Marvel Team-Up #45 Featuring Spider Man and Killraven: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Marvel Team Up was a title published by Marvel Comics between 1972-1985. As promised, the comic featured a story featuring two characters, one usually being writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko's popular creation Spider-Man.In this story, written by Bill Mantlo, with pencils by Sal Buscema, Spider-Man is joined by Killraven, a futuristic freedom fighter. Cover art for the issue was done by Gil Kane and Danny Crespi.

The invention of Marvel Comics creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the friendly neighborhood superhero Spider-Man first appeared in the pages of 1962's Amazing Fantasy no. 15. The character, a brilliant yet geeky teenager named Peter Parker, becomes a superhero after being bitten by a radioactive spider; attaining many of the abilities of the arachnid, including incredible strength, an instinctive spider-sense that warns of danger, and the ability to walk on walls. Witty and spontaneous, Parker is challenged to balance his spectacular abilities with his ambitions, opting to use his powers for good while protecting his loved ones.

Overturning traditional superhero mythologies, Spider-Man quickly swung into the hearts of readers, inspiring waves of more psychologically complex and relatable superheroes. Since his debut, ol' web-head has remained one of Marvel's most popular properties, headlining several long-running comic titles, as well as being the centerpiece of a multitude media properties, including a succession of animated television series and a blockbuster film franchise.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1976
• Associated Name: Buscema, Sal
• maker: Marvel Comics
• Object Name: comic book
• Physical Description: paper (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 6 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in; x 17.145 cm x 26.035 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York City
• Subject: Comics
• Subject: Fantasy
• Subject: Spider Man
• ID Number: 2013.3039.286
• nonaccession number: 2013.3039
• catalog number: 2013.3039.286
• Credit Line: Gift of George R. Zug
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.