Ahead of their forthcoming crossover,MarvelandDCare bringing back their Spider-Boy hero, who has all the powers ofSuperman. Later this year,Marvel and DC will team up for the first time in 30 years, and to celebrate, the two publishers will release a reprint edition of Spider-Boy’s epic first appearance.
The publishers did not reveal if any other Amalgam reprints are coming.
Marvel and DC Teamed Up in the 1990s to Save Comics
Beyond Being a Gimmick, Marvel and DC’s First Team-Up Gave Fans the Amalgam Universe
In the mid-1990s, the comics' industry was near-death, thanks to the crash of the speculator boom earlier in the decade, and something had to be done to save it.Marvel and DC buried the hatchetand released a four-part miniseries that pitted their biggest characters against each other, and fans were even allowed to vote on the outcome.
Mid-way through, Marvel and DC pulled off one of the greatest comic events of the 1990s: Amalgam Comics. The two publishers created an entirely new universe, consisting of mashups of their characters, such as a Wolverine/Batman hybrid named Dark Claw and Doctor Strangefate, a mix of the publisher’s two biggest sorcerers.
Spider-Boy Was One of Amalgam’s Most Popular Characters
Spider-Boy Was One of Mike Wieringo’s Greatest Creations
Spider-Boy was another popular Amalgam character. A mix of Spider-Man and Superboy Conner Kent, he worked his way into the hearts of fans, who have clamored for his return ever since. While not a new story, theSpider-Boy Facsimile Editionwill still teleport readers back to a different era in comics.
The “Ringo Awards” are named in honor of Mike Wieringo.
Marvel/DC: Spider-Boy Facsimile Edition#1 will also serve as a tribute to one of the greatest comic artists of the 1990s: Mike Wieringo. After making a name for himself drawingThe Flash, Wieringo helped create Spider-Boy with Karl Kesel. Sadly, Wieringo passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on.
Will Other Amalgam Characters Like Spider-Boy Return?
The Amalgam Characters Are Too Good to Waste
As Marvel and DC gear up for the next big crossover, fans have been laying odds on who will meet up. Others have been wondering if the two publishers will also bring back Amalgam as well. The Amalgam characters, like Spider-Boy, represented a highmark of creativity at a dark time in the industry. For this alone, they deserve to be revisited.
MarvelandDChave remained mum about if any more Amalgam reprints will be coming, or if there will be new stories featuring the characters, but they are simply too good to go to waste. Spider-Boy, with all the powers ofSuperman, is a prime choice to revive and introduce to a new generation of fans.
