For the first time in two decades, powerhouses DC Comics and Marvel Comics are teaming up once more for cross-company collaborations, starting with the unique pairing of Batman and Deadpool. They’ve publicly confirmed that this isn’t a one-off event, hinting at further partnerships soon. This news has our superhero enthusiasts buzzing with excitement! It’s been twenty years since the epic team-up of Justice League and Avengers, and we can’t wait to see more Marvel and DC crossovers. To kick off our wish list, let us dream about the encounter we yearn for the most – a gathering of DC’s mightiest heroes with Marvel’s beloved X-Men: the World’s Greatest Superheroes meeting Marvel’s Merry Mutants!
Justice League/X-Men
As a seasoned movie critic, I must admit that the last truly monumental DC/Marvel crossover, the iconic “JLA/Avengers,” left an indelible mark over two decades ago. Frankly, I believe it’s unrealistic for any subsequent event to surpass the brilliance of Kurt Busiek and George Prez in that regard, so let’s not set ourselves up for disappointment. Nevertheless, it’s high time the Justice League collaborated with Marvel’s other titanic team, the Uncanny X-Men. With the right creative minds at the helm, this could easily rival the epic status of “JLA/Avengers.” The ideal team to bring this vision to life is evidently within reach.
In a fascinating turn of events, DC and Marvel are luring Grant Morrison back from his superhero writing hiatus for the collaboration of Batman/Deadpool. While this is intriguing, fans are eagerly anticipating a crossover between the Justice League and the X-Men. Interestingly, Morrison penned some of the most cherished runs for the Justice League in JLA, and also crafted one of the most celebrated X-Men stories in New X-Men during the early 2000s.
In case a new Justice League or X-Men comic is produced, it should ideally feature Jim Lee’s artwork. While he currently heads DC, Lee gained significant recognition through his exceptional artwork on Marvel’s X-Men comics. Notably, the first issue of X-Men from 1991 is still the best-selling comic ever published. However, due to his exclusive contract with DC, Lee has not been able to illustrate Marvel’s mutants for nearly three decades.
In my opinion as an avid comic book enthusiast, a collaboration between Morrison and Lee on a joint Justice League/X-Men adventure would ignite comic book sales and offer the industry a much-needed boost at this critical juncture. To say it would be enjoyable is an understatement; just imagine these iconic teams banding together to battle formidable foes such as Darkseid and Apocalypse – a prospect that leaves me absolutely thrilled! Who among us wouldn’t relish the opportunity to witness this epic crossover event unfold?
Daredevil/Nightwing
Many fans of comic books are eager for another crossover featuring Batman and Daredevil. However, given that there was already a crossover between Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and Bruce Wayne (Batman) some time ago, it seems unnecessary to revisit that pairing. Instead, we believe that Nightwing, the original Robin, and the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen share more similarities and would make for a more engaging story. It’s about time these two teamed up, leaped from rooftops together, and battled against ninjas side by side.
To begin with, unlike the burly behemoths often associated with urban vigilantes, these two characters are more agile acrobats, akin to Batman, but with distinct differences. Regardless of their troubled pasts, they maintain a strong sense of humor and wit, something that might not be as evident in the gloomy Batman. It’s also worth mentioning that both characters have a knack for charm when it comes to women. In terms of weapons, they both carry substantial ones, so let’s keep our imaginations clean.
While there are differences between these two characters, with Matt being more brooding than Dick Grayson, we believe they would make an extraordinary duo in a story. The creative team of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, who did an exceptional job on their Nightwing series, seem like the ideal choice to bring this concept to life.
Wonder Woman/Storm
In simple terms, Diana Prince, also known as Wonder Woman from Themyscira, and Ororo Munroe, commonly recognized as Storm from Kenya, are two highly revered female characters in the world of comics. Their rivalry was showcased in the ’90s series, DC Versus Marvel, where they engaged in combat. Later, a special event called Amalgam Comics combined these two characters to create a new hero named “Amazon.” (I still can’t help but think “Thunder Woman” would have been an excellent name.) However, instead of watching them fight, we long to see the Amazing Amazon and Mistress of the Elements team up in a comic book storyline.
