Intercompany crossover

In comic books, an intercompany crossover (also called cross-company or company crossover) is a comic or series of comics where characters that at the time of publication are the property of one company meet those owned by another company (for example, DC Comics' Superman meeting Marvel's Spider-Man, or DC's Batman meeting Marvel's Wolverine). These usually occur in "one-shot" issues or miniseries.

Some crossovers are part of canon. But most are outside of the continuity of a character's regular title or series of stories. They can be a joke, a gag, a dream sequence, or even a "what if" scenario (such as DC's Elseworlds).

Avengers/JLA is in canon,[1] but most Marvel/DC crossovers are non-canon. They include those where the characters live in alternate universes, as well as those where they share the same Earth. Some fans have posited a separate "Crossover Earth" for these adventures.[2] In the earliest licensed crossovers, the companies seemed to prefer shared world adventures. This was the approach for early intercompany crossovers, including 1976's Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and 1981's Superman and Spider-Man. A number of other DC/Marvel adventures take place on a "Crossover Earth", but later intercompany crossovers tend to present the DC and Marvel Universes as alternate realities, bridged when common foes make this desirable, as the interest in overall continuity has become a major part of even crossover comic books.

Characters are often licensed or sold from one company to another, as with DC acquiring such characters of Fawcett Comics, Quality Comics, and Charlton Comics as the original Captain Marvel, Plastic Man and Captain Atom, respectively. In this way, heroes originally published by different companies can become part of the same fictional universe, and interactions between such characters are no longer considered intercompany crossovers.

Although a meeting between a licensed character and a wholly owned character (e.g., between Red Sonja and Spider-Man, or Evil Dead's Ash Williams and the Marvel Zombies) is technically an intercompany crossover, comics companies rarely bill them as such. Likewise, this is the case when some characters in an ongoing series are owned or to some extent controlled by their creators, as with Doctor Who antagonists the Daleks, who are not owned by the UK television network the BBC, even though the character of the Doctor is.

Published crossovers

Golden and Silver Ages
The Inferior Five #10 (Oct. 1968), cover art by Win Mortimer and Tex Blaisdell
The Justice Society of America was created in this issue, combining National Comics' Doctor Fate, Hour-Man (as it was then spelled), the Spectre, and the Sandman, and All-American Publications' the Atom, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman. National and All-American, separate editorial imprints, shared for the first time the unofficial "DC" label due to joint publishing and distribution, but Superman, Batman, and Robin were mentioned in this issue.

Unofficial
  • Lois Lane and Captain Marvel
"The Monkey's Paw", a story from Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #42 (July 1963), featured a one-panel appearance, with his costume mis-colored, by the defunct Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel, who was not yet a DC character. The letters page of No. 113 (Oct. 1971) described it as "strictly a private joke" on the part of former Captain Marvel artist Kurt Schaffenberger. The story was reprinted in No. 104 (Oct. 1970) with the costume coloring corrected.[3]
The first DC Comics/Marvel Comics intercompany collaboration
  • Homages
Writers during the 1960s and early 1970s sometimes engaged in a form of intercompany crossover with thinly disguised imitations of a competing company's characters, as opposed to parodies in satirical humor stories. In this way, Marvel's superhero team the Avengers met a version of DC's Justice League of America (Squadron Sinister/Squadron Supreme) in The Avengers #70, 85–86, and 147-48. In Action Comics #351-353 (1967) DC's Superman met a villain called Zha-Vam, whose powers and name were derivative of Captain Marvel (then owned by Fawcett Comics) and of the magic word Shazam that gave Captain Marvel his powers. Superman similarly met versions of Marvel's Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and the Sub-Mariner (the Kookie Quartet, Cobweb Kid, and the Sub-Moron) in The Inferior Five #10 (Oct. 1968).
In the 1970s, the annual Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont was used as the setting of a number of superhero comic books published by both Marvel and DC Comics. Costumed parade attendees in these books were often depicted wearing the uniforms of characters from the other company. In the fall of 1972, writers Len Wein, Gerry Conway and Steve Englehart crafted a metafictional unofficial intercompany crossover spanning titles from both major comics companies. Each comic featured Englehart, Conway, and Wein, as well as Wein's first wife Glynis, interacting with Marvel or DC characters at the Rutland Halloween Parade. Beginning in Amazing Adventures #16 (by Englehart with art by Bob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued in Justice League of America #103 (by Wein, Dillin and Dick Giordano), and concluded in Thor #207 (by Conway and penciler John Buscema). As Englehart explained in 2010, "It certainly seemed like a radical concept and we knew that we had to be subtle...and each story had to stand on its own, but we really worked it out. It's really worthwhile to read those stories back to back to back – it didn't matter to us that one was at DC and two were at Marvel – I think it was us being creative, thinking what would be really cool to do."[4][5][6][7][8] Other issues featuring the parade include Batman #237, DC Super Stars #18, Freedom Fighters #6, The Avengers #83 and 119, and Marvel Feature #2.
In 1974s The Savage Sub-Mariner #72 story "From the Void It Came..." writer Steve Skeates unoficially continued plot from his own 1971s Aquaman #56 "The Creature That Devoured Detroit!" story. Coincidentally, both stories were the final issue of their respective title (although, the Aquaman comic resumed, in 1977, with the numbering where it had left off).
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man one-shot issue (March 1976), cover art by Carmine Infantino (layout), Ross Andru (finished pencils) and Dick Giordano (inks)

