REVIEW: Spider-Man/Superman #1
Spider-Man/Superman #1 has leaped tall buildings in a single bound and landed right into your local comic shop. For those who enjoyed the first issue of Superman/Spider-Man last month, you’re in for a real treat, as this one delivers some jaw dropping splash pages, tear jerking character moments, and more crossovers than you can shake a kryptonite spear at!
Much like the first issue, this comic is teeming with talent, including comic writing heavy hitters like Stephanie Phillips, Brad Meltzer, Dan Slott, Geoff Johns, Jason Aaron, and so many more! Now before we crossover into this world ourselves, let’s take a peek at some of the vibrant variant covers!
To start, here’s the standard cover for this comic, drawn by Pepe Larraz and colored by Marte Garcia. It’s a triumphant image of Superman and Spider-Man coming headfirst towards the reader with the city below them, making for an eye-catching and bombastic cover. Larraz’s poses here are on point and Garcia’s colors really stand out. I really appreciate Garcia choosing to give Superman more of a light blue color to his suit, to help him stand apart from Spidey. Overall, a great choice and a great cover.
If you’re looking for something a little different, don’t worry, there’s more where that came from. Here’s a dramatic piece by Gary Frank. If you’ve read Superman: Secret Origin or Superman and the Legion of Superheroes, you might recognize his distinct realistic style. In the cover, we have a large and looming Mysterio, surrounded by green gas, billowing the borders of the page, and in the center are Supes and Spidey, attempting to escape his clutches. In the reflection of Mysterio’s fishbowl, is a hint to the overall plot in the story that Frank illustrates, but we’ll get to that later. It’s a beautiful cover that clearly shows the stakes and the gravitas these characters bring.
Next up, is a cover drawn by David Marquez and colored by Guru-eFX. Pictured is a battle ready Big Blue and Web-Head running towards the reader in their comic booky punching poses, getting ready to sock scoundrels. Behind them, Mysterio’s green smoke is turned into the images of the chaos that ensues inside the issue, which includes some battles with a variety of both of their iconic rogues gallery. It’s a cover that really pops and no doubt will entice comic readers young and old.
My personal favorite of the bunch is by Marcos Martin, which depicts Max Fleischer’s Superman and Spider-Man Noir side by side with a bright spotlight shining upon them. As a big fan of the Fleischer Superman shorts and a proud Polish guy, it’s nice to see the Fleischer suit get more love. Spider-Man Noir has quickly become one of my favorite Spider-People, so this was an instant grab for me. The artwork here by Martin really evokes the vibes from those early Superman comics, and makes sure both look equally cool in their own way.
If none of these covers tickle your fancy, there’s a boatload more to choose from. But without further ado, it’s time to turn the page and enter the Ben Day dotted world of Marvel and DC, talking about three of my favorite stories from this anthology.
Right out the gate, we got our first story “Our Kryptonite” written by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Pepe Larraz, colored by Matthew Wilson, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles. This story picks up right where the first one in Superman/Spider-Man left off, with (Spoilers Senses are tingling!) Spider-Man and Superman are buried under rubble, but thanks to Peter’s proportional strength of a spider, he’s able to hold back the weight the best he can while Supes recuperates from a deadly dose of kryptonite. Right off the bat, Meltzer’s writing here is a standout, as we get so many soon to be iconic interactions between our two heroes that will no doubt be talked about for years to come. Not only is he good with the balance of humor and drama, he also knows how to write compelling action and truly heartwarming scenes that highlight what makes these characters so beloved. The art here done by Larraz is also firing on all cylinders, with a brilliant splash page, and beautifully drawn action sequences to really help us feel the weight of what’s at stake. The colors by Wilson really help evoke the warmth and sincerity of these characters and adds a sheen to already incredible art and story. As a Spider-Man and Superman fan, I was equally satisfied with how each character was handled, and may or may not have shed a tear reading the last few pages of this spectacular story. Without a doubt, part two sealed my interest in the rest of the book and set the tone for what’s to come.
Next up, is “Metropolis Marvel’s” Written by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin, colors by Muntsa Vicente and letters by Joe Caramaona. This story features the hard-boiled, nazi-punching Spider-Man Noir as he’s on a race against time to stop the execution of an innocent man, which was orchestrated by a certain bald-bad guy who is also being pursued by the Champion of the Oppressed himself, Superman. Dan Slott does a great job of adapting his writing to an old school style to make it feel like you’re flipping through the pages of a 1930s comic book. The artwork by Marcos Martin also helps with the pulp atmosphere, and gives Superman his signature squinty, assertive expression from that time. The team had fun with the layout of the story, as they played around a little with the visual language and panels (you’ll know it when you see it). The story reminds me quite a bit of Superman issue #1 where Supes is tasked with saving the life of someone framed for murder and must try to reach the governor to prove their innocence. There’s also some fun easter eggs for eagle eyed comic fans who are familiar with some iconic covers. The colors done here by Vicente really mesh well with the art as he adds plenty of yellows and greens to the visuals, which I feel were pretty prominent in those early Superman comics. Overall, a very fun issue that puts together two slightly niche versions of iconic characters into a short and sweet story.
And rounding out my favorites from this list is “Identity War” by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Gary Frank, Colors by Brad Anderson, and Letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna. This time, our story is told through the perspective of the ever lovin’ blue-eyed Thing as this DC and Marvel merged world is being ravaged by Mysterio, as he’s come into possession of a red lantern ring and broadcasting anger and hate across the globe, inevitably, leading to battles both big and small between everyday people and the superhuman population, and who better to be used as a weapon of mass destruction, motivated by angst than the Hulk? Needless to say, Chaos ensues. Although Geoff Johns hasn’t written a Marvel story in over twenty years, John’s hasn’t skipped a beat, as this story hits all the right notes and delivers some unexpected, wholesome character moments between The Thing and Supes. As a life long fan of Ben Grimm, it was a welcome surprise to see him at center stage, and having his perspective as someone on ground level really gives this story scope. Gary Frank’s art as always is a delight to look at and his versions of Hulk, Ben, Supes and the rest of the characters on the page look exactly how you’d hope they would. The colors by Anderson really lends to Frank’s art style, making each panel pop with color while also not getting too wrapped up in the spectacle. This story is a great reminder that in a polarized world, it’s hard to tell a friend from a potential enemy. Much like the Thing, who’s experienced betrayal and loss, we sometimes feel like there’s no getting through to people, that our attempts to reason with others might be “pointless” or “exhausting”. Superman reminds us that that isn’t always the case. Sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear and the willingness to understand, especially with people who are put in scenarios they themselves can’t control. It’s a truly moving story that I’ll revisit every time I need a visual pep talk.
(9/10) Spider-Man/Superman is the perfect conclusion to an already great story and offers a wide variety of hilarious and sometimes touching character moments, thrilling action, and gorgeous artwork to boot. If you’re a longtime fan of these characters, whether you’re a casual fan or a longtime comic reader, I highly recommend thwipping this off the stand and adding this to your collection.
