Marvel Comics and DC Comics have had many crossovers, starting in the 1970s. Some were official; many were not. To help break-down all of these crossovers I have placed them into four categories:
- Official Crossover Comic Books & Their Impacts on Mainstream Universes
- The Phenomenon of Earth-616’s Clark Kent
- Unofficial Crossover Cameos
- Comic Creators Getting Creative
Comics have been highlighted with colors representing the publisher(s) involved. Marvel Comics in red, DC Comics in blue, and collaborative efforts in purple.
{*I am not including parody comics, like ‘Inferior Five (1967)’ #10, with goofy versions of crossover characters; or comics like ‘Groot (2015)’ #1 which includes a refence to Superman’s parents/origin, but goes on to give them different names (“Kor/Al” & “Zora”) cementing them as independent characters. Also, no pastiches like the Squadron Supreme.}
1) The Official Crossovers and Their Direct Impact on Mainstream Universes
Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 01/1976
- First official superhero crossover between DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
- Pre-Crisis Superman
What If (1977) #1 [Marvel Comics] 02/1977
- The Watcher makes reference to the events of ‘Superman vs The Amazing Spider-Man (1976)’.
Superman and Spider-Man (1981) [DC Comics and Marvel Comics] 06/1981 and 07/1981
- Warner Books (DC) Edition (June 1981)
- Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #28 (July 1981)
- Pre-Crisis Superman
DC Special Series #27 (1981) #27 [DC Comics] 09/1981
- Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk story “The Monster and the Madman”
- Pre-Crisis Batman
Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans (1982) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 11/1982
- Pre-Crisis Teen Titans
Batman and Punisher: Lake of Fire (1994) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 08/1994
Batman (1940) #509 [DC Comics] 07/1994
- On page 14 Jean-Paul Valley mentions Jigsaw from ‘Batman and Punisher: Lake of Fire (1994)’.
Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights (1994) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 10/1994
Spider-Man and Batman (1995) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 09/1995
Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger (1995) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 10/1995
Green Lantern (1990) #57 [DC Comics] 12/1994
- written by Ron Marz
- Kyle moves to 175 Bleecker St. and runs into Wong from Doctor Strange.
- DC and Marvel would soon officially crossover in ‘Green Lantern Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances (1996)’.
Green Lantern Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances (1996) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 02/1996
- written by Ron Marz
DC Versus Marvel Comics (1996) #1 [DC Comics] 02/1996
- written by Ron Marz
- first appearance of Access
- first appearance of the Megaverse Brothers
Marvel Versus DC Comics (1996) #2 [Marvel Comics] 03/1996
Marvel Versus DC Comics (1996) #3 [Marvel Comics] 04/1996
Doctor Strangefate (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
- written by Ron Marz
Super Soldier (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
X-Patrol (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Bullets and Bracelets (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Spider-Boy (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Bruce Wayne Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Amazon (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Legends of the Dark Claw (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Assassins (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Magneto and the Magnetic Men (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
JLX (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Speed Demon (1996) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 04/1996
Generation Hex (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Super Soldier Man of War (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Bat-Thing (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Lobo the Duck (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Spider-Boy Team-Up (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Challengers of the Fantastic (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Exciting X-Patrol (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Dark Claw Adventures (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Thorion of the New Asgods (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Iron Lantern (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
JLX Unleashed (1997) #1 [Amalgam Comics] 06/1997
DC Versus Marvel Comics (1996) #4 [DC Comics] 05/1996
- written by Ron Marz
Extreme Justice (1995) #18 [DC Comics] 07/1996
- Blue Beetle uses a “fibrous polymer” to stop two opponents which will “dissolve in an hour or so”. He explains he “got the recipe from this guy who just drifted through from some alternative universe recently”.
Green Lantern (1990) #78 [DC Comics] 09/1996
- written by Ron Marz
- On page 13, the coffee cup for Radu’s shop has the logo Kyle designed at the beginning of ‘Green Lantern Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances (1996)’.
Parallax Emerald Night (1996) #1 [DC Comics] 11/1996
- written by Ron Marz
- Hal Jordan/Parallax talks about Hank Henshaw, referencing the events of ‘Green Lantern Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances (1996)’: I’ve persued him across this universe and even into another, intent on dispensing the justice he’s avoided… … but each time he’s managed to slip away from me.