1975–1982
The first official intercompany crossover of recent decades. The villains are Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus.
Superman and Spider-Man battle the Parasite and Dr. Doom, with the Hulk and Wonder Woman guest-starring
Batman and the Hulk battle the Joker and the Shaper of Worlds.
The two hottest-selling teams from each company battle Darkseid, Deathstroke the Terminator, and Dark Phoenix.
Superman and the Masters of the Universe

Unofficial
In DC Comics' Justice League of America #142 (May 1977), writer Steve Englehart re-introduced Mantis, a character he had created in Marvel Comics' Avengers, picking up the plot threads from her last appearance there and renaming her Willow.[14][15]
In X-Men #107 (Oct. 1977), writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum introduced the Imperial Guard, characters modeled after Cockrum's previous assignment, DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Members included heroes with the powers of, and similar costumes to, the Legionnaires Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Superboy, Timber Wolf, Wildfire, Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Star Boy, Ultra Boy, Phantom Girl and Shadow Lass.[16][17]

1983–1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996
  • Spawn/WildC.A.T.S.
  • Superman vs Spider-Man (reprint from 1981)
  • The Uncanny X-Men/the New Teen Titans (reprint from 1982)
  • Double Impact/Hellina
  • Hellina/Double Impact
  • Black September (Marvel/Malibu crossover)
    • Black September #Infinity
    • Prime #Infinity #1–15
    • Nightman #Infinity #1–4
    • Siren #Infinity #1–3
    • Mantra #Infinity #1–7
    • The All-New Exiles #Infinity #1–11
    • Rune #Infinity #1–7
    • Ultraforce #Infinity #1–15
  • Siren Special #1 (features the Juggernaut)
  • Ultraforce vs Spider-Man #1A and 1B (featured separate stories)
  • Prime vs Captain America
  • Rune vs Venom
  • Nightman vs Gambit #1–3
  • The Phoenix Resurrection: Red Shift #0
  • The Phoenix Resurrection: Genesis #0
  • The Phoenix Resurrection: Revelations #0
  • The Phoenix Resurrection: Aftermath #0
  • Foxfire #1–2 (features the Black Knight)
  • Foxfire #3–4 (features the Punisher)
  • Ultraverse Unlimited #1–2 (features the Black Knight, Sersi and Adam Warlock)
  • Marvel/Malibu: Dream Team #1 (pin-ups)
  • Marvel/Malibu: Dream Team #2: Battlezones (pin-ups)
  • Green Lantern vs Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances
  • DC vs Marvel / Marvel vs DC #1–4[33]
  • The Amalgam Age of Comics Wave 1
  • Grifter vs Shi: Final Rites #1–2
  • Avengelyne vs Prophet #1–2
  • Painkiller Jane vs the Darkness
  • Warrior Nun Areala vs Razor
  • Razor vs Warrior Nun Areala
  • Creed vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Nira X vs Cynder: Endangered Species
  • Double Impact vs Lethal Strike: Double Stryke
  • Lethal Strike vs Double Impact: Lethal Impact
  • Badrock vs Wolverine
  • Atomik Angels #1 (guest starring Freefall from Gen¹³)
  • X-O Manowar vs Iron Man in Heavy Metal and Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal (two-part story)
  • Batman vs Grendel: Devil's Bones and Grendel vs Batman: Devil's Dance (two-part story)
  • The Savage Dragon #34–35 (features Hellboy)[34][35]
  • Nira X vs Hellina: Heaven & Hell
  • Hellina vs Nira X: Angels of Death
  • Backlash vs Spider-Man #1–2
  • Gen¹³ vs The Maxx
  • Grifter vs the Mask #1–2
  • Youngblood vs X-Force
  • Deathblow vs Wolverine #1–2
  • Tomoe vs Witchblade: Fire Sermon
  • Prophet vs Cable #1–2
  • Gen¹³ #13A, 13B and 13C (features Archie, Bone, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Savage Dragon, Spawn, Madman, the Maxx, Hellboy, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Shi, Strangers in Paradise, Wolverine)
  • DC/Marvel: All Access #1–4
  • Avengelyne vs Warrior Nun Areala
  • Team X vs Team 7
  • Angela vs Glory: Rage of Angels
  • Youngblood (vol. 2) #6 (features Angela)
  • Team Youngblood #21 (features Angela)
  • Glory #10 (features Angela)
  • Maximage #4 (features Angela)
  • Glory vs Angela: Hell’s Angels
  • Warrior Nun Areala vs Avengelyne
  • Batman vs Captain America[36]
  • Devil’s Reign (Marvel/Top Cow crossover)
    • Devil's Reign #½: Silver Surfer/Witchblade
    • Weapon Zero vs Silver Surfer
    • Cyblade vs Ghost Rider
    • Ghost Rider vs Ballistic
    • Ballistic vs Wolverine
    • Wolverine vs Witchblade
    • Witchblade vs Elektra
    • Elektra vs Cyblade
    • Silver Surfer vs Weapon Zero
    • Cyberforce (1993) #30
    • Weapon Zero (1996) #10
  • X-Force/Youngblood
  • Youngblood (vol. 2) #10 (features a cameo by Mojo)
  • Mars Attacks/The Savage Dragon #1–4
  • Daredevil/Shi: Blind Faith
  • Shi/Daredevil: Honor Thy Mother
  • Spider-Man/Gen¹³
  • Mars Attacks/Image #1–4
  • Spider-Man Team-Up #5 (features the Savage Dragon and Destroyer Duck)
  • Savage Dragon vs Destroyer Duck (features Spider-Man and Howard the Duck)[37]
  • Lobo/The Mask #1–2
  • Catwoman vs Vampirella: The Furies
  • Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core
  • Star Trek/X-Men

