10 Best Spider-Man and The X-Men Team-Ups, Ranked

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Spider-Man and the X-Men are two of the most popular properties in Marvel Comics, and they’ve teamed up quite a few times. Well, “team-up” is a strong claim. In most of their encounters, Spider-Man and the X-Men have fought each other, usually over some disagreement or misunderstanding.

Their earliest crossovers were usually born out of those conflicts, while modern team-ups have presented some deep, heartfelt growth for both parties. Beyond Spider-Man’s team-ups with the full X-Men roster––in books like Spider-Man and the X-Men and Dark Web––he’s shared the titles of team-up books such as Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine and Spider-Man/Deadpool, two of the strongest Spider-Man books of all time, with or without any X-Men involvement.

10

Ultimate Spider-Man & Wolverine Switch Bodies

There’s a lot to love about Ultimate Spider-Man issues #66-67. Wolverine and Peter Parker somehow switch bodies, forcing Wolverine to attend high school and work with Spider-Man to solve this mystery. The issues even feature fourth wall breaks from writer Brian Michael Bendis, commenting on the ridiculousness of the concept.

There is also, unfortunately, a lot to dislike about this two-part story. The entire event was caused by Jean Grey tampering with Wolverine’s mind to get back at him, and the scenes between Mary Jane and Wolverine (in Peter’s body) just did not age well.

9

Black-Suit Spider-Man Vs. X-Factor

In Amazing Spider-Man #282, a fight between Spider-Man and members of the X-Men once again stemmed from a misunderstanding. In a previous issue, while on a mission with Silver Sable, Spider-Man was definitely concussed by the Rhino, and even Mary Jane suggested he stay home. Instead, he swings as Spidey and draws the attention of X-Factor.

X-Factor has their own plan to clear Spider-Man’s perception as a mutant, but he mistakes their arrival for hostility and a fight ensues. Misunderstanding or not, this was one of the best Spider-Man vs. X-Men fights of all time, calling back to Spidey’s earliest encounters with the team––mistakenly being called a mutant and even rejecting their offer to join the X-Men.

8

Spider-Man & Beast Vs. Hobgoblin & More

This “Spider-Man/X-Men” team-up is more of a Spider-Man/Beast adventure, with a storyline closely connected to both of them for different reasons. Both Peter Parker and Hank McCoy attend a Brand lecture, where they discuss the future of genetic research, with animalistic traits and mutants as the main subject.

Both Spider-Man and Beast have their own animalistic traits, and both approach the subject of mutants from different angles. This short miniseries delved into their views, with Beast mortified by Brand’s discoveries and plans, and Spider-Man mostly impressed by their research and findings.

7

Superior Spider-Man Meets The First Class X-Men

Team-ups are literally in the Superior Spider-Man Team-Up title. This was a strange era for Spider-Man comics and Marvel in general. Spider-Man had always starred in Marvel’s team-up books, but this time it was Doctor Octopus behind the mask. And in this particular team-up, Spidey fought alongside the X-Men of the past, due to time-travel events in All-New X-Men.

Superior Spider-Man Team-Up Special is a great Spidey/X-Men team-up, with great action and an intriguing plot featuring the return of Doctor Octopus, but it’s elevated thanks to the unique interactions between past X-Men and the Superior Spider-Man––a dynamic never seen before, with past team-ups always featuring present-day X-Men and Peter Parker.

6

Spider-Man & The X-Men Through Marvel’s Age

The four-issue X-Men/Spider-Man miniseries is a real treat for fans of either property. The miniseries takes place across Marvel’s eras, with each issue highlighting a different team-up between Spider-Man and the X-Men.

The first issue features Spider-Man and the young First Class X-Men teaming up in Marvel’s Silver Age. The second features the black-suited Spider-Man and the X-Men after the “Mutant Massacre” arc. The third is a crossover between the ’90s X-Men and Ben Reilly’s Sensational Spider-Man and the final issue features the 21st-century Spider-Man and X-Men.

5

Spider-Man & The X-Men Fight On The Beyonder’s Battleworld

The original Secret Wars limited series from 1984 was a team-up for nearly every major Marvel hero and villain of the decade. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and the X-Men must all work together to defeat Doctor Doom (with the Beyonder’s powers), evade Galactus and escape Battleworld.

Before that happens, the teams quickly agitate each other and conflict once again, sparks from high tension and misunderstanding. Secret Wars infamously features Spider-Man single-handedly taking down the entire X-Men team.

4

Spider-Man Teaches Alongside The X-Men

Spider-Man and the X-Men only ran for six issues, and it’s a real shame that this wasn’t an ongoing series. Fans love seeing these two properties crossover. Spider-Man makes such a great addition to any team he joins. Just ask the New Avengers and the Future Foundation. In Spider-Man and the X-Men, Spidey finally becomes a teacher at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.

Honoring Wolverine’s dying request, building off their growing friendship from the Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine series, Spider-Man becomes the newest X-Men teacher and mentor, going on an adventure with X-Men rookies and Storm to stop Mister Sinister.

3

Madelyne Pryor & Ben Reilly Return To Fight Spider-Man & The X-Men

Dark Web was one of the biggest Spider-Man/X-Men crossovers in years, with over a dozen tie-in issues and a central plot featuring the return of Madelyne Pryor as the Goblin Queen and Ben Reilly as Chasm. In many ways, Dark Web is the sequel to the X-Men’s “Inferno” arc, and Spider-Man’s Clone Conspiracy and “Beyond” arc from the previous Amazing Spider-Man run.

Dark Web was a bold crossover, as Goblin Queen unleashes the forces of the underworld onto Earth, and Chasm receives a demonic upgrade to King Chasm. Fans had mixed feelings on Dark Web, but everyone agrees that the crossover started strongly and effectively merged two Marvel properties, with the wronged clones as the glue holding Dark Web together.

Wolverine and Spider-Man’s best team-up adventure came in the six-issue Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine miniseries. These characters had teamed up before, both during Spider-Man and X-Men crossovers and in miniseries like Spider-Man Versus Wolverine, but this was the first series that showcased their friendship.

Spider-Man and Wolverine were accidentally sent backward in time, even 65 million years, and must fight their way back to the present. Along the way, they develop a strong partnership and friendship, and Wolverine, surprisingly, becomes one of Spidey’s closest allies after this series.

1

The Spider-Man & Deadpool Team-Up No One Knew They Needed

Deadpool may not be a permanent member of the X-Men, but he’s fought on numerous X-teams, such as the Uncanny X-Force, so he definitely counts. This Spider-Man and Deadpool team-up lasted 50 issues in their own comic title.

Marvel struck gold with this pairing, turning Spider-Man into the straight man of this comedic duo, with Deadpool driving most of the hilarious action, such as traveling to the Savage Land, traveling through time, or rapidly aging. Spider-Man/Deadpool is funny, entertaining, and somehow proves that these two characters were made to co-star in comics.

“}]] Spider-Man and the X-Men are surprisingly close allies in the Marvel universe and have teamed up for quite a few epic comic events and storylines.  Read More