Yes,InvincibleandSpider-Manhave canonically met in a crossover that some fans may have completely missed. Thanks to his portal-generating nemesis Angstrom Levy, Mark Grayson made the incredible leap from his home dimension all theway to the Marvel Universein a story no Invincible fan can afford to miss.
InInvincible #33by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley, Levy has invaded Mark’s home, intent on seeking revenge. Levy generates a portal that Invincible flies through, sending him straight into the middle of a battle betweenSpider-Man and Doctor Octopus. This adventure is elaborated on inMarvel Team-Up #14, also by Kirkman with Cory Walker.
Spider-Man is brought up to speed on Invincible’s situation and the two stick together, even bonding (though Mark does give Peter grief over his superhero name choice). Levy eventually generates a portal to retrieve Mark andInvincible leaves, with Spider-Man wishing his new friend luck.
Spider-Man and Invincible Fought Doctor Octopus Together
Make No Mistake, Invincible’s Coolest Team-Up is Canon
WhileInvincibleis largely itsown story, the series does take place in a larger shared universe that’s home to other heroes like Spawn and Savage Dragon, both of whom appeared inInvincible. However, Marvel Team-Up is Invincible’s only crossover with one of the Big Two publishers (despite Mark having an off-panel conversation with a hero that’s presumably Batman inInvincible #33). Interestingly enough, though this adventure is canon toInvincible, rights issues prevented it from being in the animated series. Mark does travel to another dimension, but instead of Spider-Man,Invincible meets a stand-in hero known as Agent Spider.
It’s a shame that more fans don’t know about this particular crossover, because while one can read Invincible without readingMarvel Team-Up, this issue serves as a nice break from the drama going on during Angstrom Levy’s assault. Mark opens up to Spider-Man about the stresses he’s been dealing with as a young hero and Peter strongly empathizes with Invincible’s struggles. While there’s a bit of playful ribbing between the two,it becomes clear that Spider-Man and Invincible see a lot of themselves in one another, leading to a powerful alliance that, unfortunately, only gets to last one short issue.
This One-Off Crossover is a Great Story for Mark Grayson and Peter Parker
Sure, one could skip this story and not miss anything important to the overall Invincible mythology. Butthis is a fantastic aside that treats both characters with respect. Invincible doesn’t just appear and start showing up Spider-Man, he takes a genuine interest in the Marvel Universe and how different it is from the world Invincible knows. And Spider-Man prioritizes Mark’s safety and ensures he can get back to his home world to stop Levy. Not only is this crossover fun, it’s perfect for fans of either franchise.
Crossovers can be a real gamble, but when they work, they work. And with Marvel Team-Up #14, Kirkman perfectly captured the spirit of his story and blended it with the right tone of a traditional Marvel tale. It’s a shame not every fan knows about this crossover, because this is the kind of story that’s simply hard to hate. Hopefully, asInvincible’spopularity grows, more people will become aware of his one-off adventure withSpider-Man.
