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Super-Villain Team-Up #1-14, 16-17
Super-Villains Unite: The Complete Super-Villain Team-Up
The Lord of Latveria and Atlantis' Avenging Son forge the Marvel Universe's most volatile alliance! But when the Sub-Mariner regrets his decision, he finds it's not that easy to walk away from a pact with Doom. Can anything get him out of this torturous team-up? Maybe the Fantastic Four...but probably not the Avengers, who've been enslaved by Attuma! And while Dr. Doom has his gauntlets full keeping Namor in line, the Red Skull sets his sights on Latveria! When Captain America sides with Doom, you know you're in trouble. But both Doom and the Skull plan to enslave the Earth...and the only ones standing in their way are Magneto and the Champions! Introducing the Shroud, and featuring the villainy of the Hate-Monger! COLLECTING: GIANT-SIZE SUPER-VILLAIN TEAMUP 1-2; SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP 1-14, 16-17; AVENGERS 154-156; CHAMPIONS 16
460 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2015
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,521 books274 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 2, 2015
Roy Thomas (GS 1+2) largely offers a two-issue argument as Doom and Namor try to convince each other to work together. I actually liked the first issue (which was a frame for reprints) better than the second. That was because the reprints (Submariner #20 and some issue of FF) were nicely constructed tales. In contrast #2 was simultaneously overly stretched to fit the longer length of the Giant-Size issue and overly abrupt in getting to its main story of an android rebellion [5/10].
Early Days (1-4). Four issues with three authors doesn't bode well, but the first three actually read quite well. Tony Isabella continues plots from the cancelled Sub-Mariner comic, then Jim Shooter finishes it off nicely. There are some good moments of pathos and shock that both draw us toward and away from our villains [6+/10]. Unfortunately Bill Mantlo caps things with a fourth issue where Doc Doom and Namor decide to fight and break up. Again. There's something about Deathlok that makes little sense without context, and overall the issue is a bore [3/10].
Steve Englehart (5-8). Englehart really changes the feel of this comic. Before it was what it's name promised: a super-villain teamup. As such, it was a very unique book. Here, the Fantasy Four tread heavily in the pages, and the book falls into the more comfortable hero-villain dynamic of most of Marvel's comics. Still, there are some nice elements, particularly the intro of the Shroud (at least, he's nice if he's intended to be hilarious camp, and I think he is). Meanwhile, Englehart returns to classic elements of Hydro Base and the Hydro people, and it's nice to see those plots advance [6/10].
The Avengers (9 + A154-156). Another four issues with three authors: Gerry Conway, Jim Shooter, and the new SVTU author, Bill Mantlo. Clearly, this continues the superheroification of SVTU, but it's not a bad story, as the Avengers stumble into a conflict between Doc Doom, Subby, and Atuma that none of them understand ... which is sort of delightful. The last issue by Shooter is weaker than the Conway or Mantlo issues and focuses on lots of punching, but there's fun deviousness before that [6/10].
The Red Skull (10-12). Bill Mantlo's first solo work on SVTU is ... unfortunately not very inspiring. It's great to have a new villain, as the Doom + Subby dynamic was getting dull. But this story is a pretty dull fight with Cap, Doom, and Shroud facing off against the Red Skull. I think the boringness of Mantlo's Skull really says it all: he's not able to take advantage of the interesting characterization introduced in Englehart's short reign [4/10].
Finale! (13). The final team-up between Doom & Sub-Mariner is nice mainly because it ties up plot threads going back years. The story itself is largely pedestrian fighting [6/10].
Magneto (14 + Champions). Sadly, these issues show how SVTU really lost its way. They're all about Magneto facing off against Doom in a totally normal hero-versus-villain way, and they also inundate the comic with yet more heroes like the Avengers and Champions. Worse, it's a pretty meh story after all that [3/10].
