With the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus coming out, we are reminded that comic intercompany crossovers, when heroes from different publishing houses meet, are a popular yet rare occurrence. Maybe not that rare as it is a profitable endeavor after all. In fact, DC’s own Batman has met a lot of heroes from other comic book universes, he even catches criminals on a monthly basis with Scooby-Doo‘s Mystery Team nowadays!
Some of the Dark Knight’s adventures side by side or even against other non-regular DC Comics characters have become the stuff of legend when others have been forgotten. One thing most of them (not all) have in common though, is that they are totally out-of-continuity stories. But some are quite interesting to discover for curious fans who want to know how Batman would fare against Aliens and/or a Predator, or what would look like a team-up with Tarzan, Spider-Man, Danger Girl, or Spawn.
Yes, some of those intercompany crossovers seem to be (and are) oddities. Here is our guide to those crazy and unpredictable comic book meetings.
The Batman Crossovers: The Intercompany Adventures
Batman Meets Image Comics
Spawn/Batman (1994) – A Comics written by Frank Miller with art by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo. Batman goes to New York City in his search for an arsenal of high-tech weapons and robots that use decapitated human heads as their brains. Antagonistic, confrontational, and suspicious of each other, Spawn and Batman engage in violent battles before realizing they are both after the same villain. Collected in Batman/Spawn (2023, Deluxe Edition)
Batman/Spawn: War Devil (1994) – A Comics written by Doug Moench, Alan Grant, and Chuck Dixon with art by Klaus Janson. Whatever happened to the “missing village” of Roanoke, North Carolina? Batman is about to find out, as a devious trail winds down through history, leading him into direct conflict with Hell’s soldier—Todd McFarlane’s Spawn! Collected in Batman/Spawn (2023, Deluxe Edition)
The Darkness/Batman (1999) – A Comics written by Scott Lobdell and Jeph Loeb with art by Marc Silvestri, David Finch, and Clarence Lansang. A series of crimes have been committed in Gotham City. The investigations of Batman, lead him to the author. None other than The Darkness. Estacado was in Gotham in order to expand the business of the clan Franchetti there. As the story unfolds, Batman and the Darkness battle each other and Estacado found out something that he was missing. Collected in DC/Top Cow: Crossovers.
Batman Meets Dark Horse Comics
Batman vs. Predator (1992) – A 3-issue comics miniseries written by Dave Gibbons with art by Andy Kubert. The hunter becomes the hunted as Batman, Earth’s ultimate detective, is pitted against Predator, the galaxy’s most ruthless hunter! Collected in Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman/Grendel (1993) – A 2-issue comics miniseries written and drawn by Matt Wagner. While Bruce Wayne and Hunter Rose play power games in Gotham’s high society, Batman finds himself up against a new and vicious foe of uncanny intellect and evil intent, one more than capable of testing the Dark Knight’s formidable skills to their limits, Grendel.
Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch (1994) – A 4-issue comics miniseries written by Doug Moench with art by Paul Gulacy. The summer is getting hot in Gotham, and Batman finds himself in the heat of things. Batman finds out that there is a contract against him drawing the elite of the world killers gunning for him, but the killers find themselves outmatched. As the huntress works her own angle, police headquarters is attacked, and the Bat Signal is taken. To Gordon’s horror the past has come back for revenge. Collected in Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman/Grendel (1996) – A 2-issue comics miniseries written and drawn by Matt Wagner. The Dark Knight has faced many twisted nightmares: killer clowns and crazed ex-D.A.s, women dressed as cats, and steroid-pumped madmen. But an unholy relic — the bones of Hunter Rose — has brought a deadlier foe to his city. A relentless, merciless foe. A foe known as Grendel-Prime. The devil has returned to Gotham.
Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties (1997) – A 4-issue comics miniseries written by Chuck Dixon with art by Rodolfo Damaggio. Perhaps the deadliest threat Batman has ever faced is back in town. And this time, the Predator’s not alone! On Earth to show his son the thrill of the hunt, an older champion brings the “boy” to Gotham City where the younger Predator will “cut his teeth” on Robin. Now Batman must find and neutralize the threat while trying to keep Robin out of the path of these deadly aliens. To counter them, they may have to make a pact with another deadly enemy: Mr. Freeze! Collected in Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman/Aliens (1997) – A 2-issue comics miniseries written by Ron Marz with art by Bernie Wrightson. He’s seen many faces of terror from his watch over Gotham City — he’s seen murderous clowns, strange creatures, and all forms of killer psychopaths. But he’s never seen anything like this. Amongst the Mayan ruins of the Amazon forest, the Dark Knight of Gotham is out of his element as he faces an intergalactic infestation of . . . Aliens. Collected in Aliens (2016).
Batman/Hellboy/Starman (1998) – A 2-issue comics miniseries written by James Robinson with art by Mike Mignola. After Golden Age Starman, Ted Knight, is kidnapped by neo-Nazi skinheads whilst giving a lecture on alternative energy sources, Batman and Hellboy team up to rescue him. The duo eventually track the kidnappers, a group calling itself the Knights of October, to a deserted airfield. The pair attempt a rescue mission. Collected in Starman Compendium Two.
Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman (1999) – A 4-issue comics miniseries written by Ron Marz with art by Igor Kordey. Batman. Tarzan. Both are orphaned noblemen who have honed their minds and bodies to the peak of human performance. Both have sworn to protect their respective territories: for Tarzan, the jungle; for Batman, Gotham City. Now, a new evil has surfaced: one that will bring these two legendary heroes together for the first time; one that threatens both of their “jungles.” And all clues point to a mysterious female cat burglar and an archaeologist named Dent. Collected in Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman.
Batman/Aliens II (2002-03) – A 3-issue comics miniseries written by Ian Edginton with art by Stewart Johnson. A Gotham City construction crew uncovers a sealed vault housing an unspeakable horror! Eighty years ago, an expedition to the South Pole uncovered a crashed spaceship — a spaceship containing the bloodthirsty Aliens. Now, after years in hibernation, a nearly desiccated Alien is unleashed upon the modern world. And it’s very, very hungry! Only one man has a chance of stopping this murderous beast — the Dark Knight Detective known as Batman! Collected in Aliens (2016).
Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator (2007) – A 2-issue comics miniseries written by Mark Schultz with art by Ariel Olivetti. Deep in the Andes Mountains, a long-dormant volcano stirs to spectacular life. It threatens to uncover a deadly secret – a lost colony of Predators living in a subterranean world, completely isolated from the rest of the planet until now, when volcanic activity threatens to reveal them, as well as the Aliens who have become part of their ecosystem. Batman and Superman are faced with a terrible dilemma. They cannot allow the Earth – the humanity they are dedicated to protecting – to be faced with the horrible consequences of contact with these races. But they cannot deny that these species, repugnant as they are to us, are not truly evil but have a right to live, although by following their mandate to survive, they pose a threat such as mankind has never faced before. Collected in Aliens (2016).
Batman Meets Marvel Comics
The following crossovers are now all collected in the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus.
Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire (1994) – A comic written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Barry Kitson. The Azrael version of Batman is pit against Marvel’s The Punisher, resulting in mindless slugfests aplenty.
Batman/Punisher: Deadly Knights (1994) – A comic written by Chuck Dixon with art by Klaus Janson. The Punisher in Gotham! Jigsaw teams up with the Joker! And Batman wants to take them all down!
Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk (DC Special Series #27, 1981) – A comic written by Len Wein with art by José Luis García-López. The maniacal trickster the Joker has just convinced the Jade Giant that Batman is his enemy. It will take all the Dark Knight’s skills and courage to survive his first encounter with the Earth’s mightiest mortal. Plus, how does the mysterious and cosmically powered Shaper of Worlds fit into all this?
