DC and Marvel Will Meet in Massive Crossover

The crossover comic book fans have been waiting for is finally happening (again).

At the ComicsPRO retailer conference, the top editors from both DC Comics and Marvel revealed their plans to collaborate on a crossover comic book series, which is expected to hit shelves towards the end of 2025.

So far, neither the specifics of the storyline nor the individuals behind it have been disclosed. However, it’s rumored that this crossover will feature two distinct parts: One titled “DC/Marvel” and another named “Marvel/DC“.

As a passionate moviegoer, I must say that it’s not every day we witness the epic crossover of DC and Marvel characters on the big screen. However, this isn’t the first time these universes have crossed paths. Way back in 1976, Superman and Spider-Man squared off in “Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man,” penned by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru. Fast forward to early 1981, and we had the Hulk and Batman meeting for a special encounter. In 1982, the comics world was abuzz when two of their hottest properties clashed in “The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans,” an issue that left fans cheering.

During the 1990s, a variety of comics featuring collaborations between two famous companies were published. Titles such as “Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire“, “Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances“, “Batman and Captain America“, “Batman and Spider-Man“, and “Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger” were among those released.

1996 found me captivated by a monumental mini-series penned by two titans of comic publishing – a showdown that went by the name DC vs Marvel (or Marvel vs DC, depending on who held the rights to that specific edition). This epic spectacle brought characters from both fictional realms into fierce combat, with some battles decided by the collective voice of the readers. (Sadly for Jason Momoa’s Lobo, Wolverine emerged victorious in a reader-decided bout.)

Initially, following the battles, a fleeting phase emerged where two distinct universes merged into what became known as the “Amalgam Universe.” This unique universe showcased fresh characters that were hybrid creations, blending one Marvel character with one DC character. For instance, Super-Soldier was a fusion of Superman and Captain America, while Amazon was the result of combining Wonder Woman with Storm.

By around the mid-2000s, the bond between these two companies had significantly weakened, effectively halting Marvel and DC crossovers for many years. However, given that the comic book industry wasn’t exactly thriving, both entities could benefit from a surge – and undoubtedly, a significant collaboration between them would lead to numerous sales.

The Most Overrated Superhero Movies

10. Spider-Man: No Way Home

The film “Spider-Man: No Way Home” skillfully reintroduced Spider-Men played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, but the overall plot may not be as smoothly integrated. The explanation behind how multiple multiversal characters ended up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) isn’t entirely convincing under close examination, and it doesn’t always align with subsequent events in the MCU. Despite these issues, “No Way Home” is currently the third highest-grossing superhero movie of all time at the box office, surpassed only by “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame.” While it holds this impressive position, I wouldn’t necessarily call it the third best superhero film ever or even the third best Spider-Man movie for that matter.

9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Many might find this selection controversial, but although Anthony Mackie’s Falcon was a fantastic addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Chris Evans played Captain America admirably, I don’t think The Winter Soldier lives up to its reputation as an intense conspiracy thriller. It also bothers me that Nick Fury, the world’s greatest spy, was oblivious to the fact that almost everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. besides him and a couple others were completely corrupt. Really, Nick? Wake up!

8. Kick-Ass

Initially, the movie “Kick-Ass” held significant impact in pop culture due to its unexpected success and graphic violence, which spawned a sequel and various adaptations from Mark Millar’s gritty comic books. However, upon reflection, one may question its depth when it comes to exploring nerd culture or shedding light on superheroes and their fans’ interactions with them. Compared to Chloë Grace Moretz’s standout portrayal of Hit-Girl, the film might not offer as much substance as it believes.

7. X-Men: First Class

Movies like X-Men: First Class, often appear exceptional due to preceding films that were poorly received. However, if viewed without this context, they’re merely average. For instance, after the disappointments of X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, First Class seemed almost like a masterpiece. But it’s not without its flaws, such as an inconsistent cast and a narrative that can be confusing when considering the broader X-Men film series. Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of the young Magneto is particularly strong though.

6. Watchmen

Zack Snyder’s remake of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ iconic series resembles Gus Van Sant’s version of “Psycho”: it stays true to the original, yet lacks the energy that makes it truly captivating. The opening credits remain engaging as they depict how the superheroes in the Watchmen universe might have influenced the 20th century’s historical events. However, much of the rest has been overshadowed by Damon Lindelof’s recent HBO series.

5. Punisher: War Zone

Among all the portrayals of The Punisher, Ray Stevenson’s stands out as the most compelling. His character radiates self-loathing almost equal to that of the Mafia, and he appears as if he has just walked off a Tim Bradstreet comic cover. Apart from his impressive acting, “Punisher: War Zone” feels like it was adapted from an interim issue in the comics – the ordinary and forgettable stories published between more significant ones to maintain a series’ schedule. The Punisher enters and exits the movie untouched by any character development. Throughout, there is excessive violence and action, which are generally rough and uninspiring, save for the memorable rocket launcher scene. The only character with an arc is Jigsaw, portrayed by Dominic West in a disappointing performance – overly dramatic and cartoonish, contradicting the gritty and realistic atmosphere that Stevenson’s half of the movie creates.

4. Joker

Absolutely, Joaquin Phoenix delivers an intense and chilling portrayal as the troubled clown Arthur Fleck, but his performance in other roles, particularly those of mentally ill loners who resort to violence, have been equally captivating. To be frank, there are at least two film versions of the Joker that I find more intriguing than this one, which seems like a Scorsese tribute that veered off course. Here’s hoping the sequel lives up to the hype surrounding Joker.

3. The Wolverine

This film suffers from a significant identity dilemma, much like its furry, forgetful protagonist. Initially, it promises to be a deep exploration of character, but later transforms into a typical CGI-heavy action flick. It should have either been significantly scaled down or expanded to provide more depth. When first released, The Wolverine was merely acceptable. However, in the presence of the masterpiece that is Logan, it feels redundant. Despite this, it does boast Hugh Jackman’s finest portrayal of Wolverine’s hair, if that carries any value.

2. Birdman

At the 2014 Oscars, I found myself rooting for “Birdman” against a formidable lineup that included “Boyhood”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “Selma”, and “Whiplash”. On the surface, its innovative long-take cinematography certainly made it appear as an outstanding film. However, upon closer inspection, I felt that the uninterrupted shots didn’t contribute significantly to the movie’s exploration of acting, artistry, or superheroes – topics that have been handled more profoundly in other works.

1. Superman II

Fans adore Terence Stamp’s performance as Zod and the iconic line “Kneel before Zod!” so much that they tend to overlook the disorganized state of the rest of the film, regardless of which version one watches. Despite the buzz surrounding “The Richard Donner Cut” in 2006, it only slightly improves upon the original. Even aspects that were successful in the first Superman film, such as Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder’s comedic chemistry, seem misplaced this time around. In this movie, Superman becomes so fixated on showing Lois his Fortress of Solitude that he fails to notice three Kryptonian superbeings taking over the planet! Given his super-hearing ability, one would expect him to be aware, but here he seems oblivious. The film does possess certain elements that work, and it’s not unreasonable to call it the second best Superman movie thus far. However, calling it a classic is a stretch.

2025-02-22 08:54