Nazis (16-17). These last issues by Peter Gillis tend to recover what SVTU lost. They're about villains interacting with villains and living in their own ecosystem. It's great to see a truly repugnant Red Skull and the unveiling of the Hate Monger. There are times when the storytelling is clumsy and the pacing feels off, but I'll forgive that for the unusual sort of story that Gillis was telling [7/10].
Overall, Super-Villain Team-Up never fulfilled its promise. There were times when it stood out as something truly unique, but then the Avengers or the Champions or the Fantastic Four blundered in and turned it back into a much more traditional title. In addition, the revolving door of creative teams constantly muddled the plots, often moving major plotlines off to the periphery for no good reason. The loss of the Shroud + Doom plotline mid-book is the most obvious, but it was an ongoing problem.
This collection was interesting to read as a piece of historical ephemera, but it probably won't remain in my library.
Early Days (1-4). Four issues with three authors doesn't bode well, but the first three actually read quite well. Tony Isabella continues plots from the cancelled Sub-Mariner comic, then Jim Shooter finishes it off nicely. There are some good moments of pathos and shock that both draw us toward and away from our villains [6+/10]. Unfortunately Bill Mantlo caps things with a fourth issue where Doc Doom and Namor decide to fight and break up. Again. There's something about Deathlok that makes little sense without context, and overall the issue is a bore [3/10].
Steve Englehart (5-8). Englehart really changes the feel of this comic. Before it was what it's name promised: a super-villain teamup. As such, it was a very unique book. Here, the Fantasy Four tread heavily in the pages, and the book falls into the more comfortable hero-villain dynamic of most of Marvel's comics. Still, there are some nice elements, particularly the intro of the Shroud (at least, he's nice if he's intended to be hilarious camp, and I think he is). Meanwhile, Englehart returns to classic elements of Hydro Base and the Hydro people, and it's nice to see those plots advance [6/10].
The Avengers (9 + A154-156). Another four issues with three authors: Gerry Conway, Jim Shooter, and the new SVTU author, Bill Mantlo. Clearly, this continues the superheroification of SVTU, but it's not a bad story, as the Avengers stumble into a conflict between Doc Doom, Subby, and Atuma that none of them understand ... which is sort of delightful. The last issue by Shooter is weaker than the Conway or Mantlo issues and focuses on lots of punching, but there's fun deviousness before that [6/10].
The Red Skull (10-12). Bill Mantlo's first solo work on SVTU is ... unfortunately not very inspiring. It's great to have a new villain, as the Doom + Subby dynamic was getting dull. But this story is a pretty dull fight with Cap, Doom, and Shroud facing off against the Red Skull. I think the boringness of Mantlo's Skull really says it all: he's not able to take advantage of the interesting characterization introduced in Englehart's short reign [4/10].
Finale! (13). The final team-up between Doom & Sub-Mariner is nice mainly because it ties up plot threads going back years. The story itself is largely pedestrian fighting [6/10].
Magneto (14 + Champions). Sadly, these issues show how SVTU really lost its way. They're all about Magneto facing off against Doom in a totally normal hero-versus-villain way, and they also inundate the comic with yet more heroes like the Avengers and Champions. Worse, it's a pretty meh story after all that [3/10].
Nazis (16-17). These last issues by Peter Gillis tend to recover what SVTU lost. They're about villains interacting with villains and living in their own ecosystem. It's great to see a truly repugnant Red Skull and the unveiling of the Hate Monger. There are times when the storytelling is clumsy and the pacing feels off, but I'll forgive that for the unusual sort of story that Gillis was telling [7/10].
Overall, Super-Villain Team-Up never fulfilled its promise. There were times when it stood out as something truly unique, but then the Avengers or the Champions or the Fantastic Four blundered in and turned it back into a much more traditional title. In addition, the revolving door of creative teams constantly muddled the plots, often moving major plotlines off to the periphery for no good reason. The loss of the Shroud + Doom plotline mid-book is the most obvious, but it was an ongoing problem.
This collection was interesting to read as a piece of historical ephemera, but it probably won't remain in my library.
