Marvel Team-Up #66
Published and © by Marvel, February 1978
Title: “Murder World”
Synopsis: Spider-Man and Captain Britain wake inside a giant pinball machine and soon must survive the deathtraps of Murder World.
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Byrne
Inker: Dave Hunt
Review: Due to the vagaries of newsstand distribution, Little Me didn’t encounter this issue until after reading the very similar X-Men #123 (see review). Turns out Marvel Team-Up #66 hit spinner racks more than a year prior, and it was the X-Men story that reads like a knockoff. Regardless of order, both books are by the legendary creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne, so there’s much to like: strong characterization, crisp pacing and excellent art. The X-Men issue featured Terry Austin inks, but Dave Hunt acquits himself nicely here. It seems only fair both books earn the same A-.
Grade: A-
Second opinion: “This is a first-rate thriller, the sort of thing many writers are going for these days, but few are achieving.” – Ed Via, AFTA #1, February 1978 … “Pretty far out, strange issue, with bizarre actions and good story.” – Jim Crawford, AFTA #1, February 1978
Cool factor: Spider-Man and Captain Britain are a ton of fun together.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 12p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there are also Mark Jewelers and Pizzaz variants.
Character quotable: “It’s about murder, friend. In fact, two murders. Yours … and Capt’n Britain’s. Ain’t life a peach?” – Arcade, proprietor of Murder World
Editor’s note: This review was written Sept. 5, 2023.
