Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #50 by Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, Edgar Delgado, and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
Spider-Man and Doctor Strange will be joining forces in the as yet untitled third film in the Spider-Man movie franchise. Rumors are that Benedict Cumberbatch's Strange will play the role of mentor to Tom Holland's Spider-Man. Long before the film is released, fans can see a new team-up between the characters in recent issues of Amazing Spider-Man, with the latest issue ending with Spider-Man seeking out Doctor Strange to aid him in his impending battle against the supervillain Kindred. However, this isn't the first time the duo has fought together. In 1974's Marvel Team-Up #21, the heroes swapped powers to defeat the evil sorcerer Xandu.
In a story written by Len Wein with art by Sal Buscema, Marvel Team-Up brings back the sorcerer Xandu who Spider-Man and Strange previously defeated by wiping his memory. After the threat of the heroes had passed, Xandu's memories flood back to him so he is able to remember his previous quest to obtain the Wand of Watoomb.
Xandu sets a trap to catch Spider-Man by playing the victim of a mugging. When the "victim" thanks Spidey, Xandu is able to hypnotize him. Controlling Spider-Man from afar, Xandu sends him to Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum to recover the Crystal of Kadavus.
Spider-Man sees Doctor Strange not as his friend, but his enemy because of the villain's spell. After a fight, Spider-Man finds the crystal and Xandu appears to claim it. Using the Crystal of Kadavus, Xandu repairs the powerful magical artifact known as the Wand of Watoomb.
Xandu reveals he wanted the wand because it could be the only way to restore life back into his betrothed that he cursed long ago. When Doctor Strange tries to stop him, Xandu transports the three of them to Xandu's cosmic world. As the two heroes try to take out the villain, he casts a spell with the wand, ensuring they cannot use their powers against him.
Spider-Man's webs turn into marionette strings for Xandu to play with them like puppets. Strange realizes the only way to win, is to beat Xandu at his own game. Silently Strange casts a spell that causes the heroes to swap powers. When Spider-Man tries to shoot webs against, magical fireballs fly out of his hands instead. Between Strange's web shooting and Spidey's fireball blasts, they are able to subdue Xandu. Doctor Strange tosses the Wand of Watoomb into cosmic space to avoid anyone getting their hands on it again.
When Spider-Man and Doctor Strange team-up, the result has traditionally been an exciting mash-up of magic and adventure. This dynamic is sure to create an equal sense of wonder when translated into the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.