F/VF (7.0). Right corners slightly bumped, handling creases to bottom edge of covers, especially back cover. Off-white pages. Clean and press to 8.5 or better? Cover: Carmine Infantino roughs, Ross Andru finished pencils, Neal Adams (Superman redraw), Dick Giordano inks with Terry Austin backgrounds. Script: Gerry Conway. Pencils: Ross Andru, Neal Adams (Superman redraws), John Romita (some Marvel faces). Inks: Dick Giordano, Terry Austin (backgrounds). No GPAnalysis data (CGC doesn't slab treasury editions). Heritage sold a raw 7.0 for $109 in 3/19.

As a handful of savvy international comic buffs know, the first Marvel (Timely)/DC superhero crossover was an unsanctioned Superman-Human Torch mashup that appeared on the cover of O Globo Juvenil #32 (Brazil, 1943). Then, aside from a Superman cameo in a 1966 Spider-Man gumball machine mini-comic (see lot 218), there was nothing for 23 years. So it was a pretty big deal in 1976 when Marvel and DC joined forces to produce Superman vs the Amazing Spider-Man, a collaborative tour de force that's one the most emblematic comics on the Bronze Age. If nothing else, it's a triumph of great art direction, with seamlessly blended contributions from Carmine Infantino, Ross Andru, Dick Giordano, John Romita, Neal Adams and Terry Austin.

JOHN ROMITA: "I think the greatest thing Ross did was the Spider-Man vs Superman cross over. I have told many people at many conventions that I don't know of anybody who could have done a better job on a huge project like that. It's high profile, you're out there exposed, and he did the best job I've ever seen on such a big project. That's one of my favourite books of all time. I did work with him on that book because I was the consultant for Marvel and Stan sort of insisted that every once in a while I touch up a Mary Jane Watson face, or a Peter Parker face. You might find a couple of my faces sticking out like a sore thumb in that book." – "Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man: The Inside Story." 20th Century Danny Boy blog, 3/25/15.

Enjoying the Spidey Sale? Order a fully-illustrated softcover catalogue for 30 bucks. Only about 100 copies were printed and they're going fast. To reserve a copy, contact PBA's Director of Comics: ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consign to PBA Galleries. Our comic sales average a 98% sell-through rate, our prices realized are top-of-the-market, and our research-intensive catalogues are the best in the business. Seeking Silver Age Marvel, Golden Age superheroes, and pre-Code horror. Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.