1997
  • Silver Surfer vs Superman #1
  • The Incredible Hulk vs Pitt
  • Gen¹³ vs Generation X
  • Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye
  • Shi/Vampirella
  • Vampirella/Shi
  • Catwoman/Vampirella – The Furies
  • Spider-Man/Badrock #1–2
  • WildC.A.T.s/X-Men
  • JLA/WildC.A.T.s
  • Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning
  • Unlimited Access #1-4
  • Ultraverse Future Shock #1(flashback, features the Black Knight)
  • The Amalgam Age of Comics Wave 2
    • Super-Soldier: Man of War #1 (Superman + Captain America)
    • Dark Claw Adventures #1 (Batman + Wolverine)
    • JLX Unleashed #1 (the JLA + the X-Men)
    • Generation Hex #1 (Jonah Hex + Generation X)
    • Bat-Thing #1 (the Man-Bat + the Man-Thing)
    • Lobo the Duck #1 (Lobo + Howard the Duck)
    • Spider-Boy Team-Up #1 (Spider-Man + Superboy)
    • The Exciting X-Patrol #1 (X-Force + the Doom Patrol)
    • The Magnetic Men featuring Magneto #1 (Doc Magnus + Magneto and the Metal Men + the Brotherhood of Mutants)
    • Iron Lantern #1 (Iron Man + Green Lantern)
    • Thorion of the New Asgods #1 (Orion + Thor and the New Gods + the Asgardians)
    • Challengers of the Fantastic #1 (the Challengers of the Unknown + the Fantastic Four)
  • Azrael/Ash
  • Batman/Aliens #1–2
  • Vampirella Crossover Gallery #1 (pin-ups featuring the Savage Dragon, Madman, Painkiller Jane, Hellshock, and more)
  • Avengelyne/Warrior Nun Areala II: The Nazarene Affair
  • The Savage Dragon/Marshal Law #1-2 [38][39]
  • The Superman/Madman Hullabaloo! #1–3
  • Cyberfrog vs Creed
  • Hellina/Cynder
  • Cynder/Hellina
  • Wetworks/Vampirella
  • Vampirella/Wetworks
  • World War 3 (Marvel/Wildstorm crossover)
    • Fantastic Four (vol. 2) #13
    • Avengers (vol. 2) #13
    • Iron Man (vol. 2) #13
    • Captain America (vol. 2) #13
  • Warrior Nun Areala/Glory
  • Gladiator/Supreme
  • Batman vs Predator III: Blood Ties #1–4
  • Predator vs Judge Dredd #1–3
  • Generation X/Gen¹³

1998

1999
  • Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-woman #1–4
  • The Darkness/Batman
  • The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman
  • Superman/Fantastic Four
  • Superman/The Savage Dragon: Metropolis
  • Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future #1–4
  • Witchblade/Tomb Raider
  • Witchblade/Tomb Raider #½
  • Witchblade/Darkchylde
  • Vampirella/Lady Death: Dark Hearts
  • Lady Death/Vampirella
  • Warrior Nun Areala/Razor II: Revenge
  • Razor/Warrior Nun Areala: Dark Prophecy #1–4
  • Razor/Warrior Nun Areala/Poizon
  • Wild Times: Gen¹³ #1 (features the Teen Titans)
  • Wild Times: DV8 #1 (features Sgt. Rock and Easy Company)
  • Wild Times: Deathblow #1 (features Jonah Hex)
  • Wild Times: Wetworks #1 (features Superman)
  • Lady Pendragon/More than Mortal
  • More than Mortal/Lady Pendragon

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004
  • Witchblade/The Magdalena/Vampirella/Tomb Raider
  • Action Comics #811 (features Mr. Majestic)
  • Adventures of Superman #624 (features Mr. Majestic)
  • Superman (vol. 2) #201 (features Mr. Majestic)
  • Witchblade/Wolverine
  • The Darkness/Hulk
  • Witchblade/Dark Minds: The Return of Paradox
  • Majestic (miniseries) #1–4 (puts Majestic in the DC Universe)
  • G.I. Joe vs the Transformers II #1–4
  • The Magdalena vs Vampirella II
  • Transformers vs G.I. Joe II #1–6 (cancelled after the first issue when Dreamwave went bankrupt)
  • Batman/Danger Girl
  • Dead@17/Misplaced: Misplaced@17
  • Sword of Dracula vs Vampirella (Vampirella #8)
  • Vampirella/Witchblade II: Union of the Damned

2005

2006

2007

2008
  • Army of Darkness vs Xena – Why Not?
  • The Darkness vs Eva: The Daughter of Dracula
  • Devi/Witchblade
  • DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar
  • Magdalena/Daredevil
  • Xena vs Army of Darkness – What...Again?!
  • Witchblade/Shades of Gray

2009

2010
  • Avengelyne vs Koni Waves
  • Beasts of Burden/Hellboy
  • Curse of the Cortes Stone (a War of the Independents tie-in comic book (Shadowflame, the Wraith, and Johnny Saturn).
  • First Wave (features Doc Savage, Batman, and other characters).

