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Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: Conway’s Corner Crossover (Group) — CBTM049

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It’s Superman vs. Spider-Man in a battle of the ages! or something along those lines.

Ben’s #1 favorite superhero meets Matt’s #1 favorite superhero! What happens when Marvel and DC’s greatest creations meet? Do Lex Luthor and Dr. Octopus make for a good team-up?

Does this giant-sized comic book live up to the hype?

It’s the first ever team-up of DC and Marvel;s greatest heroes, and when they meet, fists will fly, people will fly, and the very world is in danger!

This is a part of the Conway’s Corner Crossover, which started as a result of some comments he made about royalties for character he created being used in other media. He’s since back down on some of his comments, but that was the impetus behind creating what may be the first of many crossovers between comic book-themed podcasts celebrating great creators.

Here’s a list of the other podcasts involved:

Fire & Water Podcast — Episode 125, interview with Gerry Conway about creator equity

Superman & Batman Podcast — Episode 32, covering World’s Finest #269

Flowers & Fishnets — Episode 11, covering World’s Finest #245

SuperMates — Episode 31, covering Superman Family #186

From Kid to Flash — Episode 18, covering Secret Society of Supervillains #8 and 9

The Hammer Podcasts! — Episode 12, covering The Mighty Thor #224

Between The Pages Blog — Blog post covering a LOT of stories

Quarter Bin Podcast — Episode 52, covering Justice League of America #188

LanternCast — Episode 220, covering Brave and the Bold #174 & Super Team Family #1

King-Size Comics Giant-Size Fun — Episode 22, covering DC Special Series #1

Vault Of Startling Monster Horror Tales Of Terror — Episode 48, covering Tomb of Dracula #1

Pop Culture Affidavit Presents 80 Years of DC Comics — Episode 6, covering Cinder and Ashe

Back to the Bins — Gerry Conway Crossover episode

5 Responses to "Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: Conway’s Corner Crossover (Group) — CBTM049"

Superman & Batman, Episode 32 « Great Krypton! says:

May 25, 2015 at 12:12 pm

[…] – Head Speaks, Episode 11, Covering FIRESTORM #1 and #2! – Comic Book Time Machine, , Episode 49: They heard you like crossovers, so they put a crossover in your crossover so you can crossover […]

Reply
Eric Lamont says:

May 27, 2015 at 4:12 pm

Fun episode, guys!
Mr. Conway was faced with the unenviable task of bringing together two of comics most iconic characters, and he rose to the occasion, in true heroic fashion!

No easy feat, considering that the two characters couldn’t have been more different at the time.
While Superman was (in many ways) still very much a product of The Silver Age, our infallible father-figure hero. Spider-Man, on the other hand, was a new generation of hero, the kid who couldn’t catch a break, and who was saddled with as much angst (and as many problems) as The Marvel Bullpen could throw at the wall-crawler.

Conway’s experience at having written both characters served him well.
He balanced the two worlds better than anyone could have hoped for. Even if the tone of the story sort of tilted more toward Superman, that’s no fault of Conway.
Superman (in 1976) was the type of character that demanded a certain type of story be told around him. A “super” story, if you will.
Spider-Man is a more reactionary character. More flexible in the type of story environments he can exist in.
He could leap from street-level crime, to sci-fi villainy, to supernatural adventures with ease. (A trait that served him well for 13 years in ‘Marvel Team-Up’).
Spider-Man adapts to situations. Superman is the situation. Conway seems to have understood that.

Thanks for your participation in The ConwayXover.
I really enjoyed it!
Will be adding you to my list of regular podcast listening.

Eric Lamont, (Puerto Rico)

Reply
1. BenAvery says:
  
  June 5, 2015 at 9:16 am
  
  Thanks, Eric! We look forward to hearing from you again!
  
  I like that interpretation — the idea that Superman IS the situation, while Spidey can adapt TO situations.
  
  Superman IS the situation is maybe a story element that could be used in Superman stories more often, as he deals with that kind of reaction to him wherever he goes.
  
  Reply
Michael Poteet says:

May 28, 2015 at 1:06 pm

I never owned this issue as a kid, but finally bought it 10 or so years ago, when my son and I were reading a bunch of both heroes’ Silver Age adventures together. I remember it being a lot of fun, but really only a one-read proposition, and confess I didn’t hang on to my copy. (I know for sure I didn’t pay $50 for it… maybe more in the $20 range? It was a decade ago, anyhow.) Now, of course, hearing you, and enjoying your recap and discussion, I wish I’d hung on to the thing… oh, well…!

Of course, the thing about crossovers and “versus” and grudge matches and team-ups like this: They’re never as good as what you can dream up on your own. As Ben asks, was “all fandom clamoring for this,” as Stan Lee wrote? I somehow doubt it. Instead, they were playing with their superhero toys, or writing and drawing their own crossovers. It’s a cool milestone, and all.. but, eh. Not one to stand the test of time. Has any novelty story like this ever really held up?

Thanks for a very fun episode!

PS. Neither of you must wear corrective lenses, judging from your incredulous reaction that Doc Ock would panic when losing his glasses! It can truly be a terrifying experience!

Reply
1. BenAvery says:
  
  June 5, 2015 at 9:21 am
  
  Michael, I wasn’t reacting to the panic when he lost his glasses so much as he wouldn’t HAVE to panic if he would just be thinking “I’m could possibly be fighting superheroes anywhere I go” and not just wear regular frames and easily breakable lenses. The guy can create mechanical legs controlled by thought but can’t invent glasses that stay on and are shatter proof? It’s a problem of character design, and Conway rightfully exploits it.
  
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