Spider-Man and Wolverine are undoubtedly the 2 greatest characters at Marvel Comics, however it’s not usually that their paths immediately cross. Even throughout that very transient interval when Peter Parker was a trainer on the Jean Grey Institute, Logan was having fun with the candy embrace of loss of life. So it’s a reasonably large deal that Marvel has revealed a brand new month-to-month team-up collection referred to as Spider-Man & Wolverine.
Why are these two iconic heroes becoming a member of forces? What menace is so nice that it requires each Spidey and Wolverine to struggle it? And can these two fiery personalities put apart their variations lengthy sufficient to get the job achieved? IGN spoke with author Marc Guggenheim and artist Kaare Andrews by way of e-mail to be taught extra concerning the new collection. First, try an unique preview of Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 beneath, after which learn on to see what they needed to say.
The Legacy of Spider-Man vs. Wolverine
Apart from the occasional large crossover like 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, Spider-Man and Wolverine didn’t have an extended observe report of teaming up within the first a number of many years of their Marvel careers. That solely actually modified with 1987’s Spider-Man vs. Wolverine, a darkish crossover particular that ends on a very bleak be aware for Peter Parker. That difficulty set the tone for each Spider-Man/Wolverine team-up that adopted.
Given its lofty standing, we had been curious if Guggenheim and Andrews felt in any respect intimidated in taking up this project. How lengthy a shadow does Spider-Man vs. Wolverine forged over this new collection?
“I’m an enormous fan of the 1987 one-shot,” Guggenheim tells IGN. “I cherished it as a child and it actually left an impression on me. I wouldn’t say, nevertheless, that I’ve discovered myself intimidated by it. It might set a bar when it comes to high quality, however it’s very tonally totally different from what I’m making an attempt to do. (Though difficulty #2 encompasses a fairly bonkers struggle between Peter and Logan.)”
“You know, I simply don’t have a look at life as a collection of intimidations,” Andrews says. “I have a look at every thing as alternative and threat—and the larger the chance, the larger the danger that’s required. And I’m continually betting the financial institution on no matter I’m doing. Not each endeavor works with that type of intuition, however comics does. And that is why comics may be the best job on the earth. You create your personal dangers, are not often held again from leaping off of tall objects, and the crashing and tumbling to the ground is the vitality it takes to attract the work—to inform the tales.”
Andrews continues, “I cherished that first e book and was at all times haunted by the small panel sequence on the finish of the story, the identical photos that haunted Peter Parker. A repeated panel that lingers with Peter after the job is finished. That’s pure comics language. You can’t replicate it in some other medium. If something, I’m seeking to be impressed by that sense reminiscence, that residue. I’m searching for new methods to go away our readers with that very same haunting. Maybe not in the identical method—however indirectly. Thank God I cherished that comedian a lot. It makes it a pleasure to tackle these pages and actual benchmark to not simply hit—however at some alternative to raised. Nothing can be worse than not being impressed, than not having dangers, than not measuring your self up in opposition to every thing you like. Working to exhaustion on tasks with excessive threat/rewards is a present that comics offers me. I like this factor. This medium. This language.”
Neither creator is a stranger to Spider-Man or Wolverine at this level. For his half, Guggenheim labored on each the continuing Wolverine and Amazing Spider-Man comics within the ‘00s, together with serving as one of many rotating writers on Marvel’s controversial Spider-Man Brand New Day initiative (the inspiration behind the following MCU Spider-Man film). Is it troublesome to settle again in with these characters after a while away? Has both Peter or Logan actually modified in that point? As Guggenheim reveals, he’s the one which’s actually modified through the years.
“I don’t assume Peter and Logan have modified all that a lot since I first wrote them,” Guggenheim says. “What’s really totally different is how a lot I’ve modified as a author. I wrote Spider-Man and Wolverine very early in my writing profession and I really feel like I’ve developed immeasurably since these early days. One of the appeals of this challenge for me is the prospect to revisit these two icons as, fairly frankly, a greater author.”
Whether or not Andrews is a greater artist than he was twenty years in the past, he’s actually a distinct one. One of the hallmarks of Andrews’ artwork fashion is that he has no set fashion. His work evolves and shifts with every new challenge. But as Andrews explains, Spider-Man & Wolverine is a case of him revisiting an earlier period of Marvel, drawing inspiration from the comics he cherished as a younger reader.
