([April] 1976)

Marvel; DC, 1976 Series
 
Price
2.00 USD
Pages
100
On-sale Date
1976-01-02
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
National Periodical Publications, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group
Brand
DC and Marvel Present
Editing
Carmine Infantino (see notes); Stan Lee (see notes); Gerry Conway (see notes); Roy Thomas (consulting editor); Julius Schwartz (consulting editor); Marv Wolfman (consulting editor); E. Nelson Bridwell (consulting editor)

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."
This issue has variants:

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; Sol Harrison (production); Jack Adler (production assist); typeset
Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Reprints
Cover Thumbnail for Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel; DC, 1976 series) #[nn] Cover Thumbnail for Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976 series) #[nn] [British]
Edit cover
Cover gallery

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
?
Pencils
Ross Andru
Inks
Dick Giordano
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

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

The Battle of the Century! Prologue 1 (Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Morgan Edge; Lois Lane; Steve Lombard; Lex Luthor; Jimmy Olsen; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
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. Main title from title page. 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 / recap / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Superman's origin is recapped on an unnumbered page.

The Battle of the Century! Prologue 2 (Table of Contents: 5)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; John Romita (some faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; J. Jonah Jameson; Robbie Robertson; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Mary Jane Watson
Synopsis
Spider-Man battles Doc Ock on a Manhattan rooftop and again over Central Park.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 16-30. Main title from title page.

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

Spider-Man / recap / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; John Romita (Peter Parker face)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
Reprints

Indexer Notes

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

The Battle of the Century! Prologue 3 (Table of Contents: 7)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin; Bob Wiacek (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Lex Luthor
Synopsis
Luthor and Octopus escape from a New Mexico prison.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 31-35. Main title from title page. 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 / recap / 1 page (report information)

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Lex Luthor
Reprints

Indexer Notes

The villains' origins are recapped on an unnumbered page.

The Battle of the Century! Chapter One: A Duel of Titans (Table of Contents: 9)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Betty Brant; Morgan Edge; J. Jonah Jameson; Lois Lane; Ned Leeds; Lex Luthor; Jimmy Olsen; Robbie Robertson; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson; Perry White
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. Main title from title page. "One" is spelled out, but later chapters use numerals.

The Battle of the Century! Chapter 2: When Heroes Clash! (Table of Contents: 10)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman alterations); John Romita (Spider-Man alterations)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Lex Luthor; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
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. Main title from title page. First meeting of Superman and Spider-Man, after a brief exchange as Peter Parker and Clark Kent in previous chapter.

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

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson
Synopsis
Our heroes trace their nemeses to an abandoned railroad yard and then Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Pgs. 60-71. Main title from title page.

The Battle of the Century! Chapter 4: The Doomsday Decision (Table of Contents: 12)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; Neal Adams (Superman redraws); John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
Genre
superhero
Characters
Doctor Octopus [Otto Octavius]; Morgan Edge; J. Jonah Jameson; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]; Mary Jane Watson
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. Main title from title page.

The Battle of the Century! Epilogue (Table of Contents: 13)

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

Script
Gerry Conway
Pencils
Ross Andru; John Romita (some Marvel faces)
Inks
Dick Giordano; Terry Austin (backgrounds)
Colors
Jerry Serpe
Letters
Gaspar Saladino
Job Number
C-154
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. Main title from title page.

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

illustration / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Carmine Infantino (sketches); Ross Andru (finished cover pencils); Neal Adams (Superman redraws on cover repro)
Inks
Dick Giordano (figures on cover repro); Terry Austin (backgrounds on cover repro)
Letters
Gaspar Saladino (cover title); Sol Harrison (production); Jack Adler (production assist); typeset
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
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; Neal Adams (Superman redraws)
Inks
Dick Giordano
Colors
Jerry Serpe ?
Genre
superhero
Characters
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Superman [Clark Kent / Kal-El]
Reprints
Editing
Issue at my.comics.org
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. The Battle of the Century
    Spider-Man; Superman
  2. 1. A Soliloquy from Stan Lee; A Comment from Carmine Infantino
  3. 2. The Battle of the Century!
  4. 3. The Battle of the Century! Prologue 1
    Superman
  5. 4. Now a Pause for Hero Identification
    Superman
  6. 5. The Battle of the Century! Prologue 2
    Spider-Man
  7. 6. Yet Another Pause for Hero Identification
    Spider-Man
  8. 7. The Battle of the Century! Prologue 3
    Doctor Octopus; Lex Luthor
  9. 8. And Leave Us Not Forget Our Villainous Villains
    Doctor Octopus; Lex Luthor
  10. 9. The Battle of the Century! Chapter One: A Duel of Titans
    Spider-Man; Superman
  11. 10. The Battle of the Century! Chapter 2: When Heroes Clash!
    Spider-Man; Superman
  12. 11. The Battle of the Century! Chapter 3: The Call of Battle!
    Spider-Man; Superman
  13. 12. The Battle of the Century! Chapter 4: The Doomsday Decision
    Spider-Man; Superman
  14. 13. The Battle of the Century! Epilogue
    Spider-Man; Superman
  15. 14. How This Famous Cover Was Born
  16. 15. [no title indexed]
    Spider-Man; Superman
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