(1976)

Marvel; DC, 1976 Series
Published in English (United States) United States
 
Price
0.75 GBP
Pages
100
On-sale Date
1976-01
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
National Periodical Publications Inc. and Marvel Comics Group
Brand
DC and Marvel Present
Printer
Printed in the U.S.A.
Editing
Carmine Infantino (see notes); Stan Lee (see notes); Gerry Conway (see notes); Roy Thomas (credited) (consulting editor); Julius Schwartz (credited) (consulting editor); Marv Wolfman (credited) (consulting editor); E. Nelson Bridwell (credited) (consulting editor); Sol Harrison (credited) (producer); Jack Adler (credited) (assistant producer)
Color
color
Dimensions
tabloid
Paper Stock
cardstock cover; newsprint interior
Binding
squarebound
Publishing Format
one-shot

Issue Notes

"A DC-Marvel Production" on spine. Indicia reads "Published by" and "Copyright © 1976 National Periodical Publications, Inc. [a.k.a. DC] and the Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation," but National's address is given as Office of Publication.

On sale date from the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Books and Pamphlets, 1976. Same date given in Comic Reader #126, as well as a scan of The Amazing World of DC Comics #9 on Rob Kelly's Treasury Comics website. Also, the Marvel UK comics of the time bear this out, as they run back-cover ads for this title on the issues dated "week ending Jan. 10, 1976" and "Jan. 17". As the British Marvels were published at the actual time of their cover-dates, this confirms that this title was on sale in the UK during January 1976.

Credits based on interviews conducted by Daniel Best for article available at Adelaide Comics and Books website [accessed 26 August 2009]. Official credits in publication are "drawn by" Andru and "inked by" Giordano. Splash page reads "Presented by: Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee"; this was changed to "Edited by" in the 1991 Crossover Classics collection, but no primary editor is given in the original. Conway told Steve Cohen that he "did the actual editorial work," i.e. "proofing, supervision of production, supervision of art and lettering and coloring" [via Facebook 4 September 2009]. Lee's introduction says literary agent David Obst "started the entire project". DC/National production manager Sol Harrison "co-ordinat[ed] the project" with the assistance of his Marvel counterpart Sol Brodsky per Infantino's introduction.

Full indicia: "SUPERMAN VS. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Published by National Periodical Publications, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group. Office of Publication: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. Copyright © 1976 by National Periodical Publications, Inc. and the Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industries Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The stories, characters and incidents mentioned in this magazine are entirely fictional. No actual persons, living or dead, are intended or should be inferred. Printed in the U.S.A."

First Marvel / DC crossover and second co-publication, after MGM's Marvelous Wizard of Oz. Next crossover is Marvel Treasury Edition #28 featuring Superman and Spider-Man.

According to Overstreet, there are 5,000 numbered issues signed by Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee. Based on information gleaned from several internet postings and sales, it appears that only 2000 copies were in the signed edition. Furthermore, because Carmine Infantino was no longer editor at DC as of the end of January 1976, it appears that only a fraction of the 2000 copies were signed by him (at least from #431 up do not bear Infantino's signature). All copies were signed by Stan Lee. Overstreet's claim of the signed copies being a second printing is not supported by any data on the comics themselves.
This issue is a variant of Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel; DC, 1976 series) .

The Battle of the Century (Table of Contents)

Spider-Man; Superman / cover / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Carmine Infantino (roughs); Ross Andru (finished pencils); Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe ?
Letters
Gaspar Saladino; typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

A Soliloquy from Stan Lee; A Comment from Carmine Infantino (Table of Contents: 1)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script
Stan Lee; Carmine Infantino
Pencils
? (Photos)
Inks
? (Photos)
Colors
? (Photos)
Letters
Sol Harrison (production); Jack Adler (production assist); typeset

Characters
Stan Lee (photo); Carmine Infantino (photo)

Indexer Notes

The inside front cover presents "A Soliloquy from Stan Lee" and "A Comment from Carmine Infantino" above indicia.

The Battle of the Century! (Table of Contents: 2)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The first interior page is a pin-up of the heroes facing off above the credits and story title.

Prologue 1: Superman (Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Winter in Metropolis:
Genre
superhero
Characters
Morgan Edge; Lois Lane; Steve Lombard; Lex Luthor (villain); Jimmy Olsen; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
After a rampage through Metropolis, Luthor tussles with Superman and is sent to jail -- but first manages to hide a device stolen from STAR Labs.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 1-15. According to a letter in Back Issue #66 (August 2013), Terry Austin asserts that he was Dick Giordano's sole background inker in this period. He explains; "I was hired by Dick Giordano in the summer/early fall of 1974 when Klaus Janson vacated the position. I was Dick's only background inker for every project that he worked on for the next three years that I was in his employ." Page 2 has "Terry's Bar" and page 3 had "Austin Bread" as businesses drawn into the cityscape. Previous indexer credited Joe Rubinstein and Bob Wiacek with assists.

