The legendary rivalry between Marvel and DC has long fueled fan debates, but now the two comic giants are setting aside their competitive spirit to bring fans something truly special—their first official crossover comics since *JLA/Avengers* in 2003. And what better way to usher in this new era of collaboration than with one of the most unlikely duos in comics: Batman and Deadpool?
As revealed by Entertainment Weekly, Marvel and DC are joining forces for a pair of exclusive one-shot specials that unite the Dark Knight and the Merc with a Mouth like never before. Marvel will publish *Deadpool/Batman #1*, written by Zeb Wells (*The Amazing Spider-Man*) with art by Greg Capullo (*Batman*), while DC releases *Batman/Deadpool #1*, penned by Grant Morrison (*Batman*) and illustrated by Dan Mora (*Superman/Batman: World's Finest*). Each issue will also feature “backup adventures” spotlighting other exciting character combinations from both universes.
Art by Greg Capullo & Dan Mora. (Image Credit: Marvel/DC)
This marks the first major crossover between Marvel and DC in over two decades—though some may argue Fortnite’s *Omniverse* event brought them together briefly. Before that, the two publishers had a rich history of crossovers dating back to the iconic 1976 clash, *Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man*. According to DC’s President, Chief Creative Officer, and Publisher Jim Lee, these collaborations are rare for a reason.
"It happens kind of once every generation of readers. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why," Lee told EW. "The timing has to be right—you don't want to do these too often. You want them to feel special. It is sort of finding that right moment for both companies to come together because it is complex. There's a lot more coordination, collaboration, approvals that have to be done. And, obviously, from the business side, you're sharing revenue, but it's going to be a big deal. So you want the story, creatively, to warrant the hype of it all."
When asked why Batman and Deadpool were chosen to headline this historic crossover, Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley offered a refreshingly candid response.
"It just felt like a fun combo. I'll be quite frank. It was nothing more complicated than that," Buckley said. "Like, Deadpool hanging out with Batman. There's a lot of levity to be had in there, a lot of fun. And it would also be a little bit uber violent at the same time.... Our big thing is we want to do something that is a lot of fun, showcase comics, generate excitement, and bring new or lapsed readers back into the industry."
A New Era of Crossovers Begins
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to get their hands on these exclusive issues. *Deadpool/Batman #1* hits shelves on September 17, 2025, followed by *Batman/Deadpool #1* in November. Even better news? Both publishers are already working on another set of crossover one-shots planned for 2026—though details about which characters will appear remain under wraps for now.
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Which Marvel/DC crossover would you like to see next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to explore Batman’s 10 greatest crossovers of all time for a nostalgic dive into the hero’s most unforgettable team-ups.
