superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

s, a team-up is a fictional crossover where two or more superheroes or superhero teams who usually do not appear together work together on a shared goal.

Overview

The first team-up between characters published in different comics from the same publisher was published in 1940 by the MLJ Comics. ''Pep Comics'' #4, by Harry Shorten and Irv Novick, featured a story with the Shield, which was continued in ''Top Notch Comics'' #5, by Will Harr and Edd Ashe. In that comic, the Shield met the Wizard. Timely Comics would follow, with a team-up between Sub-Mariner and

Human Torch The Human Torch (Jonathan Lowell Spencer "Johnny" Storm) is a fictional superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. He is writer Stan Lee's and ar ...

. National Comics Publications took the team-up concept one step further and created the Justice Society of America, the first superhero group, composed of superheroes who starred their own comic books. In international comics, the Phantom teamed up with Zigomar in 1939. The team-up was an important

worldbuilding Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world or setting (narrative), setting, sometimes associated with a fictional universe. Developing the world with coherent qualities such as a history, geography, culture and ecology is a k ...

narrative device, one that allowed for the creation of a shared universe concept.

Select comics with team-ups

*'' A+X'' *'' Avenging Spider-Man'' *'' The Brave and the Bold'' *'' DC Comics Presents'' *'' Generations'' *'' Marvel Team-Up'' *'' Marvel Two-in-One'' *'' Superman/Batman'' *'' World's Finest Comics''

In other media

*'' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' *'' Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)''

References

Comics terminology {{comics-stub