“You know, my favourite martial artist was Bruce Lee,” Andrews says. “And what Bruce did to revolutionize martial arts was to each abandon and mix types. To create ‘All Styles Combat’. And that’s how I view artmaking. One time it’s Judo, one time it’s Greco-American Wrestling, one time it’s Kung-Fu or Boxing. And on the similar time I do know it’s the ‘incorrect method’ to do that job. How do you construct a fanbase by continually altering? But I’ve by no means actually been inquisitive about constructing fanbases. I’m inquisitive about ART. I’m inquisitive about IDEAS. I’m inquisitive about THE NEW. And generally the ‘new’ is a revitalization of the ‘previous.’ A loop again. You know, I’ve at all times been experimental—desirous to zig whereas the world zags. And for some time, that meant my comedian artwork grew to become fairly on the market. But now each comedian appears just a little on the market. And I’ve discovered probably the most subversive, probably the most thrilling pocket for me is that this return to the sorts of comedian artwork I grew up studying. A type of ‘retro-nouveau’.”
Andrews continues, “At the second, I’m within the sort of comedian artwork that used to hit me proper within the center. Not a recreation of something specifically however an inspiration of how I remembered these books. And it’s not nostalgia. It’s not homage. It’s life. It’s taking possibilities and doing the incorrect factor as a result of it feels proper. If you’ve been following a few of my covers for the previous couple of years, it’s in step with these. And you recognize, these covers—I began doing them as a type of exploration of the previous. Of my previous. Comics. Fandom. And I discovered a lot pleasure, a lot vitality, a lot ‘taboo’ that that vitality has type of taken over my physique and I’m simply radiating with it. For now. Because every thing adjustments. Everything grows. And ultimately dies. But till then—you go to LIVE, child. Whatever meaning to you. LIVE.”
Spider-Man and Wolverine’s Dynamic
Peter Parker and Logan have actually had a rocky relationship through the years. They’ve been at one another’s throats, they’ve been fellow Avengers, they usually even went on a cross-dimensional caper collectively in Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert’s Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine. But the place do issues stand today? How is the dynamic between these heroes in 2025?
“Well, the wonder a part of teaming up Wolverine and Spider-Man is that even after they’re allies, there’s friction. It’s like a buddy motion comedy,” Guggenheim says. “That being stated, there’s one thing that causes greater than friction between Peter and Logan. It’s truly slightly flamable. Expect quite a lot of fireworks.”
“You know there’ll be some friction. You know they’ll be allies, they’ll be foes, they’ll be a team-up and in opposition to,” Andrews provides. “But why this time? Why this e book? How many instances can we group up Wolverine and Spider-Man and make it significant? I’ll let you know this. These are my two favourite Marvel heroes in existence. I’ve by no means drawn them collectively earlier than. Never instructed tales with them earlier than. And this one will likely be particular. We are telling tales I didn’t assume they’d permit us to inform. This is the brand new. This is the actual. If you like comics or have cherished comics you NEED to choose up this e book.”
As far as what brings the 2 characters collectively once more, Guggenheim teases, “The narrative will get kickstarted by one thing referred to as ‘the Janus Directory’ — a complete database of the true identities of each undercover operative on the earth going again many years. Without spoiling issues, I can say that Peter and Logan each have superb causes to need to preserve the Directory out of enemy arms.”
Wolverine is virtually the poster little one for superheroes with shadowy pasts, and even the Parker household has just a few skeletons in its closet at this level. Marvel has teased that the brand new collection will delve into each characters’ respective pasts, however Guggenheim confirms that readers needn’t fear about being well-versed within the historical past of both hero. Spider-Man & Wolverine will likely be exploring new revelations surrounding these characters, not returning to the Weapon X effectively.
“[It’s] probably not something I can go into an excessive amount of element about in the mean time,” Guggenheim says. That being stated, my method to continuity — Peter and Logan’s respective pasts, particularly — is designed to be utterly new reader-friendly. Whenever we reference the previous, we’ll do greater than reference it — we’ll present it. No homework required.”
In common, Spider-Man & Wolverine is designed to be as accessible as potential to Marvel newcomers. While the collection will replicate every character’s present establishment, as established within the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man relaunch and Marvel’s X-Men: From the Ashes initiative, it’s telling a standalone story that solely requires a primary familiarity with Spider-Man and Wolverine.
“We’ll undoubtedly be referencing what’s taking place within the mother or father titles — Peter’s present girlfriend exhibits up in Issue 1, for instance — however this collection is basically designed to be loved by itself,” Guggenheim says. “It’s not completely an ‘evergreen’ however that’s the final method we’re taking with it. We really need this collection to have the ability to stand by itself and stand the check of time. No strain, clearly.”
Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 will likely be launched on May 7, 2025.
Guggenheim is conserving a lot busy this 12 months. He not too long ago launched the brand new Prequel-era collection Star Wars: Jedi Knights and is making his debut at Comixology later in 2025.
Jesse is a mild-mannered employees author for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
