Superman/Spider-Man #1

 Superman/Spider-Man #1

Originally released in 2026

Written by Mark Waid et al.

Art by Jorge Jimenez et al.

I'm concerned that I might be overdoing it when it comes to covering these Marvel and DC crossovers, but this seems like a rare event, so I'll take whatever opportunity that I can get to read these.  Unlike the Batman and Deadpool ones (which had one central story and various side stories with subjects from all corners of the Marvel and DC universes), this feels more like a focused anthology that specifically deals with Spider-Man and Superman-related characters.

The first story is fairly standard crossover material; while Peter Parker is visiting Metropolis, Doctor Octopus steals some Kryptonite at the behest of Brainiac.  While traveling the cosmos, Brainiac was infected by some sort of mind virus and intends to get rid of it by spreading it to humanity in exchange for letting Doctor Octopus roam the stars as opposed to being confined to Earth.

After stopping disasters and saving people, Superman and Spider-Man go to confront their respective enemies only to be met with a switch-up - Ock is already onboard Brainiac's spaceship, armed with Kryptonite-covered robotic arms, while Brainiac is in Ock's base.

The conclusion is some fairly standard stuff for both heroes (Spidey is trapped beneath a pile of rubble, and since he's out of web fluid, he has to lift the rubble over his head to pull a switch that stops the spread of the mind virus; Superman has to stop Brainiac's ship from crashing to Earth), but there's some nice moments where Superman tries to get through to Ock by telling him about how years ago, an article by Clark Kent referred to Octavius as the next Einstein, and Ock seems touched that Superman remembered that.

The story focusing on Mary Jane and Lois Lane as they both talk about how things have been going in their lives has some dialogue that's a bit on-the-nose at times, but it has a really touching moment at the end.

Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber revisit their take on Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, who has transferred to the Daily Bugle and is tasked with getting photos - photos of Spider-Man!  The story is specifically a crossover between Jimmy Olsen and Carnage - when I heard about that, I thought it would be a humourous romp where Jimmy is somehow mistaken for Cletus Kasady and has to deal with the problems that come with that.  The story decidedly does not do that, but it's still entertaining.

Some of the stories feel like teasers for future series, like the crossover between Superboy from the Legion of Superheroes and Spider-Man 2099. (with Batman Beyond involved - I swear I could almost hear Kevin Conroy delivering Bruce's lines, which speaks well to the authentic feeling of the writing)  Similarly, the crossover between Superboy-Prime (who I should probably read more about; I know he shows up in Infinite Crisis) and Spider-Man from the era where he has the symbiote ends on a moment that seems like it's the prologue for another story.

Other stories are more low-key affairs (nothing to do with Loki, mind you).  One has Peter and Clark talking about the father figures who raised them as we see a young Uncle Ben traveling through Kansas, meeting Pa Kent, and saving two people caught in a flood, while another is a debate between the Daily Bugle and the Daily Planet (or rather between J. Jonah Jameson and Lois Lane).

That one largely focuses on why Jameson hates Spider-Man so much but has no problem with other heroes - Superman, Wonder Woman, the Fantastic Four, and Captain America.  It comes down to accountability (the heroes listed before don't wear masks or, in the case of Steve and the Fantastic Four, have public identities), though he seems incredibly unsympathetic towards the argument that the ones who do hide their identities (like Batman and Spider-Man) are doing so to protect their loved ones.

There's also a story with the Punisher and Power Girl, written by Gail Simone.  A blind date sends Power Girl into a bar filled with costumed supervillains, where her date (Paul, who's in the running for one of the most hated Marvel characters out there and is treated with the respect he deserves - none whatsoever) is somehow mistaken for Vandal Savage.

I'm not sure if Simone has written for Power Girl or Punisher before, but this story was fun, and helps to humanize Frank a little, making him more than just a scowling murder machine.  All in all, I thought this was great, and the pair of heroes here feels like a much more natural team-up than Batman and Deadpool. (the contrast between two characters can also make for a good story, but Superman and Spider-Man just fit together)