35 Years After His First Appearance, the Weirdest DC Villain Just Returned (And Met the Best Marvel Character Possible)

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The collaboration between Marvel and DC Comics has been successful for both companies. It started with a crossover featuring Batman and Deadpool, with each publisher including extra stories in their respective comic issues. Marvel released their version first, and Deadpool/Batman was a hit – the main story was solid, and the bonus stories were fantastic. Then DC followed up with Batman/Deadpool, written by acclaimed DC writer Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dan Mora. This version is even better, especially considering the additional stories; its main storyline surpasses the one in Marvel’s crossover.

The first issue of Batman/Deadpool is a unique collaboration bringing together iconic characters and creators. The main storyline features two villains created by Grant Morrison—one of whom is a meta-villain based on Morrison himself! For those unfamiliar, this villain originated in Morrison’s Animal Man and is one of DC’s most unusual antagonists. This issue offers a bit of backstory for those who haven’t encountered him before.

The Writer Is DC’s Most Meta Character

Grant Morrison, a Scottish writer working in British comics, got an opportunity to write for DC Comics. Their first title, Animal Man, was initially planned as a short, four-issue series, but its popularity led to it becoming an ongoing book. Issue #5, titled “The Coyote Gospel,” featured a character breaking the fourth wall to protest the harmful stories being told about him and others like him. This single issue essentially laid out the core themes and ideas that Morrison would explore throughout the entire 21-issue run.

Grant Morrison’s Animal Man explores the relationship between fiction and reality. The comic’s final issue features Morrison speaking directly to Animal Man, reflecting on the character’s journey and the changes made throughout the series. This conversation serves as a meta-commentary on the book’s themes, particularly its environmental message, and a broader exploration of why we create stories and how we treat the worlds and characters we invent. Ultimately, Morrison brings Animal Man’s family back to life as a plea for compassion – a reminder that we should treat our creations with kindness rather than simply using them for our own amusement.

When Grant Morrison appeared as a character in a DC comic, it established them as a villain within the DC Universe, specifically as the tormentor of Animal Man. This led writer John Ostrander, who was working on Suicide Squad at the time, to include a fictionalized Morrison in a story. Amanda Waller recruited this version of Morrison, and he joined the Squad on a mission, bringing a special device called the Quantum Keyboard. Sadly, the fictional Morrison died during that mission. However, Morrison later reappeared in their “Seven Soldiers of Victory” series as a visual representation of the Sheeda.

The first issue of Batman/Deadpool centers around Cassandra Nova’s attempt to steal the Writer’s Quantum Keyboard. Deadpool, working for the TVA, is tasked with stopping her, and the Writer has enlisted Batman for protection. Deadpool meeting the Writer is a particularly clever, self-aware moment, as both characters are aware they exist within a fictional world. This story, a unique creation of Grant Morrison, brings things full circle, with the Writer ultimately departing the DC Multiverse and assuring Batman and Deadpool that they won’t be altering established storylines again.

The Return of the Writer Put Batman/Deadpool #1 At the Top of the Crossover Heap

No one predicted the return of the original writer, but that surprise was a major reason why the first issue of Batman/Deadpool was so good – it completely defied expectations. If there was a weakness with the first issue of Deadpool/Batman, it’s that it was entirely predictable, to the point where it’s hard to even remember the plot. It didn’t do anything to make itself memorable. The first issue of Batman/Deadpool, however, is the opposite; it’s a story you won’t easily forget because it took unexpected turns.

The story of the Writer, a character from DC Comics, is remarkably compelling. It began with a connection to the classic Animal Man series, continued through the acclaimed Suicide Squad run by Ostrander, and ultimately concluded in Batman/Deadpool #1 – a crossover issue widely considered one of the best ever. It’s quite an achievement for a character that was originally unexpected, and who appeared in three significant storylines.

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2025-11-25 00:19