Superior Spider-Man Team-Up Primer

In 2013 the world of Spider-Man was rocked when, in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker had his body stolen by Doctor Octopus. This led to a line-wide change to pre-existing Spider-Man titles. At the time there were two core Spider-Man books, Amazing Spider-Man and Avenging Spider-Man. The latter was a spiritual successor to Marvel Team-Up, with each issue featuring Spider-Man teaming up with another hero for an issue or two. Whereas Amazing Spider-Man was replaced with Superior Spider-Man for 31 issues, Avenging Spider-Man was renamed to Superior Spider-Man Team-Up. What’s odd about the change is that the series wasn’t renamed right away. In fact, issues #15.1 through 22 were stories that featured the Doc Ock version of Spider-Man. I couldn’t tell you why it took so long for them to change the name of the title, so don’t ask me.

At any rate, there’s not much of a change to the title other than giving it a more accurate name. The rest of the series is mostly written by Chris Yost and features a rotating team of artists. It also continues where Avenging Spider-Man left off, with Otto Octavius kidnapping members of the Sinister Six which he eventually enslaves as a new team called the Superior Six (you catching the theme here?)

The series also ends up being a dumping ground for cross-overs that the tight plotting of Superior Spider-Man couldn’t allow. For example, issue #2 featured the first part of a cross-over with the 2nd volume of Scarlet Spider, while an special issue was also released that featured a cross-over with the Hulk and the All-New X-Men (whose titles also had specials) While issues #3 and 4 were tie-ins to the Infinity event that was going on in Avengers line of books.

Ultimately, the books final issues tied into and expanded upon the Goblin Nation arc that was going on in Superior Spider-Man.

With the eventual return of Peter Parker as Spider-Man, and thus the status quo, Superior Spider-Man Team-Up wrapped up after just 12 issues.