DC Marvel All Access (1996) #1 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 12/1996
- written by Ron Marz
DC Marvel All Access (1996) #2 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 01/1997
- written by Ron Marz
DC Marvel All Access (1996) #3 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 01/1997
- written by Ron Marz
DC Marvel All Access (1996) #4 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 02/1997
- written by Ron Marz
Silver Surfer/Superman (1997) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 01/1997
Daredevil/Batman (1997) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 01/1997
Batman & Captain America (1997) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 02/1997
Adventures of the X-Men (1996) #12 [Marvel Comics] 03/1997
- appearance of the Megaverse Brothers from ‘DC Versus Marvel (1996)’
Green Lantern (1990) #78 [DC Comics] 09/1996
- written by Ron Marz
- Access from ‘DC Versus Marvel (1996)’ appears (and is mentioned on the cover)
Batman & Spider-Man (1997) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 10/1997
Unlimited Access (1997) #1 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 12/1997
Unlimited Access (1997) #2 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 01/1998
Unlimited Access (1997) #3 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 02/1998
Unlimited Access (1997) #4 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 03/1998
Superman/Fantastic Four (1999) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 04/1999
Incredible Hulk vs. Superman (1999) [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 07/1999
Nightwing (1996) #44 [DC Comics] 06/2000
- The events of ‘Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights (1994)’ are referenced. Dick Grayson mentions that a vicelord (Jimmy Navarone) was “axed by some out of town psycho vigilante. The Pulverizer, the Penetrator? I forget.”
Batman/Daredevil: King of New York (2000) [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 11/2000
JLA/Avengers (2003) #1 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 09/2003
- written by Kurt Busiek
JLA/Avengers (2003) #2 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 10/2003
- written by Kurt Busiek
JLA/Avengers (2003) #3 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 12/2003
- written by Kurt Busiek
JLA/Avengers (2003) #4 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 03/2004
- written by Kurt Busiek
JLA (1997) #107 [DC Comics] 12/2004
- written by Kurt Busiek
- opening text references ‘JLA/Avengers (2003)’
- The main villain of ‘JLA/Avengers (2003)’, Krona, ends the story encased in a “cosmic egg”, which is stored in the Justice League Watchtower. Kurt Busiek’s complete story of this “cosmic egg” and the fate of Krona can be found across the following issues:
- JLA (1997) #107 [DC Comics] 12/2004
- JLA (1997) #108 [DC Comics] 01/2005
- JLA (1997) #109 [DC Comics] 02/2005
- JLA (1997) #110 [DC Comics] 03/2005
- JLA (1997) #111 [DC Comics] 04/2005
- JLA (1997) #112 [DC Comics] 05/2005
- JLA (1997) #113 [DC Comics] 06/2005
- JLA (1997) #114 [DC Comics] 07/2005
- Trinity (2008) #1 [DC Comics] 06/2008
- Trinity (2008) #7 [DC Comics] 07/2008
- Trinity (2008) #8 [DC Comics] 07/2008
- Trinity (2008) #16 [DC Comics] 09/2008
- Trinity (2008) #17 [DC Comics] 09/2008
- Trinity (2008) #18 [DC Comics] 10/2008
- Trinity (2008) #20 [DC Comics] 10/2008
- Trinity (2008) #23 [DC Comics] 11/2008
- Trinity (2008) #24 [DC Comics] 11/2008
- Trinity (2008) #30 [DC Comics] 12/2008
- Trinity (2008) #35 [DC Comics] 01/2009
- Trinity (2008) #40 [DC Comics] 03/2009
- Trinity (2008) #41 [DC Comics] 03/2009
- Trinity (2008) #45 [DC Comics] 04/2009
- Trinity (2008) #46 [DC Comics] 04/2009
- Trinity (2008) #47 [DC Comics] 04/2009
- Trinity (2008) #48 [DC Comics] 04/2009
- Trinity (2008) #49 [DC Comics] 05/2009
- Trinity (2008) #50 [DC Comics] 05/2009
- Trinity (2008) #51 [DC Comics] 05/2009
- Trinity (2008) #52 [DC Comics] 05/2009
Thor the Worthy (2020) #1 [Marvel Comics] 02/2020
- Jane Foster Thor has a vision of people holding Mjolnir, including Superman and Wonder Woman.
Strange Academy (2020) #1 [Marvel Comics] 02/2022
- After the story, the reader is shown a supposed in-universe “Time Travel Advisory” showing a “travel restriction” on the “Amalgam” reality.
