Marvel and Star Wars are both now owned by Disney, so to see the properties talked about together isn’t really surprising anymore. However, back in the late 70s, when Star Wars was arguably at its peak of popularity and long before the Disney acquisition, Marvel decided to parody the series and had Spider-Man fight Doctor Doom in a lightsaber battle.
Spidey Super Stories was an adaptation of the popular Spider-Man starring skit in children’s educational series The Electric Company. The comic featured Spider-Man in more light-hearted stories that were team-ups, fights against supervillains, or parodies. In Spidey Super Stories #31, Peter Parker teamed-up with Sam the Robot from Sesame Street and Marvel Boy, to rescue Moondragon from Doctor Doom’s Death Star-esque spaceship (Star Jaws).
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Spidey Super Stories #31 by Kolfax Mingo, Win Mortimer, and Mike Esposito opens with Peter out on a date with Mary Jane Watson. Excited he’s about to have some one-and-one time with MJ, the date is cut short when a tiny rocket crashes by them. Spider-Man investigates the crash and discovers Sam the Robot. He reveals that Moondragon was captured by a Death Star (with teeth) and while they tried their best fight it, they were overcome by Doctor Doom and his soldiers. Spider-Man, Sam, Paul the Gorilla, and Marvel Boy fly to space and get inside Doom’s ship. After recovering Mooneragon, Doom stops Spider-Man as he tries to get back on his ship and the two have a lightsaber duel.
Doom’s arrogance does him no favors, as Spider-Man strikes him in the head, knocking his opponent to the ground as he gets on his ship and flies away. The story doesn’t end there, however, as the superheroes work with the Pentagon to fly a giant box of T.N.T. into space. Moondragon then uses her mind force powers to disguise the explosives as Earth. Star Jaws eats the planet thinking its Earth but is destroyed as the T.N.T. explodes. Spider-Man and co. end up saving the Earth from getting destroyed by the Star Jaws.
The issue is a light-hearted Spider-Man romp that pokes fun at the Star Wars universe. The issue mashes up the iconic sci-fi series, Sesame Street, and classic Marvel characters in a way that works when it shouldn’t. The non-canon issue is insane, but quite the fun read. Doctor Doom is definitely the Darth Vader of the Marvel Universe – but, he could work a little more on his lightsaber skills if he really wants to encompass the role. Spider-Man seems to have the Luke Skywalker role down pat, though.
