7 Crossovers That Shouldn’t Have Worked (But Did)

Comic book crossovers, a popular element in the industry, have been a significant aspect for a long time. Pioneers like Marvel and DC Comics have been executing these crossovers for decades, initially showcasing superhero teams such as the Justice Society and the Allies, which were essentially combinations of Marvel and DC’s most prominent characters. During the Silver Age, we saw an increase in crossovers, both in team formations and individual titles. However, the Bronze Age revolutionized crossovers with stories like “Marvel Super Heroes Contest of Champions,” “Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars,” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Since then, we’ve witnessed an escalation in crossover events in the form of special series and team-up comics of various types.

Fans often have mixed feelings about crossover events in comic books. On one hand, it’s thrilling to witness our beloved characters collaborating and confronting formidable adversaries together. However, there’s a growing sentiment that these crossovers are more about generating revenue than crafting compelling narratives. Over time, numerous crossover events have fallen flat, diminishing the allure of such stories. Yet, there have been instances where crossovers that seemingly shouldn’t have worked turned out to be outstanding, providing fans with reasons to continue engaging with these types of tales. In summary, while there are valid concerns about the commercialization of crossover events, there are also remarkable examples that prove their potential for great storytelling.

7) JLA/Avengers

In the 1980s, a collaboration between Marvel’s Avengers and DC’s Justice League was planned, with Gerry Conway writing and George Perez handling the artwork. The project was well underway, but unfortunately, it was ultimately canceled. Decades later, in the early 2000s, Perez teamed up with Kurt Busiek, who had previously worked with Perez on Avengers (Vol. 3), to bring this idea to life as a four-issue series titled JLA/Avengers. This story saw the two superhero teams go head-to-head, as DC’s villain Krona and Marvel’s Grandmaster engaged in a wager where the outcome would determine the fate of both universes. The narrative flowed smoothly, the action sequences were thrilling, the art was breathtaking (many still consider Perez to be the greatest of all time, and this series is often cited as a prime example), and the plot made perfect sense. It’s unfortunate that this remarkable comic isn’t always readily available for readers to fully appreciate its greatness.

6) DC One Million

Imagination time: Heroes from the 853rd century travel to our present, intending to bring the Justice League along for a future meet-up with Superman. However, an evil solar supercomputer and Vandal Savage hatch a plan to annihilate them all. This story could have easily gone awry, particularly the crossover aspects, but DC One Million stands out as one of the best DC comics from the ’90s, even surpassing most Marvel crossovers from that era. Writer Grant Morrison skillfully orchestrates the narrative, and other DC creators embraced the concept of the millionth issue (particularly those concluding their series like Chase #1,000,000). The omnibus edition encompasses all these comics, with stellar chapters from Starman and Resurrection Man. Despite its potential to fail spectacularly, DC One Million took flight instead.

5) Civil War

The storyline “Civil War” is a controversial one in Marvel’s universe, sparking debates among fans over its inclusion on this list. Some argue that the plot shouldn’t have succeeded given its contradiction to the characters’ established personalities. However, despite these apparent flaws, the narrative manages to hold together, largely due to writer Mark Millar and Marvel editorial opting to disregard the character development of key figures in the story. Moreover, Millar’s portrayal of Iron Man’s faction, perceived by many as fascist, introduces numerous issues with the plot. But if you choose to overlook these character misrepresentations and missed opportunities for deeper thematic exploration, the narrative can be enjoyed.

4) Infinity Gauntlet

The Marvel event known as “Infinity Gauntlet” was nothing short of extraordinary when it was first released, leaving me in awe as I followed its progress monthly. It’s astonishing to consider that this narrative, with Thanos as an omnipotent antagonist, could have even functioned given the context of 1991. At that time, Thanos was hardly mentioned due to his demise in “Avengers” while attempting to use the Cosmic Cube. Characters like Adam Warlock, Pip the Troll, and Gamora were not yet household names; they were more like obscure references known only to a select few. The odds seemed stacked against this story, but thanks to the brilliant minds behind it, including legends such as Jim Starlin and George Perez, along with Ron Lim, an artist on the rise at the time, we were gifted with a tale that many Marvel fans consider the greatest event in Marvel history.

3) Infinity War

Discussing the Marvel Comics series, while I admire “Infinity Gauntlet,” I found “Infinity War” even more captivating and surprisingly effective, given the challenges it faced. On one hand, following a successful series like “Infinity Gauntlet,” a sequel would naturally have an established audience. Yet, it presents Thanos as a hero, introduces the less-known villain, the Magus, and features edgy doppelgangers of popular characters. The initial issues are lengthy and focus on exposition to refresh readers about all the characters. Considering its status as a sequel to “Infinity Gauntlet,” it seemed improbable that it would succeed. Nevertheless, “Infinity War” turned out to be exceptional. The storyline is well-structured, offering many more surprises and plot twists than “Infinity Gauntlet.” Despite being less popular, reading it underscores just how impressive the series truly is.

2) Infinite Crisis

Reflecting on the early 2000s, DC Comics made a bold decision to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their epic crossover, “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Over the years, they subtly planted seeds and constructed intricate plots that would eventually culminate in the groundbreaking masterpiece known as “Infinite Crisis.”

This grand spectacle was a testament to years of meticulous planning, and its success hinged on every piece falling perfectly into place. Thankfully, it did, resulting in an event comic that feels almost flawless. As a movie reviewer, I can confidently say that “Infinite Crisis” is a must-read for any DC fan.

1) Crisis on Infinite Earths

The epic saga known as “Crisis on Infinite Earths” stands unparalleled in scope and impact among all crossovers to date. This monumental event encompassed every significant alternate reality within the DC Multiverse, its purpose being the destruction of this multiverse and the creation of a single, unified universe in its place.

A team consisting of Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Jerry Ordway, and Dick Giordano meticulously crafted the storyline over several years, even hiring a researcher to comb through every DC comic archived by the company. The success was far from guaranteed as fans might not take kindly to it. Nevertheless, each element fell beautifully into place, elevating crossovers to an unprecedented level.

Though “Crisis on Infinite Earths” wasn’t the first major crossover event of its kind, it laid the groundwork for every subsequent one, setting new standards and paving the way for future interconnected storytelling in the DC Universe.

What crossovers do you think shouldn’t have worked but did? Sound off in comments below.

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2025-09-08 00:13