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018
  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs. the Six Million Dollar Man
  • KISS/Army of Darkness
  • Archie Meets Batman '66 #1-6
  • Monica’s Gang/The Nutty Boy
  • Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe
  • Tarzan/Red Sonja
  • Batman/The Maxx
  • Star Trek vs. the Transformers
  • Vampirella/Dejah Thoris
  • RICANstruction: La Borinqueña and the Justice League of America
  • DC/Mauricio de Sousa Produções (Green Lantern vs Monica, Batman vs Jimmy Five, Aquaman vs Smudge, Superman and Wonder Woman vs Chuck Billy, Maggy vs The Flash, Justice League vs Monica’s Gang)
  • Vampirella vs Re-Animator
  • Hack/Slash vs. Chaos!
  • Rick and Morty vs Dungeons & Dragons

2019
  • Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep
  • Barbarella/Dejah Thoris
  • Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1-6
  • Mazinger Z versus Transformers
  • Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica
  • Vampirella/Red Sonja
  • Black Hammer/Justice League: Hammer of Justice
  • Charlie’s Angels vs The Bionic Woman
  • Archie vs Predator II
  • Carson of Venus/Warlord of Mars
  • Warlord of Mars Attacks
  • The Crow/HACK/slash
  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Batman/Dylan Dog
  • Savage Avengers (features Conan the Barbarian)
  • Conan: Serpent War (features Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes and the Moon Knight)
  • Rick and Morty vs Dungeons & Dragons II: Painscape
  • Captain Lazer vs Sentinel
  • Barbarella vs The Guardian of the Republic
  • Les Partisans vs Centaurs Chronicles

2020
  • Red Sonja: Age of Chaos (Red Sonja meets the characters from Chaos Publishing)
  • Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown (features the Black Cat, The Black Panther, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Mephisto)
  • Transformers/My Little Pony
  • Transformers vs. The Terminator
  • The Sandman Universe: Locke & Key
  • Mars Attacks/Red Sonja
  • Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons
  • Transformers/Back to the Future
  • Fearless Dawn Meets Hellboy
  • Zorro in the Land that Time Forgot

2021
  • X-Men/Transformers
  • Flash/Zagor
  • RWBY/Justice League
  • Transformers/My Little Pony II

