TITLE: Marvel Team-Up featuring Spider-Man and Iron Man issue #49
YEAR: September 1976
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Art: Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito
Letters: John Costanza
Colors: Phil Rachelson
Editor: Archie Goodwin
The “Wraith Arc” continues in issue #149 of “Marvel Team-Up” which continues the team-up between Spider-Man, Iron Man and 37th Precinct Captain Jean DeWolff in Manhattan.
As the enemy has revealed himself, the Wraith flew a toy plane towards Iron Man detonating and knocking him hard to the pavement to the point that a crater several feet high was left with Iron Man reeling.
Meanwhile, The Wraith holds Iron Man’s wrist, showing him his amazing strength, while Captain DeWolff aims her gun at the Wraith from the window of a building across from where the action is taking place.
While onlookers try to help Iron Man, The Wraith starts to play mind games on Spider-Man making him think he is falling many stories high. But fortunately, Captain DeWolff manages to get a few shots in and giving Spider-Man a chance to get one kick in. Unfortunately, The Wraith starts to control DeWolff and have her shoot at Spider-Man, but in the nick of time, Iron Man is able to fly and deflect the bullets.
As both men try to go after the Wraith, he keeps disappearing and escapes.
As for DeWolff, her estranged father, the former commissioner has arrived to visit her and he tells her that the reason why he has come is because of a note that he received.
When Captain DeWolff reads it, she goes ballistic, because the words were “Dad, tell Jean I want the job that should’ve been mine!”. Could it be that her deceased brother is still alive?
The story continues in issue #50 which brings in Dr. Strange!
Overall, an awesome story thus far and less of the crazy humor Mantlo utilized in issue #48. This one really shows the heroes including Captain DeWolff under duress due to a powerful antagonist that they have never encountered before! And for Jean DeWolff, she trembles knowing of what is the possibility that her brother is alive after all these years?