Indeed, these two characters share many similarities. They are valiant fighters, yet they prioritize cultivating peace and unity over physical combat. They stand as champions for equality in various aspects, embodying idealism at its finest. While Diana is an Amazon brought to life by mythical beings, Storm is a mutant, but both are revered as divine figures, as they truly deserve such adoration. It’s high time for these remarkable women to join forces in their own unique team-up storyline. In terms of creative talent, we’d be thrilled to see the likes of Phil Jimenez, Gail Simone, and Lukas Wernek take on this project. The divine powers seem to agree, as well!
Harley Quinn/Deadpool
In a fascinating twist of comic book fate, Harleen Quinzel and Wade Wilson share more than just a red-and-black color scheme that they flaunt so effortlessly. Debuting almost simultaneously, we find these characters initially embodying villainous roles before evolving into the complex antiheroes we know today. And let’s not forget their peculiar sense of humor, which has them trading witty, albeit terrible jokes as if it were a contest. It’s no wonder they both skyrocketed to fame in the ’90s comic book world, becoming the breakout stars for their respective publishers.
Instead, let’s say this: It’s true that Batman or Deadpool could offer some entertainment, but it’s Harley Quinn we’d most like Wade to encounter in Gotham City. If they were to become a couple, well, our preference is for Harley with Poison Ivy romantically, but when it comes to male companions, Deadpool trumps the Joker by far. We won’t mind if there’s a kiss between Harley and Deadpool in a comic book storyline.
Batman/Superman & Captain America/Iron Man
In 2016, characters like Iron Man and Captain America from Marvel, and Batman and Superman from DC clashed on the silver screen. However, fans have longed to see these duos collaborate instead of fight. After all, they are the heads of their super teams, essentially leading the heroic societies of their home planets. They are often referred to as the top two in the comic book world, hence the term “The Big Two.” But we’ve had enough of the battles. What we crave now is to witness them working together. Therefore, a comic book series featuring this legendary four-person team seems like an obvious choice for a DC/Marvel crossover storyline.
Discussing a potential comic book series: In this hypothetical storyline, we imagine conversations between Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Anthony Stark (Iron Man), two billionaires who combat crime in unconventional ways, contrasted with Clark Kent (Superman) and Steven Rogers (Captain America), who embody justice in a more vibrant, idealistic manner. Mark Waid, renowned for his work on the Superman/Batman team-up book “World’s Finest” and Captain America stories, would make an excellent writer for this project. Illustrations could be handled by Dan Mora. This series would undoubtedly be a must-buy for us from day one.
X-Men/Doom Patrol
In 1963, it was an unusual occurrence that Marvel’s X-Men and DC’s Doom Patrol came out around the same time. These comics shared some striking similarities: they were both teams of characters who were considered “freaks”, wore matching uniforms, had a wheelchair-bound leader, lived in a secluded mansion, and fought for a world that shunned them. It’s as if there was something peculiar going on back then, or perhaps one creator drew inspiration from the other. Despite this, it was the X-Men that eventually gained massive popularity among readers, while Doom Patrol struggled until Grant Morrison took over writing duties in the early ’90s and gave them a unique, strange, and surreal series.
The ’90s adaptation sparked the creation of the Doom Patrol series on HBO Max, which spanned over four seasons. As a result, many more individuals are now familiar with the Doom Patrol, albeit not as widely recognized as the X-Men. It’s exciting to imagine these two teams, who share a common origin, finally uniting after six decades of parallel development. If it were to happen, it would be delightful if the original lineups from both teams in 1963 were involved. Grant Morrison would make an excellent writer for this project, but should he be unavailable (ideally working on JLA/X-Men), we propose Jonathan Hickman instead. To complement his work, Dale Eaglesham, who worked with Hickman on the Fantastic Four, could handle the artwork.