Miscellaneous crossovers

Collected editions
  • Crossover Classics: The Marvel/DC Collection Vol. 1
    • (collects Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, Superman and Spider-Man, Batman vs. the Incredible Hulk, The Uncanny X-Men/The New Teen Titans)
  • DC/Marvel: Crossover Classics II
    • (collects Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Batman and Captain America)
  • Crossover Classics: The Marvel/DC Collection Vol. 3
    • (collects Incredible Hulk vs. Superman, Daredevil/Batman: Eye for an Eye, Spider-Man and Batman: Disordered Minds, Spider-Man/Gen¹³, Generation X/Gen¹³, and Team X/Team 7)
  • DC/Marvel: Crossover Classics IV
    • (collects Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger, Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning, and Superman/Fantastic Four)
  • Mutants vs. Ultras: First Encounters
    • (collects Prime vs. the Incredible Hulk, Nightman vs. Wolverine, All New Exiles vs. X-Men)
  • The Amalgam Age of Comics: The DC Comics Collection
    • (collects Amazon #1, Assassins #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, JLX #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Super-Soldier #1)
  • The Amalgam Age of Comics: The Marvel Comics Collection
    • (collects Spider-Boy #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Speed Demon #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Magneto and the Magnetic Men #1, X-Patrol #1)
  • Return to the Amalgam Age of Comics: The DC Comics Collection
    • (collects Bat-Thing #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Generation Hex #1, Super-Soldier: Man of War #1, Dark Claw Adventures #1, JLX Unleashed #1)
  • Return to the Amalgam Age of Comics: The Marvel Comics Collection
    • (collects Spider-Boy Team-Up #1, The Exciting X-Patrol #1, The Magnetic Men featuring Magneto #1, Iron Lantern #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1)
  • WildC.A.T.s/Cyberforce: Killer Instinct
    • (collects WildC.A.T.s #5–7 and Cyberforce (vol. 2) #1–3)
  • Stormwatch: Final Orbit
    • (collects Stormwatch (vol. 2) #10–11 and WildC.A.T.s/Aliens)
  • Tomb Raider/Witchblade: Trouble Seekers
    • (collects Tomb Raider/Witchblade, Witchblade/Tomb Raider, and Witchblade/Tomb Raider #½)
  • Planetary: Crossing Worlds
    • (collects Planetary/The Authority, Planetary/JLA: Terra Occulta, and Planetary/Batman)
  • The Batman/Judge Dredd Files
    • (collects Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham, Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle, and Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing #1–2)
  • Majestic: Strange New Visitor
    • (collects Action Comics #811, Adventures of Superman #624, Superman #201, and Majestic #1–4)
  • Tomb Raider/Witchblade/The Magdalena/Vampirella
    • (collects a Tomb Raider story and Witchblade/The Magdalena/Vampirella)
  • Top Cow/Marvel: The Crossover Collection
    • (collects the eight-part Devil's Reign crossover plus Witchblade/Wolverine and The Darkness/Hulk)
  • DC/Top Cow: Crossovers
    • (collects The Darkness/Batman, The Darkness/Superman #1–2, JLA/Cyberforce and JLA/Witchblade)
  • DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics: Aliens
    • (collects Batman/Aliens, Batman/Aliens II, Superman and Batman vs. Aliens and Predator, and WildC.A.T.s/Aliens)
  • Dark Horse Comics/DC Comics: Superman
    • (collects Superman/Aliens, Superman/Aliens II: God War, The Superman/Madman Hullabaloo and Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle)
  • DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics: Justice League Vol. 1
    • (collects Superman vs. Predator, Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future, Batman/Hellboy/Starman and Ghost/Batgirl: The Resurrection Engine)
  • Dark Horse Comics/DC Comics: Justice League Vol. 2
    • (collects JLA vs. Predator, Green Lantern versus Aliens, Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-woman and SpyBoy/Young Justice)
  • DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics: Batman vs. Predator
    • (collects Batman vs. Predator, Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch, and Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties)
  • Dark Horse Comics/DC Comics: Mask
    • (collects Joker/Mask, Lobo and the Mask, and Grifter & the Mask)
  • The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection
    • (collects Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgement on Gotham, Batman/Judge Dredd: Vendetta in Gotham, Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle, Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing #1-2, and Lobo/Judge Dredd: Psycho-Bikers vs. the Mutants from Hell!)
  • Batman/Grendel
    • (collects Batman/Grendel: Devil's Riddle, Grendel/Batman: Devil's Masque, Batman/Grendel: Devil's Bones, and Grendel/Batman: Devil's Dance)
  • Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens: Incubus and Other Stories
    • (collects Predator vs. Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd vs. Aliens: Incubus)

Other collected miniseries
  • Aliens versus Predator versus The Terminator
  • Batman/Aliens
  • Batman/Aliens II
  • Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire
  • Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-woman
  • Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
  • Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
  • Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures
  • Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses
  • Batman vs. Predator
  • Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch
  • Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties
  • DC vs. Marvel (also includes Doctor Strangefate #1)
  • Deathblow and Wolverine
  • Gen¹³ ABC (collects #13A, 13B, and 13C)
  • Ghost/Batgirl
  • G. I. Joe vs. the Transformers
  • G. I. Joe vs. the Transformers II
  • Green Lantern versus Aliens
  • JLA/Avengers
  • Joker/Mask
  • Judge Dredd/Aliens: Incubus
  • Medieval Spawn/Witchblade
  • Predator vs. Judge Dredd
  • Predator vs. Magnus, Robot Fighter
  • Spyboy/Young Justice
  • Superman/Aliens
  • Superman/Aliens II: God War
  • Superman and Batman vs. Aliens and Predator
  • Superman/Gen¹³
  • Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle
  • Superman vs. Predator
  • Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future
  • The Shadow/Batman
  • The Superman/Madman Hullabaloo!
  • Transformers/G.I. Joe
  • WildC.A.T.s/X-Men
  • Witchblade/Aliens/Darkness/Predator: Mindhunter

In video games

The concept of intercompany crossovers has also been explored in video games, usually in the form of having one video game company licensing its characters to another.

Early intercompany crossovers in games occurred by taking advantage of licensing for publishing rights. GORF in 1981, produced by Midway, has the missions Astro Battles and Galaxians, which make use of characters and names from Space Invaders (Taito Corporation) and Galaxian (Namco), which, at the time of the development of GORF, were licensed to Midway Mfg. In 1992, Tradewest released Battletoads & Double Dragon. At that time, Tradewest owned the rights for publishing of Double Dragon by Technos Japan and Battletoads by Rare. Rare developed the game, while Technos Japan was barely involved in the production.

In 1989, DIC Entertainment produced Captain N: The Game Master, a cartoon show that featured characters and settings from Nintendo franchises and other franchises appearing on Nintendo video game systems, possibly taking advantage of Nintendo's licensing system to publish games. Characters such as Simon Belmont, Dracula, and Alucard from Konami, Mega Man, Dr. Wily, and Dr. Light from Capcom, Malkil of Wizards and Warriors from Rare, and settings from Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy (by Square Enix, independent from each other at that time), Burger Time (Data East), and Faxanadu (Hudson Soft/Falcom) appeared in the series. The 1990 animated series The Power Team (part of the Video Power TV show) had characters from arcade games ported by Acclaim to the NES as well as games to which Acclaim had publishing rights. These games included NARC, Arch Rivals (Midway), Kwirk (Atlus), Wizards & Warriors (RARE), and BigFoot (based on the famous monster truck from the game by Beam Software).

