5 Strangest Batman Crossovers, Ranked

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Batman is a leading figure for DC Comics and currently holds the record for the most published superhero of all time. He’s consistently been DC’s biggest financial success, so it’s no surprise that he appears in more comic books than any other character. Ultimately, publishers want to sell copies, and Batman consistently proves to be popular with readers. As a result, Batman and related titles frequently make up a large part of DC’s ongoing comic book releases, and he’s often featured in major crossover events with other heroes.

Batman recently led the way in bringing back crossovers between DC and Marvel Comics after a gap of over twenty years, and the result was a big hit. But while some Batman crossovers are fantastic, others are… unusual. We’re taking a look at five of the strangest Batman team-ups in comic book history. Get ready, because these are some really odd pairings!

5) Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica

Batman is a major superhero icon, but Archie is best known for representing romance and everyday life in comics. Though these worlds are very different, the characters from Batman could easily fit into the town of Riverdale for a funny story. That’s what happens in this series: Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy go to Archie’s hometown to prevent Hiram Lodge from developing Sweetwater Swamp into a university. They quickly meet Betty and Veronica, and the two groups end up on a wild, comical adventure together.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy accidentally swap places with Betty and Veronica, landing them in each other’s chaotic towns. Betty and Veronica struggle to cope with the dangers of Gotham, while Harley and Ivy find Riverdale just as wild. The mix-up leads to plenty of action, surprising villain reveals, and even convinces Reggie Mantle he’s the Joker! Ultimately, the four women team up to protect a swamp. This story delivers exactly what you’d expect from its setup – it’s not the strangest crossover ever, but it’s definitely a fun and crazy adventure.

4) Batman/Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd is a tough, futuristic police officer working in the massive, crime-ridden Mega-City One. He doesn’t just arrest criminals – he acts as judge, jury, and punisher, all in one. The character is also a commentary on popular culture and how police work is portrayed. Considering the frequent overlap between superheroes and law enforcement – especially with characters like Batman – it’s not surprising they’ve teamed up. But the number of times Judge Dredd and Batman have crossed paths is actually quite remarkable.

Batman and Judge Dredd have teamed up in four comic book crossovers, which is actually more often than Batman has crossed over with any other character besides the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. To put that in perspective, Batman and Spider-Man have only worked together half as many times. Considering how different their approaches to crime-fighting are – they fundamentally disagree on almost everything – the fact that Batman and Dredd have almost matched the record for most crossovers is incredibly surprising.

3) Superman and Batman Vs. Aliens and Predator

The Alien and Predator universes have crossed over with comic book characters far more than any other form of media. Both Batman and Superman have fought Xenomorphs and Predators numerous times, but this particular story brings them all together in a wild plot that’s hard to believe without reading it. The story reveals a hidden colony of Predators and Xenomorphs sealed away deep in the Andes Mountains, beneath an active volcano. It turns out a Predator ship, carrying Xenomorph eggs, crashed on Earth over fourteen thousand years ago, and has remained hidden ever since.

Considering the Predators haven’t changed their culture in 14,000 years, the strangest part of this whole situation is the Terrestrial Defense Initiative. The Predators quickly mistake Superman for a sun god and start worshipping him, and Batman surprisingly manages to understand their language fairly quickly. However, what’s truly bizarre is the TDI – a military group meant to handle alien threats. Despite Batman and Superman’s repeated attempts to peacefully guide the Predators away from Earth, the TDI kept trying to destroy them.

Okay, so the comic ended with a nuclear bomb dropped on the Predator’s base after everyone got out. Seriously! And the craziest part? The TDI – these extreme guys – nuked the Andes mountains, and Superman spent the whole issue basically saying that even though he hated what they stood for, they were right to do it. Right to nuke a place and try to kill hundreds of aliens just because they were afraid! Honestly, that felt so out of character for Superman, and it’s easily one of the weirdest things I’ve ever read in a comic. It’s bad enough to earn this issue a solid third place on my list of disappointments.

2) Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman

This comic, set in the early 1900s, brings Batman and Tarzan together when a museum opened by Bruce Wayne is robbed. The thief isn’t what she seems – she’s actually a princess from the secret African city of Memnon, and the stolen items rightfully belong to her. The story surprisingly blends the worlds of Tarzan and Batman. Adding to the twists, the villain Finnegan Dent becomes Two-Face after a lion attack.

The team-up between Batman and Tarzan is an unusual one, pitting a hero who relies on primal instincts against one who strives to control them. Throughout their adventure, both heroes battle various animals – gorillas, alligators, and more – and frequently draw parallels between their respective homes and the jungle. Interestingly, despite much of the story taking place in Africa, Gotham City is often referred to as a jungle itself. Ultimately, Batman and Tarzan realize they have more in common than they initially thought, and they each head off on their separate paths. While strange, this crossover isn’t unenjoyable, and seeing Batman get overpowered by a gorilla is a definite highlight.

1) Batman/Elmer Fudd Special

This Batman team-up is easily the most bizarre and brilliant crossover ever. It was part of a series of comics DC released pairing Looney Tunes characters with their superheroes, but this one stands out. It presents Elmer Fudd as a dark and ruthless assassin seeking revenge for the murder of his girlfriend, Silver St. Cloud, by the notorious Bugs “The Bunny.” After finding Bugs at a tough, reimagined version of Porky’s bar, Bugs sends Elmer after the man he claims hired him: Bruce Wayne.

The idea of Elmer Fudd, a cartoon hunter, teaming up with Batman to investigate the murder of a shared love interest is unbelievably brilliant. This comic understands its own absurdity and strikes the perfect balance between humor and seriousness. It’s a truly fantastic pairing, and I hope we see many more adventures with Batman and Elmer Fudd. It’s easily the wildest Batman team-up I’ve ever encountered.

So, those are five of the most unexpected and wild Batman team-ups in comic book history! Which one do you think was the strangest, and which one did you enjoy the most? Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-19 21:17