Now a Pause for Hero Identification (Table of Contents: 4)

Superman / character profile / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Born on the planet Kypton...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Superman's origin is recapped on an unnumbered page.

Prologue 2: The Amazing Spider-Man (Table of Contents: 5)

Spider-Man / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); John Romita (some faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Winter in Manhattan:
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius] (villain); J. Jonah Jameson; Robbie Robertson; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Mary Jane Watson
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
Spider-Man battles Doc Ock on a Manhattan rooftop and again over Central Park.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 16-30.

Yet Another Pause for Hero Identification (Table of Contents: 6)

Spider-Man / character profile / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); John Romita (Peter Parker face)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
While still in high school, young Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider at a science exhibition...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Spider-Man's origin, powers, and gadgets are recapped on an unnumbered page.

Prologue 3: Lex Luthor and Dr. Octopus (Table of Contents: 7)

Doctor Octopus; Lex Luthor / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds); Bob Wiacek (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Several miles southwest of Deming, New Mexico...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius] (villain); Lex Luthor (villain)
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
Luthor and Octopus escape from a New Mexico prison.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 31-35. According to a letter from Terry Austin in Back Issue #66 (August 2013), Bob Wiacek inked backgrounds on three pages of this chapter only. This information was confirmed by Wiacek.

And Leave Us Not Forget Our Villainous Villains (Table of Contents: 8)

Doctor Octopus; Lex Luthor / character profile / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Such as our Otto Octavious.
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Lex Luthor
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The villains' origins are recapped on an unnumbered page.

Chapter One: A Duel of Titans (Table of Contents: 9)

Spider-Man; Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
So this is the World News Conference!
Genre
superhero
Characters
Betty Brant; Morgan Edge; J. Jonah Jameson; Lois Lane; Ned Leeds; Lex Luthor (villain); Jimmy Olsen; Robbie Robertson; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson; Perry White
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
The Daily Bugle and WGBS / Daily Planet staffers arrive at the World News Conference in New York City. At the display of Comlab One, "the world's first orbiting communications laboratory," Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson appear to vanish in a flash of the Man of Steel's super-vision.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 36-45. "One" is spelled out, but later chapters use numerals.

Chapter 2: When Heroes Clash! (Table of Contents: 10)

Spider-Man; Superman / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman alterations); John Romita (Spider-Man alterations)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Far below, on the streets surrounding Manhattan's Columbus Circle...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius] (villain); Lex Luthor (villain); Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
Superman and Spider-Man battle over Manhattan, the Web-Slinger having secretly been charged with red-sun radiation by Luthor.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 46-59. First meeting of Superman and Spider-Man, after a brief exchange as Peter Parker and Clark Kent in previous chapter.

Chapter 3: The Call of Battle! (Table of Contents: 11)

Spider-Man; Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Down there, Spider-Man: The old Penn Central Railroad Yard.
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius] (villain); Lois Lane; Lex Luthor (villain); Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
Our heroes trace their nemeses to an abandoned railroad yard and then Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 60-71.

Chapter 4: The Doomsday Decision (Table of Contents: 12)

Spider-Man; Superman / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Your pal Luthor goes in for gizmos in a big way, Supes!
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius] (villain); Morgan Edge; J. Jonah Jameson; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor (villain); Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Synopsis
After the villains arrive at the satellite headquarters of the Injustice Gang, Luthor uses the stolen STAR Labs device to control the just-launched Comlab One. Spider-Man and Superman tackle their foes in orbit before the Metropolis Marvel must return Earthside to confront a tsunami, while Doc Ock is stunned by the extent of his partner's schemes.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 72-91.

Epilogue (Table of Contents: 13)

Spider-Man; Superman / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway (credited)
Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited); Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe (credited)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (credited)

Job Number
C-154
First Line of Dialogue or Text
Twenty minutes later...
Genre
superhero
Characters
Morgan Edge; J. Jonah Jameson; Lois Lane; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson
Synopsis
Peter Parker and Clark Kent return with exclusives of their alter-egos in action.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pg 92.

How This Famous Cover Was Born (Table of Contents: 14)

Spider-Man; Superman / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Carmine Infantino (credited) (sketches); Ross Andru (credited) (finished cover pencils); Neal Adams (Superman redraws on cover repro)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited) (figures on cover repro); Terry Austin (backgrounds on cover repro)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (cover title); typeset

Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The inside back cover presents Infantino's cover sketches, followed by a black-&-white reproduction of the end result.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 15)

Spider-Man; Superman / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils
Ross Andru (credited); Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano (credited)
Colors
Jerry Serpe ?

Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Universe
Crossover Earth - Earth-7642
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Back cover. Pin-up of Spider-Man and Superman.