After giving us a two week break to mend our wounds while perfecting deadly new moves, mighty Bahlactus begins another cycle of Friday Night Fights...a weekly fever of mass mayhem that grips the violence-prone comic book blogosphere. So, lace up those boxing gloves, break out the smelling salts, and let's hit Friday Night Fights: Sucka-Punch!
Before the reign of never-ending Super Secret Crisis Wars, so-called "Event Comics" were few and far between in the dawning years of my comic book addiction (early to mid-70's). However, one of the first genuine (and most fondly remembered) Event Comics of that period was the Superman vs. Spider-Man treasury edition (1976).
As the first real crossover between rival publishers Marvel and DC Comics (they co-published a Wizard of Oz treasury edition a year earlier), my fellow ten year-olds and I comprehended enough of the proprietary hurdles involved to really appreciate how special the team-up was...yet at the same time being young enough to truly revel in its primal "Who'd Win In a Fight?" premise.
Needless to say, Superman vs. Spider-Man left me and my pals utterly gobsmacked...and it remains a highlight of my collection all these years later. So much so, I wanted to feature some choice panels for Round One of Sucka-Punch, but due to its unwieldy size and high-grade condition, I didn't feel like mashing it into my scanner.
However, through the miracle of YouTube, I can post the next best thing...an epic video re-creation of Superman vs. Spider-Man! In Spanish, no less!
Don't let Webhead's luchador-like mask or the Man of Steel's five o'clock
shadow fool you...these guys were BORN to play Spider-Man and Superman!
Now, watch as these two gifted actors, the magic of
amateur video, and a pulse-pounding musical score
faithfully bring to life one of comicdom's most epic events!
(except for the part where Superman is hung from a chimney like a Christmas stocking.)
Brilliant!
Posted by: Khairul H. | September 28, 2007 at 11:17 PM
Haha! Bravo Mark... I have no clue how you stumbled upon that video, but I thank Rao you did. And, being Spidey my favorite superhero, I certainly enjoyed the otherwise unlikely outcome! By the way, the music playing in the background is actually the spanish version of the opening credits of the Mazinger Z anime. Odd choice, but somehow fitting!
Oh, as for the actual comic book... I read a Mexican translation years after the original release. I was a teenager just starting to get into serious comic book collecting (after de Death of Superman media hype) but I still remember the rush of sheer joy I got out of it... they rarely make comics like that anymore.
Posted by: Guido Rosas | September 29, 2007 at 01:42 AM
Hi Guido! Glad you got a kick out of it. Oh, and thanks for identifying the music! Yes...definitely fitting that it would be some sort of anime theme song, considering so much of that kind of thing involves organized battle matches.
I agree...they rarely make comics like Superman vs. Spider-Man anymore....but the great thing about collecting comics is that you can revisit them any time you like!
Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by: Mark Engblom | September 29, 2007 at 09:49 AM