DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man is Another Dose of Crossover Fun (Review)

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Marvel and DC are teaming up again for an exciting crossover, bringing together two of the most popular superheroes of all time: Superman and Spider-Man. It feels like just recently they announced their first collaboration in years. Following the success of previous crossovers like the Batman and Deadpool specials, we’re now seeing even more team-ups. While I enjoyed last year’s crossovers, I was particularly excited about this one—seeing Superman and Spider-Man together is always a treat, even though it’s not the very first time they’ve joined forces.

This issue, similar to the last crossover event, focuses on a main story featuring the titular characters, written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Jorge Jiménez. It also includes several additional stories from well-known comic creators such as Christopher Priest, Greg Rucka, and Gail Simone, with art by icons like Jim Lee, Daniel Sampere, and Nicola Scott. As with the previous event, the comic is packed with content, and quality varies between stories. However, it’s generally a very enjoyable read and sure to please fans of both Spider-Man and Superman.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros Cons
Both characters and casts portrayed well Backups feel a bit too short
Incredibly fun read Varying quality between main feature and backups

Superman/Spider-Man is a Solid, Competent Crossover with Fun Ideas

The crossover event centers around the story “Truth, Justice, and Great Responsibility,” and it’s a really enjoyable read. Brainiac, struggling with a virus, seeks help from Doctor Octopus, who unfortunately uses kryptonite to spread the virus to Earth. Superman and Spider-Man, portrayed as established friends who know each other’s secret identities, must then team up to find them and save the planet. This story does a great job of seamlessly combining the two heroes’ universes and allows both to showcase their strengths. I was especially pleased that this story was given the space to develop, as it truly delivered.

The other stories were also well-done. For example, Tom King and Jim Lee’s “The World’s Finest” showed us Spider-Man and Superman through the eyes of the people they loved most. Christopher Priest and Daniel Sampere’s “Pages” offered a playful, self-aware story pairing Superboy-Prime with Spider-Man’s black suit. And Sean Murphy’s “Beyond the Cobwebs of Tomorrow” gave us a look at the future, teaming up a young Clark Kent with Miguel O’Hara. Plus, there were some really strange and unexpected team-ups throughout the special!

The latest issue features several unique team-ups and storylines. Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber bring together Jimmy Olsen and the villain Carnage in “Jimmy Con Carnage,” while Jeff Lemire and Rafa Sandoval focus on the father-son dynamic between Jonathan Kent and Ben Parker in “The Bridge.” Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott explore the complexities of truth in reporting as the teams from The Daily Planet and The Daily Bugle collaborate in “Bias.” Finally, Gail Simone and Belen Ortega deliver an unexpected pairing with Power Girl and the Punisher in “Blind Date.” With such a diverse range of stories, there’s something to appeal to every reader.

Superman/Spider-Man’s Overall Execution Makes Up For Any Flaws

This is the third team-up story presented in this style – a main adventure alongside several shorter, supporting tales. I appreciate DC and Marvel doing these crossovers after a long gap, but this particular book feels a little inconsistent. To be clear, Superman/Spider-Man delivers on its premise, and the main story is excellent in both writing and artwork. However, the quality of the backup stories varies, and their brevity prevents Superman/Spider-Man from being truly exceptional – it’s a good crossover, but not a phenomenal one.

I still enjoyed a lot of the backup stories – I was a big fan of things like Fraction and Lieber’s “Jimmy Olsen” run, and “Jimmy Con Carnage” was hilarious. Plus, Gail Simone will likely be applauded for including Paul Rabin as Power Girl’s date in “Blind Date.” However, my main issue is that these backups are too short to really develop a good story. It often feels like they end right when things are getting interesting.

I suspected the extra stories might not be as strong as the main Batman/Deadpool adventure, especially after reading the specials. However, they’re still enjoyable. The characters all feel true to themselves, and the stories manage to blend comedy, action, and quieter, more thoughtful scenes nicely. While the main story is definitely the highlight, the backup stories aren’t a waste of time. It’s just fun to see these characters and worlds collide, and that makes them worth reading.

This isn’t a groundbreaking team-up, but it really gets what makes Superman and Spider-Man, along with their friends and families, so special. The people who made this comic clearly love both heroes, and while it’s not flawless, it offers a fresh and enjoyable take on their stories. If you want a lighthearted comic that also celebrates two of the greatest superheroes ever created, you’ll probably enjoy this crossover.

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2026-03-25 16:41