Spider-Man (2022) #2 [Marvel Comics] 01/2023
- Morlun tells a flashback story in which he ripped the arm off of the Amalgam Universe’s Spider-Boy in order to use his portal device.
Scarlet Witch Annual (2023) #1 [Marvel Comics] 08/2023
- appearance of a Megaverse Brother from ‘DC Versus Marvel (1996)’
- Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness engage in a fight that spans the multiverse. One of the realities visited is “The Megaverse” where the Living Tribunal is seen sitting on the right-hand shoulder of the red Megaverse Brother.
Deadpool/Batman (2025) #1 [Marvel Comics/DC Comics] 09/2025
Batman/Deadpool (2026) #1 [DC Comics/Marvel Comics] 01/2026
2) Clark Kent (and other DC characters) have powerless variants on Marvel’s Earth-616
Since the 1970s, a variant of Clark Kent from DC Comics has made minor/cameo appearances in Marvel Comic’s Earth-616 mainstream continuity. This version appears to have no superpowers, but other elements of his life appear to be the same. He is from a farm in Kansas, he his a reporter in the big city, he loves Lois Lane, etc.. I will note that other DC characters also appear to have powerless variants on Earth-616. Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and even Bruce Wayne all appear to have Earth-616 counterparts.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #98 [Marvel Comics] 04/1976
- first appearance of Clark Kent (Earth-616)
- Clark appears on page 2 with his frequent companion Lois Lane (Earth-616)
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #79 [Marvel Comics] 03/1979
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark gets a job as a TV reporter
Captain America (1968) #260 [Marvel Comics] 08/1981
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark (and possibly Jimmy Olsen) attend a prison press conference and appear throughout the story
Avengers (1963) #228 [Marvel Comics] 02/1983
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark is a TV news anchor
Thor (1962) #341 [Marvel Comics] 03/1984
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, named; Clark is knocked-over by Thor (in disguise) and is fooled by Thor in glasses
Secret Wars II (1985) #7 [Marvel Comics] 01/1986
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark is a TV news anchor
Uncanny X-Men Annual (1963) #10 [Marvel Comics] 01/1987
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark appears alongside Lois Lane on Mojoworld & they are in the same frame as the Joker (on the next page we also see Carrie Kelley in the audience on Mojoworld)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1963) #21 [Marvel Comics] 06/1987
- Bruce Wayne (Earth-616) appearance; Mary Jane’s very rich friend Bruce keeps trying to sweep her off her feet and steal her away from Peter; without being Batman, on Earth-616 Bruce gets to be the carefree billionaire playboy he pretends to be in DC universes.
Avengers (1963) #296 [Marvel Comics] 10/1988
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, named; Clark is a reporter on the scene with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen
Excalibur (1988) #8 [Marvel Comics] 05/1989
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, named; Clark appears with Lois Lane (Earth-616)
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #245 [Marvel Comics] 06/1989
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark appears as a TV anchor; this entry is drawn by Rob Liefeld!!
Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1963) #23 [Marvel Comics] 1989
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; on pages 5 and 6 Clark appears as a reporter at ‘The Daily Bugle’; this entry is drawn by Rob Liefeld!!
Power Pack (1984) #57 [Marvel Comics] 07/1990
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed
Avengers (1963) #325 [Marvel Comics] 10/1990
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, maybe [This book is sometimes listed as an appearance of Clark Kent, but without his name or some kind of reporting reference it is hard to say for sure.]
Avengers (1963) #327 [Marvel Comics] 12/1990
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed, but makes a “faster than a speeding bullet” reference
Web of Spider-Man (1985) #75 [Marvel Comics] 04/1991
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark and Lois are rescued while on their honeymoon [Clark Kent and Lois Lane got engaged in ‘Superman (1987)’ #50 dated December 1990. The two would not get married until the end of 1996.]
Daredevil (1964) #292 [Marvel Comics] 05/1991
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark and Lois try to get their coats from a dead man
Fantastic Four (1961) #377 [Marvel Comics] 06/1993
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; at the end of the issue, during the trial of Johnny Storm, the courtroom is attacked and we see Clark is in attendance
Fantastic Four (1961) #378 [Marvel Comics] 07/1993
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; picking-up from the last issue we see Clark is still in the courtroom as the battle continues
Marvels (1994) #4 [Marvel Comics] 04/1994
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark appears with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen
- This story takes place at the end of 1972 and the start of 1973, placing this story 3 years before ‘Uncanny X-Men (1963)’ #98.
