Peter Parker NEVER Gets to Go to the Movies!

 

cover art by John Romita

The appeal of the team-up books published by Marvel and DC during the 1970s is in part due to their randomness. Two heroes are tossed together completely by chance to battle a villain for an issue or two and then move on with their own lives once more. Usually, these tales are completely seperate from whatever is going on in those heroes' regular titles and can thus be enjoyed on their own.

So when Spider Man and Captain Marvel team up to battle an all-new villain, it's a completely random occurance. Spidey just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and is suddenly involved in helping save the world. It is simply another adventure to be added to Spidey's growing mythology.

This all happens in Marvel Team-Up #16 (December 1973), written by Len Wein and drawn by Gil Kane. It's an adventure that begins long ago, when a Kree space ship that is transporting two powerful gems explodes. The gems end up on Earth.

One of those gems eventually finds its way to a New York Museum. And--wouldn't you know it--Peter Parker is walking by that museum, on his way to the movies--when stuff starts to happen.

A crook named Basil Elks (called the Basilisk by his fellow crooks) is trying to steal that gem. When a shot from a security guard's revolver shatters the gem, it releases power that transforms Basil into a super-villain. 

He soon discovers that he can shoot eye beams that can do pretty much whatever the writer of the story wants them to do. And, by golly, he has a built-in and appropriate villain name already--The Basilisk.

He senses the presence of the other gem, but Peter sees him bursting out from the museum wall while conveniently monologuing about his plans. The ensuing fight is about to end badly for Spidey when Captain Marvel arrives, having sensed the presence of the gem earlier. The battle ends with Basilisk escaping, but with the webslinger and the Kree taking turns saving each other before pursuing.

Basilisk traces the gem to a construction site, where the heroes catch up to him. Another battle ensues, with a particularly fun moment involving Spider Man getting temporarily flung out of the battle when Basilisk uses his eye beams in a clever way:

Spidey hurries back and keeps Basilisk distracted while Marvel digs up the gem. This, though, ends badly when that second gem suddenly expands, encasing Captain Marvel within it before vanishing. Basilisk gets away, but he's a secondary concern now. The main concern is now finding out what happened to Captain Marvel. For that, Spidey will need to swing into the next issue and seek help. We'll find out who he recruits next week.

It's a enjoyable story with strong art work by Kane. It serves the purpose that team-up books are supposed to have--telling an entertaining story within their comic book universe that allows us to see characters who don't normally work together join forces. It may keep Peter Parker from ever actually being able to go to a movie, but it's always a fun ride for us.