This column’s main habit is to highlight and recommend an exceptional, fascinating, distinctive or important comic book on the day of its release, which are, of course, Wednesdays, when it comes to the comic book industry.
There is no shortage of new comics on the store shelves each and every week, but today the publishers of our favourite pop culture medium are gifting us something entirely singular. Something that doesn’t happen often. Something you need to know about. Something you need to go out and get and salivate over.
Today sees the release of the eye-popping, mouth-watering, big-two crossover of DC Comics and Marvel Comics presentation of Superman/Spider-Man #1.
Sure, it’s not breaking new ground, but co-publications between the two largest comic book publishers in the multiverse don’t happen very often, making them cause for fanboys and fangirls everywhere to celebrate.
Who didn’t, in their youth, debate the strongest, fastest, coolest-looking, most powerful superhero over recess or fourth-period lunch when they were a kid? Maybe even <cough, cough> over dinner at last weekend’s comic con?
Hey, if it’s worthy of debate for the stars of Stand By Me, then it’s an admirable discussion for the rest of us. Anytime.
But especially today.
Superman/Spider-Man #1
Written by: Various
Illustrated by: Various
Published by: DC Comics/Marvel Comics
The blue and red costumes of Superman and Spider-Man, possibly the most recognized comic book superheroes globally, fill the pages and panels of the wonderfully overstuffed greatness of the Superman/Spider-Man #1 one-shot.
Fifty years ago, for those who are long in the tooth, saw the release of the first Superman/Spider-Man crossover. Today, we celebrate that momentous occasion with a plethora of the greatest writers and artists comingling their talents to feature stories on, yes, those two heroes, but also their supporting cast.
There’s more than just costume colours in common between the big two, didn’t you know?
The headline story, “Truth, Justice and Great Responsibility,” leads the way, written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Jorge Jimenez. It’s a tale that showcases newshounds Clark Kent and Peter Parker and a web-like conspiracy that runs through multiple universes. Pulling at those fine, silky machinations are the evil minds of both Brainiac and Doctor Octopus.
Wonderful! This is already can’t-miss stuff!
But Superman/Spider-Man #1 doesn’t stop there. It also features bonus stories featuring Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson, Jimmy Olsen and Carnage, Superboy and Spider-Man 2099, Power Girl and Punisher, Superboy Prime, Pa Kent and Uncle Ben, and, of course, The Daily Planet and Daily Bugle.
Fan favourite and award-winning creators featured throughout the book include Tom King and Jim Lee, Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber, Sean Murphy, Gail Simone and Belen Ortega, Christopher Priest and Daniel Sampere, Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott, Jeff Lemire and Rafa Sandoval, along with many more!
For a crossover of this magnitude, that’s a veritable who’s who of superpowered comic book talent!
With a plethora of covers to choose from, all created by the greatest of artists and all worthy of frenzied debate at your next pop culture get-together, Superman/Spider-Man #1 is the only reason you need to make the run to your local comic book shop today.
Get in on the action and fun of the greatest superhero crossover publications of all time, which is, surely, Superman-Spider-Man #1!
You can catch an interview with writer Mark Waid and Jorge Jimenez as they talk about the comic book right here.