Thor (1962) #476 [Marvel Comics] 07/1994
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark appears with Lois Lane reading a newspaper
Ghost Rider (1990) #66 [Marvel Comics] 10/1995
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark appears with Lois Lane for 4 pages of story where they are rescued from Blackout by Ghost Rider
Daredevil (1964) #353 [Marvel Comics] 06/1996
- Lois Lane (Earth-616) appearance
Venom Seed of Darkness (1997) #-1 [Marvel Comics] 07/1997
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance; Clark appears with Lois Lane commenting on a newsroom
Daredevil (1998) #8 [Marvel Comics] 06/1999
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark appears as a TV anchor
Marvel Knights Spider-Man (2004) #4 [Marvel Comics] 09/2004
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark appears alongside Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen
Fantastic Four (1961) #538 [Marvel Comics] 08/2006
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark waits in line for his chance to lift an abandoned Mjolnir
Marvel Now Point One (2012) #1 [Marvel Comics] 12/2012
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark is seen on the family farm in “Littleton, Kansas” (an obvious reference to Smallville)
Marvels Epilogue (2019) #1 [Marvel Comics] 09/2019
- Clark Kent (Earth-616) appearance, unnamed; Clark and Lois Lane appear together
- This cameo is a reference to their cameo in ‘Uncanny X-Men (1963)’ #98, Clark Kent of Earth-616’s first appearance; the story in ‘Marvels Epilogue (2019)’ is a different perspective on the same story told in ‘Uncanny X-Men (9163)’ #98.
Ultimates (2002 1st Series) #3 [Marvel Comics] 05/2002
- Clark Kent of Earth-1610 (note, NOT Earth-616) appears with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen (also, presumably, from Earth-1610)
3) Unofficial Crossovers
Doctor Strange (1974) #2 [Marvel Comics] 08/1974
- The hand of someone under a table has a Green Lantern ring.
Nova (1976) #19 [Marvel Comics] 05/1978
- Reference is made to two Flashes, Barry Allen and Wally West.
Death of Captain Marvel (1982) GN [Marvel Comics] 04/1982
- On the back cover of the graphic novel, Superman can been seen giving his respects.
Legion of Super-Heroes (1980) #300 [DC Comics] 06/1983
- Last two pages of the story show a Legion anniversary ceremony and among the members can be seen a cameo from Spider-Man.
Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) #5 [DC Comics] 08/1985
- Peter Parker (Spider-Man) cameo [I have seen this listed as a Spider-Man cameo, but I’m not positive it is.]
Swamp Thing (1982) #47 [DC Comics] 04/1986
- One of the elementals from the Parliament of Trees is Marvel’s Man Thing.
Superman (1987) #11 [DC Comics] 11/1987
- Mr. Mxyzptlk appears throughout this issue as a man with curly black hair dressed in a white suit, his name is “Ben Deroy” (an anagram for “Beyonder”) and when he’s asked where he is from he cites a place called “Yonder”. He is clearly a nod to the Marvel character Beyonder (including his lack of a shadow).
Justice (1986) #32 [Marvel Comics] 06/1989
- Joker cameo on page 18.
Superman (1987) #50 [DC Comics] 12/1990
- In this issue Mr. Mxyzptlk is implied to be Impossible Man from the Marvel Universe as he appears with the Fantastic Four at the start and end of his adventure.
Fantastic Four (1961) #353 [Marvel Comics] 06/1991
- Supergirl is seen flying in the void on page 15.
Quasar (1989) #17 [Marvel Comics] 12/1990
- “Buried Alien” is a homage to Barry Allen. He appeared after Barry Allen’s death in ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985)’ #8. When the character first appeared, he wore a tattered red costume with yellow accents and boots. He felt like he had a “ball of energy — like lightning — inside of” him, and the last thing he remembered was “running”. A reference to Barry Allen’s death during Crisis on Infinite Earths, where he ran himself to death.
Quasar (1989) #58 [Marvel Comics] 05/1994
- Second (and final) appearance of “Buried Alien”, now called “FastForward”.
- Barry Allen would eventually return from the dead in DC Comics in ‘Final Crisis (2008)’ #2 from August 2008.
