Batman, Deadpool Star in Historic Marvel-DC Crossover After 22 Years

The longstanding rivalry between Marvel and DC is taking a backseat as the two comic giants announce their first major crossover since 2003's JLA/Avengers. In a move that's sure to excite fans, Batman and Deadpool are set to headline this new era of collaboration.

Entertainment Weekly broke the news that Marvel and DC are joining forces for two one-shot specials featuring the Dark Knight and the Merc With a Mouth. Marvel will release Deadpool/Batman #1, crafted by writer Zeb Wells (The Amazing Spider-Man) and artist Greg Capullo (Batman). On the other side, DC will present Batman/Deadpool #1, brought to life by writer Grant Morrison (Batman) and artist Dan Mora (Superman/Batman: World's Finest). Both comics will feature additional "backup adventures" that will bring together other iconic characters from both universes.

Art by Greg Capullo & Dan Mora. (Image Credit: Marvel/DC)

This project marks the first significant Marvel/DC crossover in over two decades, not counting the more recent Fortnite's Omniverse event. Historically, the two publishers have collaborated on several crossovers, with the first being 1976's Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man.

DC's President, Chief Creative Officer, and Publisher Jim Lee shared his thoughts on the timing of such collaborations with EW, stating, "It happens kind of once every generation of readers. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why. The timing has to be right in that 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."

Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley explained the choice of Batman and Deadpool for this crossover, saying, "It just felt like a fun combo. I'll be quite frank. It was nothing more complicated than that. 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 readers or lapsed readers back into the industry."

The Top 10 Best Batman Crossovers of All Time

View 11 Images

Deadpool/Batman #1 is slated for release on September 17, 2025, with Batman/Deadpool #1 following in November. Additionally, EW disclosed that Marvel and DC are already planning another pair of crossover one-shots for 2026, though details on which characters will be featured are still under wraps.