Issue(s): Marvel Team-Up #47
Cover Date: Jul 76
Title: "I have to fight the Basilisk!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Dan Adkins - Inker

Review/plot:
This is a continuation of the story from Marvel Two-In-One #16-17. Having defeated the Thing and teleported with a volcano to the Hudson River, the Basilisk explains to Spider-Man how he escaped his previous seeming death. The Basilisk's origin is that he absorbed a Kree Alpha stone, and in his last appearance he was trying to get the Omega stone, which would complete his power set, but Spider-Man and Captain Marvel stopped him and he seemingly died in a pool of lava. But we find out here that he survived by becoming trapped in the Omega stone. He was eventually released by a Moloid.

In addition to his regular powers, now that he's got the powers of the combined stones he has these additional lava-based powers - the ability to create volcanoes and even teleport around the world by creating new volcanoes in the desired end location. He can also manipulate rock similar to the powers that Galactus' eventual herald Terrax will have.

These powers don't seem to have much effect on his melee fighting abilities, however, so when Spidey revives the Thing they don't have too much trouble defeating him, and apparently punching him back into his volcano causes it to disappear.

This was a pretty poorly executed crossover. You'd think a Spidey/Thing Team-Up would be a lot more fun, and while they are fun when they actually get to interact...

...the way the story is structured they are barely in any scenes together. The Basilisk and his threat also folds pretty quickly after a lot of build-up.

Also annoying is this scene with JJ and Robbie. I don't know when Peter became the Bugle's "star photographer" but you'd think they at least have one other guy on call even if that's true. Peter is a freelancer; the idea that he's supposed to be at JJ's beck and call doesn't make sense (and for all JJ knows, Peter is out taking pictures right now).

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Continues directly from Marvel Two-In-One #17. I'm listing Mary Jane Watson as a character appearing because she's the "crazy woman" mentioned by the unnamed secretary in the Bugle scene.

References:

The Basilisk previously appeared in Marvel Team-Up #16-17.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Further poor execution: the Scarecrow blurb refers to MTIO# 18, not the next issue of MTU, which certainly confused me when I first read it way back then.

Even more poor execution: on page 2, panels 2 and 3 are clearly in the wrong order. I think this is the 4th book so far in which this has happened...