The first major intercompany crossover properly licensed is the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which originally began in 1994 with X-Men: Children of the Atom. Capcom followed this act by teaming up with rival fighting game developer SNK in 1999.

After the successful Capcom/SNK crossovers, many others have appeared since then.

Midway Games' Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe pitted characters from Midway's Mortal Kombat video game franchise against DC Comics characters Superman, Batman Wonder Woman, the Joker, and others. This game was produced prior to the acquisition of Midway by Warner Bros. Since then, Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street (a WB movie) appeared in Mortal Kombat (2011) and Scorpion appeared in Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013). Kratos, from Sony's God of War franchise, appeared as an exclusive in the Playstation 3 version of Mortal Kombat (2011).

The games Super Smash Bros. and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale were made possible by the "second party" model, in which independent developers work closely with the console maker to ensure exclusivity and quality. In both games, other third parties also appear as guest characters.

In Japan, Namco Bandai and its Banpresto imprint have published the Compati Hero Series (centered around Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Series, Toei and Ishimori Productions' Kamen Rider, and Sunrise's Gundam) and the Super Robot Wars series, both of which feature characters from numerous tokusatsu and anime properties.

  • GORF (1981, Midway Mfg, Arcade)
Features characters from Taito and Namco.
Features characters and settings of games from Konami, Capcom, Data East, Rare, Squaresoft, Enix, Hudson Soft and Falcom.
Features characters of games from Midway, Rare, Atlus and Bigfoot 4×4, Inc.
Double Dragon characters were created by Technos Japan.
Akuma/Gouki from the Street Fighter series is a hidden character.
Anita from the Darkstalkers/Vampire series is a hidden character.
Marvel's Iron Man teams-up with the Acclaim Comics incarnation of X-O Manowar.
Characters from Banjo-Kazooie and Conker series, fully owned by Rare and in-development at the time of DKR release, appear along with Donkey Kong characters, owned by Nintendo.
Features characters from Nintendo, Hal and Game Freak.
Features characters from games by Nintendo, Hal Laboratory, Game Freak and Intelligent Systems.
The Game Cube version features Link from The Legend of Zelda by Nintendo and the Xbox version includes Spawn by Todd McFarlane Entertainment as playable characters.
Characters from different franchises by Konami, Takara and Hudson Soft are playable.
Features Marvel characters, as well as original characters created and owned by EA.
Features characters from Nintendo's Donkey Kong series along with Rare-owned supporting characters, including Tiptup and Timber.
Features characters from games by Nintendo, Hal Laboratory, Game Freak, Intelligent Systems, Konami and Sega.
Features Lucasfilm's Star Wars characters.
Midway's acquisition by Warner Bros. (owners of DC Comics) came a year later.
Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids characters are playable characters.
Features Kratos from Sony's God of War series.
Features characters from games by Capcom, Nippon Ichi Software, Namco Bandai and Gust.
Xbox 360 version features Rare's Banjo and Kazooie.
Features characters from Sam & Max, Penny Arcade, Homestar Runner, and Valve's Team Fortress 2.
Features Ezlo from Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series.
Besides featuring Tekken characters by Namco, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions include characters by Sony and Sucker Punch.
  • Dead or Alive 5 (2012, Team Ninja, Sega AM2, Tecmo Koei, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Characters from AM2's Virtua Fighter series are playable characters.
Besides characters from Sony Computer Entertainment, it features characters by 2K Games, Sucker Punch Productions, Titan Studios, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Naughty Dog Inc, Ninja Theory Ltd., Konami and Insomniac Games.
Features characters from Disney's Wreck-It Ralph and Valve's Team Fortress.
Features characters from Sam & Max, The Venture Bros., The Evil Dead, Portal, and others.
Terry Bogard and Benimaru Nikaido from King of Fighters have been licensed by SNK Playmore.
Features characters from games by Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega.
  • Dead or Alive 5 + (2013, Team Ninja, Sega AM2, Tecmo Koei, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360)
Characters from AM2's Virtua Fighter series are playable characters.
Characters from AM2's Virtua Fighter series are playable characters.
Mai Shiranui from SNK Playmore's King of Fighters is a downloadable character.
Features Spawn by Todd McFarlane Entertainment as a playable character.
Characters from games by Nintendo, Hal Laboratory, Game Freak, Monoliftsoft, Intelligent Systems, Sega, Bandai Namco, Square Enix and Capcom have been announced.
The console version features Akuma from Capcom's Street Fighter.
Geese Howard from SNK Playmore's King of Fighters is a downloadable character.
Noctis from Square Enix' Final Fantasy XV.
Kratos from Sony Computer Entertainment's God of War series is a playable character on the PlayStation 3 version of the game.
The version of Freddy Krueger from New Line Cinema's A Nightmare on Elm Street remake is a downloadable character.
The classic version of the Predator from 20th Century Fox's film series of the same name is a downloadable character.
The version of Jason Voorhees from Paramount Pictures/New Line Cinema's Friday the 13th reboot is a downloadable character.
The version of Leatherface from the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a downloadable character.
An Alien from 20th Century Fox's film series of the same name spawned from Baraka (Mortal Kombat) is a downloadable character.
Donkey Kong and Bowser from Nintendo's Mario series, whom have Skylanders toy figures that can double as Amiibo figures for other games.
A sequel to Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Dark Horse's Hellboy is a downloadable character.
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michaelangelo from Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are downloadable characters with shared slot and different fight styles, like Triborg.
As of November 2019, characters from games by Nintendo, Hal Laboratory, The Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc., Game Freak, Ape Inc., Monolith Soft, Intelligent Systems, Konami, Sega, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Capcom, Atlus, Microsoft, and SNK have been announced.

In films and television

The Simpsons has infrequently featured guest appearances from characters owned by other companies, examples include Jay Sherman from Sony Pictures Television's The Critic, Ren and Stimpy, and the Flintstones in a couch gag.

Crossover between Toho's Godzilla and RKO Pictures' King Kong.
Crossover between Harvey Comics' Casper the Friendly Ghost and Hanna-Barbera characters, including Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound.
  • Strong Kids, Safe Kids (1984 direct-to-video)
Features cameos by Hanna-Barbara, Studio Peyo, and Namco-owned characters.
Features guest appearances by Usagi Yojimbo.
Features appearances by cartoon characters owned by Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal and MGM.
Crossover with characters owned by Disney, Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, Bagdasarian Productions, and others.
  • The Rosey & Buddy Show (1992 TV special, Nelvana)
Features appearances by Tom and Jerry, Droopy, Beetlejuice, the Care Bears, Wile E. Coyote's stunt double, and images of Betty and Veronica.
Two episodes guest-star the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Features characters from PBS, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel children's TV shows.
Features guest appearances by characters from Usagi Yojimbo, Planet Racers, and Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa.
Features appearances by movie monsters like the Metaluna Mutant from Universal's This Island Earth, Ro-Man from Robot Monster, and others.
Features children's TV characters owned by HiT Entertainment, Cosgrove Hall Films, Hanna-Barbera, and others.
Features appearances of characters based on vehicles by motor companies like Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW and others.
  • South Park (2007 episode Imaginationland trilogy, Paramount/Comedy Central)
Features characters such as Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Mickey Mouse, Batman and more, and historical characters such as Jesus Christ, Michael Jackson, George W. Bush and more.
Features appearances by video game characters owned by Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, Namco Bandai, Konami, Atari, Activision, EA, and others. Also features appearances electronic products and operating systems by IBM, Xerox, Microsoft, Apple Inc., Google, Amazon, Dell, HP Inc. and others. Even features appearances of characters based on sugar product companies in the arcade video game Sugar Rush like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Hershey, M&M's, Nabisco and more.
Features appearances by Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Milhouse van Houten from The Simpsons; Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and Lando Calrissian from the Star Wars Saga, and others.
Features a cameo by Quicksilver (whose film rights are owned by 20th Century Fox, though the character himself is owned by Disney/Marvel).
Features an appearance by Quicksilver (whose film rights are owned by 20th Century Fox, though the character himself is owned by Disney/Marvel).
Couch gag features appearances by Adult Swim's Rick and Morty.
Features an appearance by Spider-Man (whose film rights are owned by Columbia Pictures, though the character himself is owned by Disney/Marvel).
Features a cameo by David Dunn from Disney/Touchstone's Unbreakable.
Features appearances by King Kong, the Daleks, and the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park.
Features a post-credits scene featuring cave paintings of Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah.
Features characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Features appearances by characters like King Kong, Mechagodzilla, the T-rex from Jurassic Park, Voltron, and others.
Features an appearance by Spider-Man (whose film rights are owned by Columbia Pictures, though the character himself is owned by Disney/Marvel).
  • Glass (2019 film, Universal, Disney and Blumhouse)
Crossover sequel to Disney/Touchstone's Unbreakable and Universal/Blumhouse's Split.
Features an appearance by Spider-Man (whose film rights are owned by Columbia Pictures, though the character himself is owned by Disney/Marvel).
Features cave paintings of King Kong.
An animated adaptation of the six-issue intercompany crossover comic book miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Features characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

