Team-ups in superhero comics are a dime a dozen, but team-up series — now that’s special. But there still needs to be a hook, or why wouldn’t the series take place in either of the hero’s main series? Enter Spider-Man & Wolverine, which feels particularly special. Once you dig in and see how the story connects their pasts, you may be all-in for more. Crafted by two of Marvel’s longest-running creators, the first issue offers exciting art, good dialogue, and plenty to linger on.
Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 opens with Wolverine slicing through robot enemies. The full-page splash is dynamic, highlights Logan’s ferocity, and shows we’re in for a globetrotting show. Opening in Germany, Wolverine gets intel that a master list of spies is in the wind, and it details every mission they went on. That includes himself and those he worked with, but the biggest surprise is that other agents include the Parkers. That’s right, Peter Parker’s superspy parents are listed, which is exciting given we know so little about them.
From there, writer Marc Guggenheim captures Peter’s voice via another date he’s late to with Shay. Peter is a bit goofy and filled with excuses, and even when he tells her the truth about his parents, she assumes he’s kidding. Enter Wolverine, looking cool on a motorcycle, and away we go on the adventure.
Bring on the bad guys.
Credit: Marvel
Kaare Andrews is an exceptional Spider-Man artist, keeping him agile and weird to look at in the best of ways. Meanwhile, Wolverine is sporting the yellow and blue costume and looking great on every page. Andrews also gets to draw supervillains, and they have a wildness akin to their characters. There’s also some fun surprises with a twist on classic costumes. I won’t spoil why, but seeing Spider-Man in a classic Wolverine look is fun and just what you want in a superhero book. Andrews also plays around with darkness in interesting ways here and there.
So, is it a perfect comic? It’s pretty darn good, save for why Wolverine needed to nab Spider-Man in the first place. My guess is that it will be explained in the next issue, but at face value, you’ll be wondering why the team-up needed to happen at all, even if the connection to super spies is apparent to the reader. The cliffhanger is also a bit rich since Spider-Man typically isn’t one to have a temper, but again, the second issue will clean that up.
Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 is a visually dynamic and narratively compelling start to a team-up series that feels both nostalgic and fresh. With expressive art, witty dialogue, and intriguing connective tissue between the characters’ pasts, it lays strong groundwork—even if a few story elements need further clarification in future issues.
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