MARVEL TEAM-UP #41 (1976)
by Bill Mantlo & Sal Buscema
This may look pretty random… and it is… but this is going to turn into a team-up with Doctor Doom.
We begin with Scarlet Witch hearing voices. That’s always a good sign, isn’t it?
She’s possessed by something that compels her to travel to Latveria.
That is one tiny castle.
If you’re confused why the castle is supposed to be abandoned… it’s because Mantlo is confusing Doom’s Castle in Latveria, which is currently very much NOT abandoned, and the castle from Doom’s first appearance that is actually located in upstate New York.
We’ve already seen that Doom’s American castle is indeed abandoned.
Scarlet Witch is taken down by an unseen opponent, but she has the chance to cast a spell…
…specifically, a spell to cause a team-up.
Spider-Man is magically transported to the castle, where he finds the unconscious Scarlet Witch.
I’m pretty sure this is indeed the first time they meet.
“Witchslayer” is our villain for the saga, people. In case you were wondering if the writing was going to be anything subtle.
Although I admit that Spidey’s joke is pretty funny.
This goes on for a while.
Eventually the mind-controlled Scarlet Witch is able to K.O. Spider-Man, allowing Witchslayer to get what he wants. Which is what everyone going to Doom’s American castle wants: his time machine.
When Spider-Man recovers, he discovers Doom’s time machine. Not only he’s able to immediately get it to work (okay I’ll buy that), but he doesn’t hesitate to activate it (which is pretty weird)… AND he deduces that Witchslayer is actually Cotton Mather.
Who was a real person, in case you don’t know.
So, uhm, yeah. This is a story where Spider-Man is involved with the Salem witch trials.
Like I said: subtle.
Scarlet Witch shows us the correct reaction to this storyline’s villain.
Oh and Vision is also here for some reason. I would ask when he found the time machine, but that would kind of defeat the entire purpose of having a time machine.
And the story is already over, despite the fact that nothing has happened!
Doom can’t show up soon enough because this is very boring.
Continues in part 2.
Historical significance: 0/10
This is the first part of a storyline that uses the most random characters to choose from. None of them will reference it again.
Silver Age-ness: 9/10
If this was on the DC scale, it would barely be a 5. At Marvel? A real historical figure mind controls a mutant witch to use the time mechine of a scientist wizard, so she magically calls for the help of a superhero she’s never met and of her robot husband?
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
Let’s see… Scarlet Witch is braiwashed for most of it, Spider-Man barely does anything, Vision barely does anything, and the villain is chewing the scenery so much that it’s a wonder they were able to print the comic.