Superman and Spider-Man
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Superman and Spiderman is an intercompany comic book jointly published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics in 1981. Number 28 (and final) in the Marvel Treasury Edition series, it is the "sequel" to 1976's Superman vs the Amazing Spider-Man featuring DC's biggest hero Superman and Marvel's biggest hero Spider-Man.
Get this story on the Marvel/DC Collection Vol 1
Publication history
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man was very much a collaboration between the two companies; this second treasury-sized edition was largely the work of Marvel, with DC's approval. The first team-up featured the heroes' most popular enemies, Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus, but writer Jim Shooter clearly sought plot convenience over "rogues gallery" prominence, and chose Doctor Doom (more typically a Fantastic Four villain) from Marvel, and the Parasite, a lesser-known criminal, from DC.
The book was officially co-written by Shooter and Marv Wolfman, who was historically a Marvel Comics scribe, but at the time was writing the popular DC title The New Teen Titans. John Buscema penciled the story, which was inked by a who's-who of contemporary Marvel talent: Terry Austin, Klaus Janson, Bob Layton, Steve Leialoha, Bob McLeod, Al Milgrom, Josef Rubinstein, Walter Simonson, Joe Sinnott, and Bob Wiacek. The front cover was painted by Bob Larkin from a layout by John Romita, Sr.
Other features of the book include Superman and Spider-Man's origins on the inside front cover, an earlier cover concept on the inside back cover, and house ads for both Marvel and DC.
Plot summary
"The Heroes and the Holocaust!" lacks the first-time impact of its predecessor, and the artwork boasts fewer poster-style pages which take advantage of the larger format. The story, however, works better, and we encounter fewer of the lapses in plot logic so common to mainstream comic books. As a bonus, the comic also pitches Superman against the Incredible Hulk for the first time, and Spider-Man against Wonder Woman.
Whereas Luthor had dominated the evil plotting in the first crossover, the crime here belongs to Doctor Doom. The story begins with Spider-Man stumbling onto a bank robbery. He solves this tidily, but feels a strange Spider-sense uneasiness about a nearby construction site. Unable to determine the source of the danger, he moves on.
The reader learns, however, that the site camouflages an elaborate base of Doctor Doom's, one of many connected with something called "Project Omega," his greatest undertaking, on which he has apparently been working for years. The next step of the project involves luring the Hulk to Metropolis, using a special micro-transmitter.
Word of the Hulk's advance towards the city gets the attention of J Jonah Jameson, publisher of The Daily Bugle, and Peter Parker naturally takes the assignment. He steps off the New York/Metropolis bus just in time to witness the confrontation between Superman and the Hulk. Parker changes into his Spider-Man costume, but he finds himself outclassed and unable to contribute.
After battling the Hulk, Superman discovers the beacon and destroys it, winning the Hulk's trust. Calmed, the Hulk reverts to his Bruce Banner form. Doom's plan has been fulfilled; the semi-controlled Hulk has slammed a specific location hard enough to release the Parasite from his special underground cell. Banner is released into the custody of STAR Labs, where they will search for a cure. All well and good, but Doom wants Banner for his plan, and now he knows exactly where to find him.
Peter Parker goes to work for The Daily Planet; Clark Kent takes a leave and joins the staff of the Bugle in New York City. He has realized that the Hulk's controlled rampage was designed to free the Parasite, and reasons that, as Luthor is behind bars, only Dr. Doom could be behind this scheme. Superman visits the monarch of Latveria at its New York embassy. Doom freely admits he's plotting world domination. Why not? Superman is sworn to uphold the laws of men, and on Latverian soil, Doom is the law. He even makes an attempt to capture the Man of Steel. In an interesting twist, however, Superman is able to use a standard feature of villain headquarters — lead-lined everything — to his advantage. When the kryptonite comes out, Superman rolls himself in the lead-lining, thus blocking the lethal radiation. Doom's scheme proves unsuccessful, but he remains untouchable.
While Clark Kent works his mild-mannered charm on the cantankerous Jameson, Peter Parker naturally has to deal with Steve Lombard, the jock sportscaster who harassed Kent throughout the 1970s. Eventually, Parker stumbles onto the Metropolis division of Project Omega, around the same time as Wonder Woman, who has also been pursuing this case. (Actually Doom has planted evidence in order to help her get this far; her capture also forms part of his master plan.)
Spider-Man and Wonder Woman fall into fighting under false pretenses, but quickly realize they're on the same side and join forces. Unfortunately, Doom neutralizes and captures Wonder Woman before they can accomplish anything. Spider-Man escapes and trails her captors to their destination, where he learns the truth about Project Omega.
The installations, positioned all across the world, will go online and emit a particular radiation which will render most forms of fuel useless. Only a special generator built by Doom will provide the energy the world needs; he will step into the chaos and make himself absolute monarch. He tells the Parasite, whose abilities will be enhanced with the absorbed powers of Wonder Woman, the Hulk, and Superman (who finally arrives), that the Parasite will be Doom's privileged enforcer. The Parasite likes the idea, but only because he intends to turn on Doom. He won't get that chance, of course. Doom knows that the combined power of all of these beings will burn out the Parasite, turning his body into a kind of crystal that will help power his super-reactor.
A battle with the Parasite, Doom, several ugly goons, and a giant robot ensues. Doom and the Parasite turn on each other, while Superman and Spider-Man use their respective abilities to foil Doom's plot. They also prevent the accidental world-destroying explosion of Doom's super-reactor. The Hulk wanders off when the stasis tube in which he was imprisoned cracks, the Parasite gets recaptured, and Doom manages to make it back to the embassy seconds before Superman catches up with him.