Namor/Aquaman
It’s important to note that while Aquaman and Namor share similarities, they are distinct characters with separate origins. Namor was introduced first, and his backstory served as an inspiration for Arthur Curry’s, the character who later became known as Aquaman. Both are rulers of underwater realms, born from human fathers and Atlantean mothers. Over time, Aquaman has evolved into a more gritty and formidable character, mirroring Namor in some ways, but with less of a confrontational demeanor.
In 1995’s DC Versus Marvel comic, they clashed for a while, but it wasn’t the epic crossover we crave. It’d be thrilling to watch them quarrel over whose Atlantis is authentic! Thanks to Hollywood, Aquaman and Namor have gained immense popularity, making it high time for their own crossover comic at last.
Scarlet Witch/Zatanna
In their respective universes, Wanda Maximoff and Zatanna Zatara stand out as exceptional magic users, with no one else quite able to weave spells like they do. Although these two enchantresses briefly crossed paths in the comic JLA/Avengers about two decades ago, they have yet to star together in a shared comic book storyline. Back then, it seemed Scarlet Witch was not quite popular enough for her own headlining comic. However, post-MCU and particularly after the success of WandaVision featuring Elizabeth Olsen, there is no doubt that Wanda Maximoff has garnered significant popularity.
In the JLA/Avengers comics, it was hinted that Chaos Magic held greater power in the DC Universe compared to Marvel’s world, boosting Wanda’s abilities. However, we’re intrigued by this concept and would love to delve deeper. Is Scarlet Witch genuinely more potent on Earth-DC? And could such an enhancement pose a threat not only to her but also to the fabric of reality itself? Moreover, might Zatanna’s extensive mastery in mystic arts offer assistance to Wanda? From a creative standpoint, we believe Steve Orlando could craft an exceptional storyline, with Nicola Scott providing stunning visuals.
The Winter Soldier/Red Hood
In the past, both Jason Todd (Robin) and Bucky Barnes were sidekicks to Batman and Captain America respectively, and they both suffered unfortunate deaths that tormented their mentors for a long time. However, in the 2000s, DC Comics and Marvel Comics stirred up controversy by bringing these characters back from the dead, but not as allies this time – instead, they became adversaries for their former role models. The storyline of “The Winter Soldier” featuring Bucky Barnes was generally well-received compared to DC’s revival of Jason Todd, with its influence being seen in numerous MCU films.
In time, Jason Todd’s comeback was welcomed as he transformed into the anti-hero known as Red Hood. Although he’s not a permanent fixture in the Batman universe, it’s intriguing to imagine a story where these two clash, only to later discover a shared bond through their sorrowful pasts. A writer like Ed Brubaker or Scott Snyder would be fantastic for a Winter Soldier/Red Hood comic. And for the artist, Greg Capullo would be the perfect choice.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends/The New Teen Titans
In the 1980s, Spider-Man dominated Saturday morning television with his animated series “Spider-Man and His Spectacular Pals.” The show starred a young Peter Parker alongside his two college friends from Empire State University, Iceman and Firestar. Together, they were known as the “Spider-Team,” which was Marvel’s effort to capitalize on the popularity of DC’s Super Friends cartoon.
It’s exciting to imagine a collaboration between Spider-Friends and the ’80s icons from DC, the New Teen Titans. Given they both resided in New York City and were roughly the same age, the potential drama that could unfold among these teams seems almost self-scripting. Moreover, it’s surprising that Marvel’s Firestar hasn’t crossed paths with DC’s Starfire yet after so many years!
The Green Lantern Corps/Nova Corps
The Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics serves as an interstellar peacekeeping unit, similar to “space cops.” Meanwhile, Marvel’s Nova Corps plays a comparable role, acting as cosmic law enforcers. To some extent, the initial Nova series could be seen as a blend of the Green Lantern and Spider-Man characters.
It’s long overdue for the Nova Corps, ideally some of its key members, to collaborate with the Green Lanterns. Maybe they could join forces against enemies like Sinestro and Annihilus. Instead of focusing solely on Green Lantern/Hal Jordan and Nova/Richard Rider, we believe a full-blown team-up between several members from each Corps would be more exciting. In essence, let’s make it grand; either they go big or they go home!
Read More
2025-06-09 16:34