Throughout their respective publication histories,Marvel ComicsandDC Comicshave maintained a healthy rivalry as the two largest juggernauts of the comic book industry. But the House of Ideas has collaborated with their Distinguished Competition on more than one occasion to excite their mutual fans.
Unfortunately for readers, crossovers between the iconic characters of these two titans have been few and far between for the better part of twenty years. And with both publishers prepping for the new year, they’re poised to deliver more than a few team-ups that the fans desperately need.
10Jeff and Krypto
Land Shark Meets Superdog
There are few contemporary Marvel characters as universally beloved by both the audience and their fellow heroes as Jeff the Land Shark. Arguably the most adorable comics creation of the 21st century, Jeff has an irresistible charm that immediately wins over anyone who crosses his path – and that could potentially includeDC Comics’ most famous animal sidekick, Krypto the Superdog.
Krypto isn’t always the friendliest beast on the block, but the Canine of Steel knows a true hero like Jeff when he sees one. And with both super-pets’ stars on the rise – thanks to Jeff’s appearances inMarvel RivalsandMarvel Snapas well as Krypto’s upcoming role inSuperman(2025) – now is the perfect time to unite everyone’s favorite four-legged friends against the likes of King Shark or even Kraven the Hunter.
9The Fantastic Four and The Flash Family
Marvel’s First Family & DC’s Fastest
While they may not seem like the most obvious crossover to pitch, The Fantastic Four and the Flash Family have quite a few traits in common that would make any team-up an instant classic. Wrapped in their respective superheroic science-fiction shells, the true crux of both groups is ultimately family.The Fantastic Four have always been a familyever since their initial inception, and that family has grown over the years to maintain their status as one of Marvel’s most heroic households.
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Meanwhile, the Flash Family is one built on legacy, having grown organically throughout the decades to encompass generations in a never-ending race for justice across the multiverse. With these shared themes, and both groups’ penchant for interdimensional voyages, it’s only a matter of time before Marvel’s First Family meets the Fastest Family Alive.
8Captain America and Superman
Publishers' Paragons
As the two central leaders of their respective superheroic communities, a team-up betweenCaptain America and Superman is a match made in heaven. Readers have already gotten a glimpse of the potential duo’s dynamic in the pages ofJLA/Avengersby Kurt Busiek and George Perez. In this fan-favorite crossover, these two living legends didn’t exactly get off on the right foot, but they ultimately learned to respect one another as genuine heroes and potential teammates – a development that is dying to be further explored.
After all, few can truly relate to the toll that each heroes’ respective mythology places on their shoulders, and while there’s no shortage of fiendish foes against which the pair could face off, the real draw would come from Steve Rogers and Clark Kent simply comparing notes on how tough it is to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.
7Spider-Man and Blue Beetle
Buglike Bros In The Making
As two of their respective publishers’ marquee young heroes,a crossover between Miles Morales’ Spider-Manand Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle makes total sense. Aside from their coinciding bug-themed identities, these new icons have loads in common and could greatly benefit from a crossover with another hero who knows exactly how they feel.
Thanks totheir time with the Teen Titans and the Champions, neither Blue Beetle nor Spider-Man are strangers to team-ups with fellow legacy heroes, but not everybody understands the weight of power and responsibility like these two. Having both gotten their powers accidentally, they’ve had to step up and carry on the legacy of their predecessors – in many ways surpassing them – while making the roles their own against all odds. And considering their respective powers, the dynamics of any team-up between Spider-Man and Blue Beetle would be a visual delight.
6Scarlet Witch and Zatanna
The Worlds' Most Powerful Sorceresses
As some ofMarvel and DC Comics’ most popular magic users, with equally rabid fan-bases to boot, Scarlet Witch and Zatanna are a match made in Heaven, Limbo, and anywhere else their mystical misadventures may take them. But with nearly limitless magical potential at both their fingertips, on top of a history of questionable decisions and complicated paternal relationships, Wanda and Zatanna have much more in common than either of them knows.
Fans have seen the two cross paths before in Busiek and Perez’sJLA/Avengers, but neither played a true starring role, and a more focused team-up could do wonders for the duo. After all, any crossover between Scarlet Witch and Zatanna would truly be two of comics’ greatest witches teaming up to maximize their joint slay – or “ylas tnioj rieht” as Ms. Zatara would say.
