Marvel / DC: Spider-Man / Superman
It's another crossover. Hooray. Who gives a shit let's get into it.
Spider-Man and Superman: "Our Kryptonite"
Spider-Man and Superman are in a jam, and in order to fight their way out, they have to get to know one another, strengths and weaknesses. It's good; it starts with a normal job and forces our leads to bond, and both of them realize how surprisingly alike they are. The differences are also touched on, but ultimately the heart of our heroes is, of course, the family they grew up with, ending the story on a nice, sweet note.
Spider-Man Noir and Superman:"Metropolis Marvels"
There's a very fun retro style to this thing, very pulpy; Superman, notably, can't fly, and goes around jumping. He also takes a pose at one point inspired by both Action Comics #1 and Amazing Fantasy #15, which I almost missed. It also makes Clark Kent a light troll in a way that's very fun when he gets one good deed over on Peter.
Gwen Stacy and Lana Lang: "Sweethearts"
This is mostly just eh, though it is fun to see Clark Kent and Peter Parker from the outside, without people knowing their secrets. This one could have benefited from being written by a woman, as well, but there is one moment that turns this from just a girls' bonding moment into a reminder they both had tragedy befall them, and their lives took different directions.
Mysterio vs Superman (featuring the Thing and others): "Identity War"
I like this one. Not just because it uses Lantern lore from DC Comics, but also the angle it uses to look at the Thing and the Hulk: Superman, who always believes in people. I think it's nice to have a message of "In a world of blind rage, be kind and listen". And for two angst-ridden heroes like Ben Grimm and Bruce Banner, that manages to be touching and earnest.
Hobgoblin vs Steel: "Ghosting"
It's fine. There's nothing here that really speaks to either of these guys as a character. I think it's neat that Thor shows up and he gets to be a hammer bro with Steel.
Ghost-Spider and Supergirl: "Remarkable"
Eh. It feels like a lost opportunity; there's not a lot of emotional depth here that these characters could have, and their conflict feels forced.
Miles Morales, Spider-Man and Superman: "The One Thing..."
I liked this story. It felt honest on Miles' part, and Superman responded to it with wonderful earnestness. I know Bendis gets a bad rap, and he should: I won't forgive him for his run on Action Comics. But this and Naomi reminds you that Bendis can be a good writer, when he's reigned in.
Symbiotes in Metropolis: "The Wondrous and the Worthy"
I like seeing the intermeshed history of DC and Marvel every so often, but this one got lost in the canon a little and almost didn't have time to have a theme. I think it is nice to have a discussion about worthiness and might, but I don't think this was well-executed.
Spider-Man and Superman: "One of Those Days"
Meh. It's a bit on-the-nose and doesn't really have anything new to say. The art's cool, though.