Nightstalkers (1992) #4 [Marvel Comics] 02/1993
- The book ends with a single-page “In Memoriam” story where Hannibal King pays his respects at a grave meant to belong to Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman. [Superman was famously “killed” in ‘Superman (1987)’ #75, dated January 1993.]
Incredible Hulk (1962) #413 [Marvel Comics] 01/1994
- During a virtual training session the Hulk takes on a virtual Doomsday.
Incredible Hulk (1962) #418 [Marvel Comics] 06/1994
- DC’s Death (from ‘Sandman’) talks to the bride, Marlo. (Death also calls Thanos a “creep”.)
Incredible Hulk (1962) #426 [Marvel Comics] 02/1995
- The mental patient “Mr. J” is a reference to Green Lantern / Hal Jordan.
Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #411 [Marvel Comics] 05/1996
- Ben Reilly Spider-Man saves a family from being mugged in an obvious reference to the origin of Batman.
- I don’t list this as an appearance of Bruce Wayne of Earth-616 because of the child’s age where Bruce was already established in 1987’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1963)’ #21 as much older.
JLA (1997) #1 [DC Comics] 01/1997
- Doctor Doom and Wolverine have cameos as victims of the Hyperclan.
Superman Batman Annual (2003) #1 [DC Comics] 12/2006
- The Antimatter Universe version/counterpart of Deathstroke appears to be a Deadpool. (This issue was written by Joe Kelly, a famous Deadpool writter.)
Amazing Spider-Man (1998) #600 [Marvel Comics] 09/2009
- “Spider-Man Cover You’ll Never See” #4 is a censored “Spider-Man/Batman” book “by Bendis and Janson”.
Teen Titans (2011) #1 [DC Comics] 11/2011
- Scott Lobdell wrote X-Men titles for years. This 2011 book marks his start with DC. It opens with a “mansion” in “Westchester County” burning down, an obvious reference to the X-Men’s “X-Mansion”.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #11 [Marvel Comics] 09/2015
- There is a stone carving of Darkseid’s head in background on page 14.
Spider-Man (2016) #14 [Marvel Comics] 05/2017
- While hopping universes, Miles and Gwen land in the DC Universe, above Metropolis, near the Daily Planet.
Infinity Countdown Prime (2018) #1 [Marvel Comics] 04/2018
- Pages 14 and 15 showcase Captain Marvels of different realities. The final, cut-off panel shows a (re-colored) version of DC’s Captain Marvel.
Lockjaw (2018) #4 [Marvel Comics] 07/2018
- On page 15 Lockjaw appears to visit the DC Universe, seeing Superman and Wonder Woman.
Marvel Comics (2019) #1000 [Marvel Comics] 10/2019
- The page for 1997 includes Deadpool stealing Batman’s boat.
- The “In Memoriam” page repurposes the back cover art from ‘Death of Captain Marvel (1982)’, including the Superman cameo.
Deadpool the End (2020 Marvel) #1 [Marvel Comics] 03/2020
- Pages 19 and 20 show Deadpool as a sort of “Batman Who Laughs”.
Young Justice (2019) #12 [DC Comics] 03/2020
- On the final page, Miguel Montez’s H-Dial turns him into a Spider-Man pastiche.
Thor (2020) #2 [Marvel Comics] 03/2020
- The world and heroes/gods shown at the start of the story are references to DC Comic’s Justice League.
4) Creators Getting Creative
Steve Skeates’s Secret 2-Part Crossover
Aquaman (1962) #56 [DC Comics] 04/1971
- This is the final issue of the series under its intended print run. The cover story, “The Creature That Devoured Detroit!”, would receive an unofficial conclusion (and crossover) by writer Steve Keates in Sub-Mariner (Volume 2) #72 over at Marvel Comics.
Sub-Mariner (1968) #72 [Marvel Comics] 09/1974
- This story serves as an unofficial conclusion (and crossover) by writer Steve Skeates of ‘Aquaman (1962)’ #56 over at DC Comics. The title character’s hand appears pushing the button that destroys the satellite boarded by the Slime-Thing in the beginning of the story, as he does in the end of the aforementioned comic. This issue’s narrator makes the odd remark that the identity of that character is not the reader’s concern.
The 1972 Rutland Halloween Crossover
The 1972 Rutland Halloween Crossover was an unofficial, metafictional story event that spanned three comic book issues across both Marvel and DC, featuring real-life comic creators interacting with heroes and villains at the actual Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont. Writers Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway, and Len Wein (along with his then-wife, Glynis Wein) secretly coordinated a continuous storyline without the knowledge of management at either company. The three individual issues each told their own story but connected to form a single, overarching narrative.
