The Marvel and DC Comics crossovers are back and it is all kicking off with Deadpool/Batman. This comic book is being handled by the Marvel Comics side of the house with Batman/Deadpool being released next month. This will be the first time I’m experiencing what a crossover between Marvel and DC is in real time. I wasn’t reading comics when Marvel and DC did all their original crossovers. Though I have gone back to read many, with JLA/Avengers still being an all-time favorite comic book for me. How will this new crossover one-shot go? Let’s find out with Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Zeb Wells, Chip Zdarsky, Kelly Thompson, Kevin Smith, Al Ewing, Frank Miller, Ryan North
Artists: Greg Capullo, Terry Dodson, Gurihiru, Adam Kubert, Dike Ruan, Frank Miller, and Ryan Stegman
Inkers: Tim Townsend and Rachel Dodson
Colorists: Alex Sinclair, Frank Martin, and Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Clayton Cowles and Joe Caramagna
MARVEL/DC: DEADPOOL/BATMAN #1 SOLICITATION
“The crossover you’ve pined for but never thought possible: DEADPOOL and BATMAN cross swords and batarangs as MARVEL and DC unite for the first time in decades!
WADE WILSON has been hired for a job in GOTHAM CITY, but will the WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE help him or destroy him? The main story starring Deadpool and Batman will be written by Zeb Wells and drawn by industry superstar Greg Capullo.
The one-shot will also feature additional backup stories spotlighting other exciting Marvel and DC team-ups from a lineup of all-star talent, including Daredevil and GREEN ARROW by Kevin Smith and Adam Kubert, Captain America and Wonder Woman by Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson, and Jeff the Land Shark and Krypto by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru.” – Marvel Comics
HIGHLIGHTS OF MARVEL/DC: DEADPOOL/BATMAN #1
Deadpool & Batman Polar Opposite
Zeb Wells and Greg Capullo knew exactly what they had in teaming up Batman and Deadpool together. These two are such polar opposites that they just needed to lean into that fact. They didn’t need to go into the extremes of each of their personalities. They simply have fun with this story that helped make Deadpool taking on more of the antagonist role natural. His type of banter makes him a natural foil for Batman to deal with. And we see how Marvel’s brand of banter is different from what we typically see from a DC comic book through their pairing. Batman isn’t used this brand of banter even when dealing with the likes of Joker and Penguin.
S-Tier All-Star Art Team
The writing team for all the stories in Marvel and DC’s first Deadpool/Batman one-shot is certainly impressive. But what really stole the show was the presentation. Specifically the top tier art team that worked on all the stories in this comic book. Greg Capullo, Terry Dodson, Gurihiru, Adam Kubert, Dike Ruan, Frank Miller, and Ryan Stegman all showed why they are some of the best artists in the business. They gave so much personality to the stories they worked on. In the process they each were able to show how they each have their own style as no one story looked like the other. It added to the general fun of reading this issue as we get artwork that fits each story.
Back-Ups Shine Bright
While Deadpool/Batman is certainly sold on the title characters it is honestly the back-up stories that are the real highlight. No matter the amount of pages each creative team got for their back-up stories they maximized their page count. There was no time wasted. It was simply tell the best story with the characters that they used in their respective pairings. Not all of these stories were home runs but they didn’t need to be. They were all quality stories with several of them being honestly better than the main Deadpool and Batman team-up. And really Marvel and DC couldn’t have timed the Jeff the Shark and Krypto crossover any better.
Captain America & Wonder Woman are the New Dynamic Duo
The best story in Deadpool/Batman was the crossover between Captain America and Wonder Woman. Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson did such an amazing job at showing how if these two really did exist in the same universe they would be perfect compliments to each other. Because at their cores they are symbols for right and wrong not what others say is either thing. That is best shown in the panel with Wonder Woman’s Maxwell Lord decision. You believe that Steve and Diana would be help each other to make sure they are making the right decision for what they symbolize. It is all a wonderful story of a powerful friendship that you believe would span any universe these two would exist in together.
Daredevil & Green Arrow Duo Show Most Potential
When it comes to obvious pairings for this latest Marvel and DC crossover collaboration Daredevil and Green Arrow hit the bullseye. Daredevil and Green Arrow is an obvious team-up to have. And of all the stories in Deadpool/Batman the story by Kevin Smith and Adam Kubert was the most superhero team-up story of them all. This was a straight up just put these two in a team-up situation and see what happens. What happens is a natural chemistry as they have many similarities and differences. In the end they find a way to work together to defeat the villain of the story in Count Vertigo
Return of Amalgam Universe
It was only the final three pages of this comic book but the Logo story may be the most impactful of them all. Ryan North and Ryan Stegman gave us the teaser of what we could see in the future with the return of the Amalgam Universe. They certainly picked a great pair of heroes to merge with Logo fusing Lobo and Wolverine together. This hopefully means we will see at least another amalgam character in the Batman/Deadpool one-shot that DC is taking the lead on next month.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN MARVEL/DC: DEADPOOL/BATMAN #1
Main Story Sticks Leans too Much on Novelty
Ultimately I did have fun reading the main story of Deadpool/Batman. But at the same time the story, especially compared to several other back-ups in this comic book, didn’t live up to its full potential. It felt very safe with the story being told. Playing it safe can be seen with how Wells didn’t even have Deadpool break the fourth wall as much as you expect. Even the recent Deadpool manga that had references to My Hero Academia did more. Then there is how the Joker was written. Wells wrote came across as a random person cosplaying the Joker rather than the true Clown Prince of Crime.
Dark Knight Chooses Wrong Old Man Logan to Fight
The only story that didn’t hit in this one-shot was surprisingly Frank Miller’s Dark Knight and Wolverine story. First off, Miller went with the wrong Wolverine. When Marvel and DC promoted it as Old Man Logan & The Dark Knight, the expectation is for the Clint Eastwoods looking Logan. Miller for his part likely didn’t go that route to use the Wolverine he is familiar with writing and drawing. But it did add to how generic the fight between Wolverine and Dark Knight was. It didn’t have the brutality that is expected from these two fighting, especially with Miller writing and drawing it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman #1 was exactly what it needed to be. A fun comic book with Deadpool and Batman teaming up. It is all made better by all the back-up stories that we get in this comic book. The team ups stories we get with Captain America & Wonder Woman and Daredevil & Green Arrow in particular steal the show. If you are a Marvel and/or DC Comics fan pick this comic book up.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
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