Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1
Published and © by DC and Marvel, 1982
Title: “Apokolips … Now”
Synopsis: When Darkseid resurrects Dark Phoenix, the X-Men and Teen Titans must join forces in an effort to save the universe.
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Terry Austin
Review: If there was a knock against the Big Two’s earlier crossovers, it was that they felt more like events than stories. This X-Men/Titans team-up is the first one that feels “real,” with a story that could easily weave into either franchise’s continuity. Kudos to longtime X-scribe Chris Claremont, who crafts a strong story built on rich characterization. His command over X-lore is no surprise, but his character work on the Titans is almost as strong. The art, by Walter Simonson and Terry Austin, is also very good, but this book practically begs for John Byrne or George Pérez on pencils.
Grade: A
Second opinion: “Now this is a crossover! Why did it take them so long to get it right? … 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.” – Comics Coast to Coast #3, 1982 … “Many incidents in the plot were incomprehensible to me, and to others I’ve spoken to who haven’t a thorough knowledge of the New Gods.” – Adrian P. Snowdon, FantaCo’s Chronicle’s Series Annual #1, 1983 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: The Bronze Age’s premier superteams vs. two of comics’ biggest bads. ’Nuff said.
Not-so-cool factor: The cover price. Sure, $2.00 doesn’t sound like much now, but that was more than three times the price of a regular comic circa 1982. The collector’s market was beginning to take hold.
Character quotable: “Can the philosophy, Elf, an’ let’s scrounge some brew. Savin’ the universe is thirsty work.” – Wolverine, a not-so-teen among X-Titans
A word from the writer: “(The story was shaped) over a couple of marathon all-night plotting sessions at Walt and Weezie’s house, putting all the pieces in play, seeing how they fit – first together as a coherent story, and then (a far more difficult undertaking) into a required number of pages. I still have the plot notes. I still remember those as two of the most pleasurable nights of more professional life.” – Chris Claremont, in the “Intro” essay in “Crossover Classics: The Marvel/DC Collection,” 1991
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on May 6, 2013.
