Spider-Man, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Woman
Published and © by Marvel, 1981
Title: “The Mystery of the Power Crown!”
Synopsis: Spidey and friends team to stop the Enchantress and assorted himbos from restoring the creatively named Power Crown.
Writer: Uncredited
Penciler: Uncredited
Inker: Uncredited
Review: Comic books and 7-Eleven were a hand-in-glove fit during the Bronze Age, so this hard-to-find promotional one-shot was on a lot of young fans’ wish lists. It was probably best Little Me never scored a copy, though, because this uncredited comic is a bit of a stinker. As with many of the era’s Spider-Man giveaways, the tone here is more Spidey Super Stories than mainstream Marvel. Perhaps it was a serviceable gateway for the youngest of Bronze-era fans, but even that era’s tweens would have been let down by this one’s simple story, weak characterization and pedestrian art.
Grade: C-
Cool factor: Comics + Slurpees = Great Bronze Age memories!
Not-so-cool factor: This one is all down hill after the cover.
Notable: This issue also includes half-page origin tales of the four heroes, along with various game and activity pages.
Character quotable: “Although we’re all loners – we sure made a great team, gang!” – Spider-Man, hanging out with his latest amazing friends in a 7-Eleven parking lot
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Sept. 10, 2012.
