TITLE: Marvel Team-Up featuring Spider-Man and Nighthawk Issue #33
YEAR: May 1975
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Author: Gerry Conway
Layouts: Sal Buscema
Finished Art: Vince Colletta
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Janice Cohen
Editor: Len Wein
Have you ever seen Spider-Man so mad, such a bad temper that he takes it out on others?
This was the case back in 1975 which introduced the Gwen Stacy clone and really set Peter Parker off. In addition, his grandmother is in the hospital and so pissed off, he lashes out because despite Peter Parker being the superhero known as The Amazing Spider-Man, he’s also human.
And this pissed off Spider-Man comes across Defenders member Nighthawk and despite this issue being called “Marvel Team-Up”, their team-up was more of trying to work together, but it was a bit difficult. Probably too difficult.
As for Nighthawk, this is a character that keeps getting modified. As a supervillain that debuted in “The Avengers” issue #69 and was a member of Squadron Sinister. Nighthawk would eventually become a good guy and join The Defenders.
And now he’s been taken into different directions that many people have stop caring about the character. So, let’s take it to the ’70s when editor Len Wein took the character from obscurity and gave him numerous spotlights. Kyle Richmond is the son of two wealthy parents who passed away and taking over his father’s business, he started concocting a serum which gave him enhanced strength and agility at night and has a jet-powered artificial wing system that helps him fly and many more things in his arsenal.
In “Marvel Team-Up” issue #33, someone has come to his home to steal a meteor. Kyle believes it to be an escaped convict, “The Looter”, who Spider-Man had fought and put him in prison many years ago.
As Nighthawk goes to ask Spider-Man info. about The Looter, a pissed off Spider-Man (a lot of problems, Aunt May is sick and a clone of Gwen Stacy has shown up and he’s angry about it.
So, as Nighthawk comes to ask him a few questions, Spider-Man reacts by kicking him and punching him in the face.
Spider-Man could have killed Nighthawk, but saves him and after Nighthawk explains what happened, both men agree to find The Looter and check in different areas.
Nighthawk finds out that the man who is the Looter is actually a good guy but suffering from mental issues. Nighthawk is very receptive of helping those who are in need, especially criminals and the mentally ill and not caging them in prison where they get no help. Spider-Man goes to investigate and is attacked by the Looter now going by the name of “Meteor Man”.
Needless to say, Meteor Man flies out, while Nighthawk and Spider-Man get into it again. Not liking Spider-Man’s attitude and shortfuse, he lays it on him.
The issue was actually interesting because it’s a short team-up and both superheroes end up beating each other up, something you don’t usually see happen in this kind of manner.
But it’s probably one of the few issues that touches on the subject about prison not having a program to rehabilitate (much different from where things are today) and not helping prisoners or the mentally ill.
Spider-Man wants to kick The Looter/Meteor Man’s butt but Nighthawk tells him that he’s a mentally ill man that needs help, not prison time. Both don’t agree with each other and have different mindsets of what to do.
So, Spider-Man and Nighthawk team up for a shortwhile, but most of the time, they are after each other’s throat. An interesting issue nonetheless.