Team Up

As superhero comics have become increasingly mainstream, so too has the attention given to the creators behind them. Yet, while it is widely known that the majority of superhero comics are produced through collaborative efforts, the ways these partnerships shape creation and reception of such works remain largely unexplored. Team Up: How Collaboration Powers Superhero Comics addresses this gap as the first book to examine the crucial role collaboration plays in the making and the reception of superhero comics by Marvel and DC. It delves into what collaboration in superhero comics entails, how these partnerships function, and their far-reaching impact on the genre and industry, both past and present. By exploring various forms of collaboration—from the dynamic interplay between writers, editors, and artists to the passing of projects between successive creative teams and the contributions of fans to the broader media landscape—Team Up reveals that collaboration is not just a part of the superhero comics process; it is the genre’s driving force.

Marie Sartain read her first comic book when she was nine years old. Twenty years later, her dissertation at the University of Tulsa explored the medium that continues to delight her. When she is not adding to her ever-expanding collection of books and video games, Sartain can usually be found playing Dungeons and Dragons with her husband in Ohio.