See also

References
  1. Scott, Sam (December 3, 2019). "Was Justice League vs. Avengers Technically Canon?". ScreenRant. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. Christiansen, Jeff (April 22, 2008). "Earth-Crossover (alternate earth)". Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  3. Voger, Mark; Voglesong, Kathy (2003). "Front Page Romance". Hero Gets Girl!: The Life and Art of Kurt Schaffenberger. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 1-893905-29-2. 'That was sort of an 'in' joke.' [artist Kurt Schaffenberger] later told an interviewer. '[Editor] Mort [Weisinger] knew what I was doing. We both figured at that time that Captain Marvel was a thing of the past...He was colored differently – green instead of red, I think. But then when reprinted in a Lois Lane Annual [sic], they put the red union suit on him.'
  4. Larnick, Eric (October 30, 2010). "The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  5. Cronin, Brian (October 1, 2010). "Comic Book Legends Revealed No. 280". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  6. "Amazing Adventures No. 16". Grand Comics Database.
  7. "Justice League of America No. 103". Grand Comics Database.
  8. "Thor No. 207". Grand Comics Database.
  9. McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The Yellow Brick Road from Munchkin Land to the Emerald City was also wide enough to accommodate DC and Marvel as they produced their first-ever joint publication...Roy Thomas scripted a faithful, seventy-two-page adaptation of Dorothy Gale's adventure, while John Buscema's artwork depicted the landscape of Oz in lavish detail.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  10. McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 170: "The tale was written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Ross Andru, both among the few [at that time] to ever have worked on both Superman and Spider-Man...The result was a defining moment in Bronze Age comics."
  11. Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 194: "In an oversized treasury edition carrying a hefty $2.50 price tag, the Man of Steel paired for the second time with Marvel's iconic web-slinger...The issue came together thanks to the script of writer Jim Shooter, a bit of plotting assistance by Marv Wolfman, the pencils of longtime Marvel luminary John Buscema, and a veritable fleet of inkers."
  12. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 195 "Written by Len Wein and illustrated by José Luis García-López, the comic saw...Batman and the Hulk doing battle with both the Joker and Marvel's ultra-powerful Shaper of Worlds."
  13. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 199: "The issue, written by longtime X-Men scribe Chris Claremont and drawn by Walter Simonson [was]...one of the most well-received crossovers of its time – or of any time for that matter – the team-up was a huge success."
  14. Cronin, Brian (September 15, 2005). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #16!". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012. Englehart next began a run on Justice League of America, and in issue No. 142, Mantis showed up! Only this time, she was calling herself Willow.
  15. The transplanting of Mantis/Willow was acknowledged in the letters page of Justice League of America No. 146 (September 1977)
  16. "X-Men's Imperial Guard and Cockrum's Legion of Super-Heroes," The Scoop (Gemstone Publishing, Dec. 1).
  17. Cronin, Brian. "Comic Legends: Why New Imperial Guard Members in Dark Phoenix Saga?", CBR (APR 09, 2018).
  18. "Mirage Studios' TMNT Volume 1 #8". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  19. "Spawn 10". McFarlane.com. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  20. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/tpos/osmm01.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd002.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. "The Savage Dragon / TMNT #1". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  23. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/tpos/ostt01.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. "TMNT/Flaming Carrot Crossover #1". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  25. "TMNT/Flaming Carrot Crossover #2". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  26. "TMNT/Flaming Carrot Crossover #3". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  27. "TMNT/Flaming Carrot Crossover #4". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  28. Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitled Batman-Spawn...by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson.
  29. Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "This prestige one-shot marked Frank Miller's return to Batman, and was labeled as a companion piece to his classic 1986 work Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. The issue was drawn by Todd McFarlane, one of the most popular artists in comic book history."
  30. The Mirage Group http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd022.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. "TMNT / The Savage Dragon #1". The Mirage Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  32. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/tpos/ostt02.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 272: "Written by Peter David and Ron Marz with art by Dan Jurgens and Claudio Castellini, this four-issue miniseries event consisted of five major battles voted on in advance by reader ballots distributed to comic stores."
  34. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd034.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd035.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. "How Captain America Knows Batman's Secret Identity". ScreenRant. September 23, 2020.
  37. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/tpos/osdd01.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/mini/mlaw01.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/mini/mlaw02.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd082.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  41. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd083.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  42. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd084.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  43. SavageDragon.com http://savagedragon.com/funnybooks/monthly_htm/sd085.htm. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 311 "[JLA/Avengers] was an event that...proved to be one of the biggest and best of the DC and Marvel crossovers, incorporating many of the two companies' greatest heroes and villains."
  45. "Superman/Thundercats (no, I'm not kidding)". www.comicbookbin.com.
  46. "ThunderCats: How the Cartoon's Heroes ROARED Into the DC Universe". CBR. September 2, 2020.
  47. "Superman/Batman vs. Aliens/Predator". DC Comics. May 23, 2007. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015.
  48. Lamar, Cyriaque (October 12, 2011). "The 10 Most Deranged Alien Crossover Stories". io9. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011.
  49. Dooley, Chris (August 16, 2007). "Spider-Man/Red Sonja No. 1 Sells Out". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  50. Brady, Matt (August 12, 2007). "WW: Chicago – Freddy vs Jason vs Ash Coming in November". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007.
  51. Renaud, Jeffrey (August 21, 2007). "Mano-A-Mano-A-Mano: "Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  52. Unholy Union at the Grand Comics Database
  53. Rogers, Vaneta (September 27, 2011). "Long Live the Legion...and Prosper! Writer Talks Trek/LSH". Newsarama. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  54. "Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel". DC Comics. July 6, 2016. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016.
  55. Thomas, Roy; Moorcock, Michael; Cawthorn, James (w), Windsor-Smith, Barry (p), Buscema, Sal (i). "A Sword Called Stormbringer!" Conan the Barbarian #14 (March 1972)
  56. Thomas, Roy; Moorcock, Michael; Cawthorn, James (w), Windsor-Smith, Barry (p), Buscema, Sal (i). "The Green Empress of Melniboné" Conan the Barbarian 15 (May 1972)
  57. "Los Protectores | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.