May 5, 2024
There’s a lot going on in this series. And quite a changing cast of characters. Initially this was presented as a continuation of the Sub-Mariner’s recently cancelled solo series and as a sort of follow up to Doctor Doom’s “solo” adventures from the pages of Astonishing Tales. But this series also features such villainous luminaries as the Red Skull, Magneto, the Hate Monger, Attuma, Warlord Krang, Tiger Shark, Ringmaster & his Circus of Crime, and Arnim Zola. And then there’s guest-stars like the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wonder Man, Yellowjacket, Wasp & the Beast (including a multipart crossover with the Avengers) and Black Widow, Hercules, Ghost Rider, Iceman & the Angel from their days as the Champions of Los Angeles, and the very first appearance of the Shroud. But it’s also an uneven mishmash of quality.
Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1 ~ starts things off and it’s a amalgamation of new material and reprinted stories from Sub-Mariner #20 and Marvel Super-Heroes #20. For weaving all this stuff together, it does a reasonable job (3/5).
Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #2 ~ provides an all new story and some more incentive to get the two initial stars of the title together. Doctor Doom and Namor have never been the likeliest of allies, and this is no exception. What makes this work though is that it provides rational for these two to form an unlikely and tentative alliance (3/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #1-4 ~ This arc starts out pretty strong, and loses focus with each new writer. Not a very auspicious opening salvo for the series proper to be sure. While it does reintroduce the plight of the sleeping Atlanteans it also brings in outlaws and traitors of Atlantis and the ill-fated people of Hydrobase, all elements left unresolved when Sub-Mariner’s solo comic was cancelled (it also introduces some story elements that are continued in Marvel Spotlight #27 which is sadly not included here). Definitely something for fans of Namor to have (2/5).
Our next arc includes Super-Villain Team-Up #5-8, and guest-stars the Fantastic Four. Writer Steve Englehart offers a compelling story and we even get the premiere of a brand new Marvel hero, the Shroud, whose backstory is almost identical to that of Batman, except for the mysticism twist (meaning that Nighthawk truly remains Marvel’s answer to Batman). Had this not come right off the heels of a Fantastic Four/Doctor Doom story in the pages of Fantastic Four when it first came out, I might have liked it more when I first read it. There’s a lot of conflicting motivations going on and the rotating writers with different perspectives since this series started, means this just continues to be a kind of mess (3/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #9 & Avengers #154-156 ~ offer a strong story and one that definitely has longer ranging effects. Gerry Conway, Bill Mantlo, Jim Shooter, George Pérez, Pablo Marcus & Sal Buscema contribute to this epic multifront conflict as it weaves between the two titles (4/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #10-12 ~ acts as almost a kind of epilogue or follow-up to the previous arc. Captain America confronts Doctor Doom and the Red Skull, with Namor and the Shroud guest-starring. It’s a fun story, but it’s also ruined with terrible pseudo-science that has Doctor Doom traveling from the earth’s surface to the moon in about 30 minutes. Some very underwhelming art and a story that just limps along almost retroactively lowers the quality of the previous arc (2/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #13 ~ wraps up the loose plot threads concerning Namor and the Atlanteans, and Doctor Doom’s noble and honorable side comes fully to the surface. He almost comes across as a hero in this issue. Almost. Very nice art from Keith Giffen & Don Perlin as well. The ending is a bit rushed, but it’s a nice wrap-up for Namor’s finale in the series (5/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #14 & Champions #16 ~ An excellent story, marred by some rushed art and an ludicrous ending. This could have been brilliant, but it comes across as little more than the average 1970s Marvel output. But I’m giving it a slight bump because it certainly tried (4/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #16-17 ~ Another great premise. With a rushed execution. Poor artistic choices and some plot holes that just don’t work. It starts off strong, but just gets weaker and weaker with every missed opportunity. And unfortunately it’s a weak story to close the volume with (2/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #15 isn’t included as it contains only reprinted material of some Doctor Doom stories from Astonishing Tales. To get those you’ll likely have to get the black & white volume Essential Super-Villain Team-Up, Vol. 1 or the color reproductions in Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Rarities, Vol. 1, both of which are out-of-print and likely rather expensive for collectors. Taken all together, I’d love to give this collection at least a 4-star rating, but the weaker material just weighs it down a bit too much (3/5).
Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1 ~ starts things off and it’s a amalgamation of new material and reprinted stories from Sub-Mariner #20 and Marvel Super-Heroes #20. For weaving all this stuff together, it does a reasonable job (3/5).
Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #2 ~ provides an all new story and some more incentive to get the two initial stars of the title together. Doctor Doom and Namor have never been the likeliest of allies, and this is no exception. What makes this work though is that it provides rational for these two to form an unlikely and tentative alliance (3/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #1-4 ~ This arc starts out pretty strong, and loses focus with each new writer. Not a very auspicious opening salvo for the series proper to be sure. While it does reintroduce the plight of the sleeping Atlanteans it also brings in outlaws and traitors of Atlantis and the ill-fated people of Hydrobase, all elements left unresolved when Sub-Mariner’s solo comic was cancelled (it also introduces some story elements that are continued in Marvel Spotlight #27 which is sadly not included here). Definitely something for fans of Namor to have (2/5).
Our next arc includes Super-Villain Team-Up #5-8, and guest-stars the Fantastic Four. Writer Steve Englehart offers a compelling story and we even get the premiere of a brand new Marvel hero, the Shroud, whose backstory is almost identical to that of Batman, except for the mysticism twist (meaning that Nighthawk truly remains Marvel’s answer to Batman). Had this not come right off the heels of a Fantastic Four/Doctor Doom story in the pages of Fantastic Four when it first came out, I might have liked it more when I first read it. There’s a lot of conflicting motivations going on and the rotating writers with different perspectives since this series started, means this just continues to be a kind of mess (3/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #9 & Avengers #154-156 ~ offer a strong story and one that definitely has longer ranging effects. Gerry Conway, Bill Mantlo, Jim Shooter, George Pérez, Pablo Marcus & Sal Buscema contribute to this epic multifront conflict as it weaves between the two titles (4/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #10-12 ~ acts as almost a kind of epilogue or follow-up to the previous arc. Captain America confronts Doctor Doom and the Red Skull, with Namor and the Shroud guest-starring. It’s a fun story, but it’s also ruined with terrible pseudo-science that has Doctor Doom traveling from the earth’s surface to the moon in about 30 minutes. Some very underwhelming art and a story that just limps along almost retroactively lowers the quality of the previous arc (2/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #13 ~ wraps up the loose plot threads concerning Namor and the Atlanteans, and Doctor Doom’s noble and honorable side comes fully to the surface. He almost comes across as a hero in this issue. Almost. Very nice art from Keith Giffen & Don Perlin as well. The ending is a bit rushed, but it’s a nice wrap-up for Namor’s finale in the series (5/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #14 & Champions #16 ~ An excellent story, marred by some rushed art and an ludicrous ending. This could have been brilliant, but it comes across as little more than the average 1970s Marvel output. But I’m giving it a slight bump because it certainly tried (4/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #16-17 ~ Another great premise. With a rushed execution. Poor artistic choices and some plot holes that just don’t work. It starts off strong, but just gets weaker and weaker with every missed opportunity. And unfortunately it’s a weak story to close the volume with (2/5).
Super-Villain Team-Up #15 isn’t included as it contains only reprinted material of some Doctor Doom stories from Astonishing Tales. To get those you’ll likely have to get the black & white volume Essential Super-Villain Team-Up, Vol. 1 or the color reproductions in Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Rarities, Vol. 1, both of which are out-of-print and likely rather expensive for collectors. Taken all together, I’d love to give this collection at least a 4-star rating, but the weaker material just weighs it down a bit too much (3/5).
