Marvel Comics and DC Comics have officially announced a new crossover collaboration set to debut this year. The news, which has generated significant buzz among fans, was jointly revealed by Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and DC Comics Editor-in-Chief Marie Javins at this week's ComicsPro retailer expo.
While the creative teams, cover designs, and exact release dates remain under wraps, reports indicate the collaboration will feature at least two standalone one-shots: "Marvel/DC" and "DC/Marvel." It's currently unknown whether these stories will be integrated into either company's official continuity, but industry speculation suggests this partnership could pave the way for larger crossover initiatives.
During the on-site discussion, Cebulski reportedly asked retailers, "Another crossover, a modern version of the Crossover, do you want it?" The question was met with enthusiastic applause and cheers, to which he playfully responded, "Looks like we have no choice but to do this."
Long-time comic readers will recall this isn't the first time Marvel Comics and DC Comics have joined forces. The two publishers collaborated on numerous standalone crossover issues in the 1970s and 80s, including "Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans."
Later, in the late 1990s, the two companies collaborated on the "DC vs. Marvel" and "Amalgam Age" series. The former featured iconic matchups like Captain America battling Batman, while the latter merged Marvel and DC characters to create new heroes such as Dark Claw (a fusion of Wolverine and Batman).
In 2003, George Pérez and Kurt Busiek's "JLA/Avengers" became a fan-favorite classic, depicting a grand saga where the Avengers and the Justice League united to save each other's worlds.
Regarding whether this collaboration might extend to the cinematic universe, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated last year, "I think about it occasionally, just like any fan. But I don't know when that would ever happen, or how that would ever happen. But I would never say never. Nothing is planned." His remarks have kept many fans hopeful for the future, especially as the superhero film craze has somewhat cooled in recent years, suggesting such collaborations could be a catalyst to reignite market enthusiasm.
via： Comic Book Movie