Peter Parker and Logan have a bit of a strained relationship, shall we say. During their time on the New Avengers they frequently clashed, and a mind-swap situation in Ultimate Spider-Man saw Wolvie trying to crack on with Mary Jane, much to everyone's dismay. You can see where the conflict comes from - Spidey's a wise cracking sort who doesn't take anything too seriously, Wolverine's the haunted killing machine who's the best there is at what he does. They tend to rub each other up the same way. Most know this being used for comedic effect in team books and crossovers and the like, forgetting that there was a 1987 one-shot that has the two coming to blows in a rather spectacular fashion. And you know what? It's a really good and totally underrated comic book! Who'd've thunk it? Written by Christopher Priest with art by Mark Bright, it might even be one of our favourite superhero crossovers in the history of the form (except maybe Punisher Vs Archie). The pair don't actually come to blows until right at the end of this over-sized single issue, but when they do, it's got a little more weight to it than your average superhero scrap. The rest of the story is a pretty dark and serious affair, with Peter drafted in to help Wolverine with some unfinished espionage business on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall, with Logan looking to help an old spy buddy of his. It's interesting see Spidey having to deal with a more serious, bloodthirsty brand of heroism than he's used to, especially when his and Wolverine's approach to justice begin to clash to the point that they finally go at it...with tragic consequences. Seriously, one of the best Wolverine or Spider-Man story's you're likely to read, and yet nobody ever talks about it!
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