March 20, 2024
Some genuinely enjoyable writing and artwork from a series that probably wasn't intended to do much.
January 25, 2019
I’ve always wanted to read this series—it’s one of the things I’d heard talked about by fans older than me who loved it (it ended a couple of years before I started collecting seriously), so when I ran into a copy of this going for about $7 I snatched it up. And wow, what a glorious hot mess! So disorganized and disjointed it actually went from annoying to fun to read. The idea was to center on a strained and fragile alliance between Dr Doom and Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner as they team up to achieve certain goals in life—Namor wishes to revive sleeping Atlantis (a plot left over from his recently cancelled solo series) and Doom with another over complicated Take Over The World Plot. There are twists galore—secrets, betrayals, egos, soliloquys and no scenery is left unchewed. What makes this so disjointed is that there is no guiding hand behind the series—it’s passed through multiple authors’ hands at a moment’s notice with little or no commutation between them. In a way, it kind of reminds me of the DC Challenge limited series from the 80’s but done by accident instead of design. Originally concieved by Roy Thomas in a pilot project of two oversized specials, the series proper was launched under Tony Isabella who starts a three part story, but only writes two issues. Jim Shooter provides the concluding chapter and hands the book to Steve Englehart who stays for four issues also splitting in mid story. Bill Mantlo steps in next to navigate a multiple issue crossover with the Avengers comic written by Gerry Conway and Jim Shooter while simultaneously finishing what Englehart began. Mantlo stays on the book the longest running the Doom/Namor partnership to its conclusion. The series should have ended there, but it continued with a two part story detailing a duel of sorts between Doom and Magneto, guest starring the Avengers and the original Champions team. Then the last two stories are a complete departure written by Peter Gillis, featuring the Red Skull and the Hate Monger as they reminisce on the glories of the Third Reich while Plotting To Take Over The World (because it’s a Tuesday) and stab each other in the back. There’s some really decent art by Mike Sekowsky and Bob Hall with a phoned in effort by Sal Buscema and early work from George Perez and Kieth Giffen. If you like late 70’s Marvel, then this is your bag.
February 5, 2017
More super-villain fights and 1970s talents in a mishmash of good and bad in the Marvel universe.
I bought every issue of this title, first on newsstand, and then from my local comics shop, still doing business.
Rereading, it was as subject to staffing and vision change as anything at 1970s Marvel.
To me, highlights are Steve Englehart's run featuring new superhero The Shroud and Peter Gillis's two issue coda, featuring Nazi super villains vs. Israelis and SHIELD.
As part of Englehart's run, Dr. Doom signs a nonaggression pact with Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State to 1976.
Too many team-ups and crossovers ruin Bill Mantlo's work here.
But, you know, if you missed these, here they are...
I bought every issue of this title, first on newsstand, and then from my local comics shop, still doing business.
Rereading, it was as subject to staffing and vision change as anything at 1970s Marvel.
To me, highlights are Steve Englehart's run featuring new superhero The Shroud and Peter Gillis's two issue coda, featuring Nazi super villains vs. Israelis and SHIELD.
As part of Englehart's run, Dr. Doom signs a nonaggression pact with Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State to 1976.
Too many team-ups and crossovers ruin Bill Mantlo's work here.
But, you know, if you missed these, here they are...
July 31, 2020
Marvel's megalomaniacs' maniacal mayhem must- read!
Nuff Said!
Nuff Said!
November 12, 2020
I love me some bronze age Marvel comics. Yeah, it's probably only 3 stars given that there's CHAMPIONS in here, but there's also Perez-drawn Avengers, and some good SVTU issues by Steve Englehart. I'm biased, right? I love Doom, Namor and 1970s Marvel. The Mantlo stories at the end are a little less satisfying but ending on the two rando Peter Gillis issues at the end are a nice little coda. Don't expect a lot of continuity of artists or writers, but there is somewhat of a story thread running through the first 3/4 of the volume. Make Mine Bronze!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews