Marvel and DC’s paths cross again… and this time they come with the double help of gods, speedsters and mad science
A frenetic start that rewrites the superhero scoreboard
Because while many fans were still digesting the first clash between the Merc with a Mouth and the Dark Knight, now comes Thor/Shazam! Yes Flash/Fantastic Fourtwo proposals that come together explosive magic, inhuman speed Yes supersonic science in the digital formats of Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite.
What’s interesting about this move is that both publishers have not only opted for captivating stories, but also a complementary digital model that seeks to attract new readers while leaving veterans salivating. At the heart of this bet is Thor/Shazam!an Infinity comic written by Al Ewingone of the most famous screenwriters of the last decade, and drawn by Jethro Morales. The premise is delightfully chaotic: someone tries to usurp the magic of both universesdeparting Donald Blake Yes Billy Batson without his powers. If this doesn’t smell like a storm, nothing does.
The combination of the god of thunder and the champion of magic promises a brutal mix: humor, clash of personalities and a threat that, for once, affects two different realities. Furthermore, Marvel offers a little gift to sweeten the arrival of the digital comic: the code CROSSOVER25 to get the story for free for a limited time. A real treat for those who want to sink their teeth into it straight away.
The shared multiverse expands… again
On DC’s part, the proposal is equally juicy: Flash/Fantastic Fourwritten by Jeremy Adams and designed by Adrian Gutierrezcomes under the DC Go format. This cross promises to be a delightful mix between speed and scienceas no two groups represent these concepts better than Barry Allen and Marvel’s First Family. The doubt is clear: how the hell will they match their styles? Well, it seems that the story will be based on an energy crisis on a multidimensional scale that will connect both universes at the worst possible time. Because if we know anything about the Scarlet Speedster, it’s that Always He arrives late… just before the disaster.
In a rather historic move, both platforms will offer a 30 days free exchange for existing subscribers, allowing you to read your rival’s history without checking out. A tactic that smacks of “what if we tried how fans react to these collaborations?”, something that many have been calling for for years.
Deadpool, Batman and company warm up their engines
These new releases don’t come alone. The initial spark Deadpool/Batman #1included absurdly wonderful cameos like Daredevil along with Green Arrowproving that the joint publisher is willing to play hardball. And the best is yet to come: the November 19th Earth Batman/Deadpool #1which promises more unlikely pairings like Nightwing with Laura Kinney/Wolverine. Come on, they’re making the character combinations that every fan used to do in their room with the action figures.
Added to this are those announced Superman/Spider-Man one-shota nostalgic nod to those legendary crossovers of the 70s and 80s. And to top it all off, the second printing of the first issue dropped a bomb: Logoa demented creature that melts Lobe with Glutton. The kind of idea that can only come about when writers and editors decide to take wonderful liberties with continuity.
An era of crossover… permanent?
The big question is: are we facing a specific experiment or the beginning of something more stable? The editorial context seems to favor the latter. Marvel and DC have been exploring how to attract new readers to digital environments for years, while their older fans have been clamoring for crossovers that recapture the excitement of the old school. And see the enthusiasm it aroused Deadpool/Batman #1it is logical to think that this line has just begun.
For now the message is clear: collaboration is alive and welland the next few months will be a festival for those who love watching how impossible characters end up fighting, clashing and, sometimes, laughing together.
