BRONZE AGE MINUTE: Marvel Team-Up #37

Marvel; September 1975
Cover by Ed Hannigan and John Romita

Title: “Snow Death!”
Synopsis: Spider-Man and the Frankenstein Monster team to stop Monster Maker Baron Ludwig von Shtupf – but Man-Wolf stands in the way!

Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta

Review: This issue is the second half of a two-part, Marvel Team-Up creature feature (see review of Marvel Team-Up #36). The upside: It’s better written than the previous issue, a bland affair featuring the Frankenstein Monster. The downside: There’s a weird, toxic masculinity running throughout this entire issue. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who took down both Spider-Man and Frankenstein’s Monster is suddenly reduced to being a damsel in distress… who is turned on by Man-Wolf’s violence. Soon Man-Wolf and Spidey are battling to see who is better suited to protect her. It’s all pretty off-putting, particularly when seen through today’s societal lens.

Grade: C

Cool factor: This two-parter could have been a contender.
Not-so-cool factor: Some panels of Man-Wolf look more like Wile E. Coyote.

Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 9p British variant of this issue. According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.

Character quotable: “Things are going to get hairy – even for a lady agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!” – Spider-Man, about to tangle with Man-Wolf

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