this issue keeps them stuck in the same place. It forces focus on who the characters are, with some superb storytelling and dialogue. The pressure gets heightened with each page, threatening to envelop them both.

With Superman struggling to move, there’s a chance for Spider-Man to prove himself and demonstrate why he’s such an incredible hero himself, instead of being dwarfed by his much stronger ally. It’s an engrossing story building towards a triumphant conclusion, only to have the entire plot flipped on its head.

The pace accelerates, and the location becomes much more important, moving more in the last few pages than the rest of the issue combined. It’s an exhilarating finale, and that’s not even it. There’s a genuine ending that is much more touching and personal, bringing together the families of both iconic heroes.

The personalities of both Peter and Clark are at the forefront of Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1, as they navigate a myriad of emotions. The first panels dealt with the obligatory scene-setting and universal questions, such as Spidey learning about Kryptonite. But with Superman, there isn’t a conflict. He’s kind to Spider-Man, acknowledging his humor. They work well together.

And when the ceiling starts collapsing, the phenomenal bravery of Peter Parker comes to life. His determination is profound, digging deep to find the strength to keep pushing. Superman is stunned by the resilience. And when they start talking about why Spider-Man does what he does, we get a glimpse at the darkness and heart within the wall-crawler. The dialogue is sensational, so in-depth and reaching into the roots of what makes these characters so special.

Superman is unable to use his physical strength, so he resorts to his other powers. His ability to uplift, inspire, and support is remarkable. His kindness is what makes him shine. This is later seen in Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1, when both Peter and Clark are out of costume. They are both good people raised by great, kind families, and that’s what ties them together. The villains in the comic are very few, but that’s because the heroes are so prominent.

The art is fantastic. More than half of the issues occur in a tiny, enclosed space, making it impossible to determine where they are. So much of the comic is built on the body language and facial expressions of the figures within. Spider-Man is straining hard, using every fiber of his strength to keep the ceiling from caving in. Superman is slumped, looking so dejected and weak. And when he looks at Spidey, he’s concerned, bewildered, and impressed. The walls around them slowly transform into something else, which forces the entire comic to evolve.

For so many pages, Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 is so stationary and in tight confines. But then it’s free, and the fusion of the universes is dazzling and brilliantly designed by Larraz. The movement of both heroes is gloriously captured, and around them are glimpses of a wider story, with small cameos.

The colors tell a huge amount of the story without the dialogue revealing everything. The small prison holding Superman and Spider-Man is incredibly dark, almost pitch black. And it is that solid black that is the key to the mystery. And when the Kryptonite is added to the chamber, the whole cave is filled with green light that overwhelms the red and blue of the heroes.

The other stories are a terrific selection of team-ups and encounters. In “Metropolis Marvels,” Spider-Man Noir‘s hit on the Kingpin goes awry when Superman punches his way through the wall. This is a brilliant reference to the characters’ history. While this version of Superman was created to imagine the wall-crawler in the late 1930’s, Superman was actually there. It’s also the first instance of two major differences in how the two figures fight crime.

This incarnation of Spider-Man is one of the most lethal, always carrying a gun and not afraid to use it. There’s a brilliant clash between the duo, with a clever mix of intentions. Martin also adapts Superman’s design, utilizing the original costume from his pre-war days in a superb callback.

“Sweethearts” focuses on the first girlfriends of both heroes. Both Lana Lang and Gwen Stacy were the first to try to become romantically involved with the young crime fighters, only to witness the complications that come with it. The excuses, the injuries, all of the missed dates, whilst still recognizing how brilliant they are. At the same time, both Spider-Man and Superman have swapped villains, with two sensational splash pages. There is a really sad tinge to this story, especially given the love expressed in one of the last lines. Because the love may have been young and true, but ill-fated. Tragically so for Gwen.

“Identity War” is one of the best stories in this entire anthology, because of the potential it holds. It’s like an event comic compressed into a much smaller story. Mysterio uses a red lantern to throw the whole world into a rage. This causes heroes from both universes to fight each other. The captions discuss the types of chaotic attacks that have occurred, and the art shows so many more. It’s a wild story that also features a terrific narrative, with The Thing and other kind-hearted heroes at its center. The tale has such an enormous scale that it could easily have been the feature of the entire comic.

In “Ghosting,” Steel chases Hobgoblin after he steals a device from his lab. It’s a fast-paced chase that, like many of the stories within Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1, has an amazing twist at the end. A seemingly straightforward fight is given a fantastic ending. It’s fun, comical, and exuberant, with sensational art by Nauck.

“Remarkable” brings Supergirl and Ghost Spider (Spider-Gwen) together. A fascinating concept within this story is the inclusion of egos. Both Gwen and Kara are pretty stubborn, wanting to prove they are more than just spinoffs of other characters. The energy is instantly amazing, with a tense confrontation and cheap jabs, leading to a fight with Livewire.

“The One Thing…” sees Miles Morales ask Superman for advice on the eve of an enormous assault coming in the form of a Brainiac/Dormammu team-up. Perhaps the most eye-raising part of this story is the return of Bendis and Pichelli, the creators who invented Miles in the first place.

It’s a delight to see them return to the young hero, and his youth is the key to this plot. It frames Miles as one of the new heroes, and Superman as among the first. There’s an ocean of expertise, knowledge, and experience. Once again, there’s a demonstration of Superman’s wonderful heart. He is kind and appreciative to Miles, instantly recognizing the kid’s bravery, and even gives him more than a moment of his time to answer his question.

“Symbiotes in Metropolis” may feature multiple characters, but it has two figures at the heart of it. The Mighty Thor (Jane Foster) and Wonder Woman find each other in the middle of a cataclysmic attack from Darkseid and an army of Symbiotes. There is a crisis of confidence within this tale that can only exist with Jane’s version of Thor. She looks incredible and strong, with Dauterman returning to illustrate her once again.

But that’s an external demeanor, and next to Wonder Woman, she suddenly feels inferior, even while wielding Mjolnir. It’s again a touching, genuine conversation within such a small story, with a beautiful discussion about strength and mightiness. It’s another part of Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 that could easily have constituted a full comic.

“One of Those Days” is a slow and quiet outro, where a depressed and beleaguered Spider-Man is paid a visit by Superman as the web-slinger sits on the bridge where he lost Gwen. The sadness referenced earlier reappears as Peter wallows in his grief. He’s a man who is so energetic, but the quips often compensate for a really tragic young man who has lost so much.

Superman has to once again be a supportive beacon of hope, even to someone so strong. Because everyone has moments where the sadness threatens to bubble over, I love that this is the ending, because the dialogue is so poignant and full of emotion. After so many clashes, callbacks, and Symbiotes, it’s nice to conclude with a chat.

Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 offers real substance amid the superhero stories. As glorious as the first crossover between Super and Spider was, it lacked real grit. This is a continuation of that, with many meaningful and heartfelt conversations between characters you never thought would interact.

Yes, it’s a lot of fun, and so much of the excitement comes from seeing the combinations and unexpected stories. But the heavyweight creators also add depth to the tales, either through a twist or dialogue. If there was a downside, it’s the fact that so many of these stories can be longer, even full events or series, and yet we are only treated to a few pages.

Marvel/DC: Spider-Man/Superman Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.