Amazing Adventures (1970) #16 [Marvel Comics] 01/1973
- Features the Beast hitching a ride to the parade with the real-life creators, only to encounter the Juggernaut, who attempts to steal Englehart’s car.
Justice League of America (1960) #103 [DC Comics] 12/1972
- The Justice League arrives in Rutland to stop Felix Faust from summoning ghosts. The creators are present, and Faust escapes by successfully stealing Englehart’s car.
Thor (1962) #207 [Marvel Comics] 01/1973
- Tom Fagan (the real-life organizer of the parade and a character in the comics) falls under the mind control of Loki, who is using the Absorbing Man to cause chaos. After Thor defeats them, an unseen figure (implied to be Felix Faust from the JLA story) steals the car once again.
The Crusaders Crossover
‘The Crusaders’ is the name used by two teams of superheroes, one group appearing in DC Comics and the other in Marvel Comics, at around the same time as part of an informal crossover. The DC Comics team was created by Bob Rozakis and Dick Ayers in the pages of ‘Freedom Fighters (1976)’ #7, and was composed of homages to the members of the Invaders. The Marvel Comics version of the Crusaders first appeared in ‘Invaders (1975)’ #14, written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Frank Robbins, and likewise had members based on the Freedom Fighters.
Invaders (1975) #14 [Marvel Comics] 03/1977
Invaders (1975) #15 [Marvel Comics] 04/1977
Freedom Fighters (1976) #7 [DC Comics] 04/1977
Freedom Fighters (1976) #8 [DC Comics] 06/1977
Freedom Fighters (1976) #9 [DC Comics] 08/1977
5) Marvel Comics vs. WildStorm Crossovers
WildStorm became an imprint under DC Comics starting in January 1999. The following is a list of crossover comics featuring Marvel Comics and WildStorm Comics characters.
Backlash/Spider-Man (1996) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 08/1996
Backlash/Spider-Man (1996) #2 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 10/1996
Deathblow and Wolverine (1996) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 09/1996
Deathblow and Wolverine (1996) #2 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 02/1997
Team X / Team 7 (1996) #1 [Marvel Comics/Image Comics] 11/1996
Spider-Man/Gen13 (1996) #1 [Marvel Comics/Image Comics] 11/1996
WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Golden Age (1997) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 02/1997
WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Silver Age (1997) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 06/1997
WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Modern Age (1997) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 08/1997
WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Dark Age (1997) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 05/1998
Gen13/Generation X (1997) #1 [Image Comics/Marvel Comics] 07/1997
Generation X/Gen13 (1997) #1 [Marvel Comics/Image Comics] 12/1997
Fantastic Four (1996) #13 [Marvel Comics] 11/1997
- “World War 3 (Part 1)” the finale to Marvel’s 1996 event “Heroes Reborn”
Avengers (1996) #13 [Marvel Comics] 11/1997
- “World War 3 (Part 2)” the finale to Marvel’s 1996 event “Heroes Reborn”
Iron Man (1996) #13 [Marvel Comics] 11/1997
- “World War 3 (Part 3)” the finale to Marvel’s 1996 event “Heroes Reborn”
Captain America (1996) #13 [Marvel Comics] 11/1997
- “World War 3 (Part 4)” the finale to Marvel’s 1996 event “Heroes Reborn”
Gen13 Fantastic Four (2001) #1 [WildStorm/Marvel Comics] 01/2001
Thor: Vikings (2003) #5 [Marvel Comics] 01/2004
- Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry created this unofficial crossover (part 1 of 2).
- This issue ends with Thor flinging the body of Harald Jackelson into space. His magical corpse is left to float in space.
The Authority: More Kev (2004) #3 [WildStorm] 10/2004
- Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry created this unofficial crossover (part 2 of 2).
- On a planet with an undead horde, we see the magical corpse of Harald Jackelson.
6) Other Notable Issues
Sergio Aragones Official Superhero Parodies:
These two books were released by their respective publishers in the same month. While not a “crossover” in the traditional sense, this is definitely a coordinated publishing effort.
Sergio Aragones Destroys DC (1996) #1 [DC Comics] 06/1996
Sergio Aragones Massacres Marvel (1996) #1 [DC Comics] 06/1996
Extreme Excursus 