5Iron Man and Batman
Genius, Billionaire, Playboy Philanthropists
While Batman’s previous Marvel crossovers have placed him alongside more street-level characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the Punisher,both Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark are both in the perfect placeto see just how the other “most famous billionaire in comics” lives. With Batman having just regained a portion of his fortune and now placing a greater emphasis on the importance of coordination with the Bat-Family and Iron Man more isolated than ever after the hostile takeover of his own considerable assets, Tony Stark needs the help of someone who’s been there,and that someone is the Batman.
Even if the crossover took place between alternate portrayals of the Dark Knight and Armored Avenger in their more traditional status quos, the potential for story is rich, especially considering their differing perspectives on how to best use their incredible resources and the similarly pig-headed and self-destructive tendances that both men share.
4Captain Marvel and the Green Lantern Corps
Star-Crossed Warriors
A hotshot pilot gifted with energy-based abilities from beyond the stars who becomes one of their world’s greatest heroes – this description perfectly fits both Captain Marvel and Green Lantern Hal Jordan. And considering all that they have in common, Carol Danvers and Hal Jordan would either hate each other or become the best of friends, and fans deserve to see which.
But Captain Marvel’s crossover with fellow intergalactic peace officers shouldn’t be limited to just Hal. After all,there’s a whole Green Lantern Corpsfull of similarly strong-willed stellar warriors that could give Earth’s Mightiest Hero a run for her money. And with all the fear she’s had to overcome in her life, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Guardians of the Universe even decide that Captain Marvel has what it takes to join the Corps herself.
3Eternals and New Gods
Kirby’s Coolest Creations
Two of Jack Kirby’s greatest creations that haven’t always had the same sticking power as some of the King’s more prolific properties, both the Eternals and the New Gods posit just what may happen were gods to walk the Earth. Anyone who does a deep dive into the early texts for both mythologies can see more than a couple recurring themes, and giving fans the opportunity to explore said themesby uniting the Eternals and their Fourth World counterpartsin a contemporary context is too good to resist.
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Aside from seeing the likes of Mister Miracle, Big Barda, and Orion fighting alongside Ikaris, Sersi, and the rest of Olympia’s heroes, there’s also the irresistible collision between two of comics’ biggest bads: Darkseid and Thanos. And such a mythic crossover would surely be one for the ages.
2X-Men and Wonder Woman
Public Enemies One & Two
Spending their lives defending a world that hates and fears them, the X-Men know better than most other heroes what it’s like trying to save the day while the powers that be are plotting against them. Andwith Wonder Woman’s current status quoas an enemy of the state in her ongoing series, the Princess of Paradise Island now has a taste of what it’s like to be one of Marvel’s Merry Mutants – meaning they’d have lots to talk about.
Diana’s new big bad, the Sovereign, doesn’t exactly seem like the type to be particularly pro-mutant, and with mutants now on the back foot after the fall of Krakoa, they’d need all the powerful allies they can get. Plus, there’s not a fan out there that wouldn’t love to seeWonder Woman fighting alongside Storm, Phoenix, and the countless other fan-favorite X-Women that dominate the franchise.
1The Ultimate & Absolute Universes
New Worlds, New Opportunities
Marvel and DC have had their share of company-wide crossovers before, but with 2024 seeing the birth of two new publishing lines and new continuities,the crossover potential between Marvel’s Ultimate and DC’s Absolute universes is endless. The story of an inexperienced, family man Peter Parker working with a raw, unrefined Bruce Wayne against the forces of corruption in their respective cities practically writes itself. While the anti-capitalist Superman of the Absolute Universe feels like he could work right alongside Marvel’s new Ulitmates.
Reinvigorating classic characters with dynamic and engaging new twists for a new era, creators at both Marvel and DC have captured readers’ enthusiasm and imagination with just what the future has in store for this slightly off-kilter iterations of their favorite heroes. And with fan engagement high for both universes, there’s no way that this crossover would be anything butMarvel and DC Comics' ultimate team-up.