Spider-Man and Batman (1995) – The joking web-head and the detective dark knight fight the two most psychotic villains in the Marvel Comics Universe and DC Comics Universe, Carnage and The Joker!! together trying to kill our heroes.
Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning (1997) – A comic written by J. M. DeMatteis with art by Graham Nolan. Batman and Spiderman team up to take on villains Kingpin and Ras Al Ghul.
Daredevil/Batman (1997) – A comic written by D. G. Chichester with art by Scott McDaniel. There’s twice the threat to sanity and society as the treacherous Two-Face and Mr. Hyde set their twisted sights on capturing the power of a deadly technology. The one hope for justice rests with the Dark Knight Detective and the Man Without Fear, but only if they can solve this brutal mystery. And face down a haunted past…
Batman/Daredevil: King of New York (1999) – A comic written by Alan Grant with art by Eduardo Barreto. The story opens with a seemingly simple heist engineered by the Catwoman – a robbery that gives the Kingpin the weapon he needs to spread fear and anarchy throughout New York, with just a little help from the Scarecrow. But when the Scarecrow double-crosses the Kingpin, threatening his reign over the Big Apple’s underworld, the crimelord has no choice but to join forces with Daredevil and Batman as they fight to save the city from slipping into fear-induced madness. But what terrors must all three men overcome to defeat a foe who can instill fear in anyone – even the Man Without Fear?
Batman & Captain America (1996) – A comic written and drawn by John Byrne. American Icons. Batman and Captain America have been thrilling readers for three generations. Now these quintessential heroes appear together for the first time in a historic comics event.
Batman Meets IDW Publishing
All of the Batman crossovers with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2015-2019, except the Adventures one) are now collected in one big omnibus.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2015) – A 6-issue comics miniseries written by James Tynion IV with art by Freddie E. Williams II. In Gotham City, a series of deadly raids leads Batman to believe he’s up against a group of highly trained ninjas known as the Foot Clan! Somehow, they’ve crossed over to another dimension and are determined to take advantage of the situation while looking to get back home. But they haven’t come alone: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are hot on their trail.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (2016) – A 6-issue comics miniseries written by Matthew K. Manning with art by Jon Sommariva. The animated worlds of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon cartoon and Batman: The Animated Series collide! Villains start to mysteriously escape Arkham and Batman seeks to track them down, but he discovers that they have left Gotham completely… and gone to the New York City of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Collected in Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (2017) – A 6-issue comics miniseries written by James Tynion IV with art by Freddie E. Williams II. When Donatello goes looking for a new mentor to help him improve his fighting skills, he opens a doorway to another reality, hoping to summon the Turtles’ one-time ally, Batman. But instead, he gets sent to Gotham City and someone else comes through the open portal — Bane! Suddenly, there’s a new gang boss in New York and he’s out to unite all the other bad guys under him. Can Donnie get back in time and bring Batman with him to help his brothers before Bane causes irreparable destruction?
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (2019) – A 6-issue comic book miniseries written by James Tynion IV with art by Kevin Eastman and Freddie E. Williams II. Our heroes have battled the evil of the Foot Clan in Gotham City and Bane in New York, but now Krang has gotten his hands on the most dangerous technologies in the DC Universe—and no universe is safe from his wrath!
Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams (2018-2020) – A 5-issue comics miniseries written and drawn by Sam Kieth. When a devious new doctor at Arkham Asylum conducts unconventional forays into the human psyche, he kicks off a disastrous chain reaction by experimenting on Arkham’s newest patient: The Maxx! The city of Gotham soon begins to merge with the Outback, The Maxx’s psychedelic mental landscape. It’s up to Batman to save Gotham and all of reality… but only by joining The Maxx on a trip into the darkest depths imaginable: the twisted minds of Batman’s greatest enemies! Collected in Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams.
Batman Meets The Other Company Properties
Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet (2014) – A 6-issue comic book miniseries written by Kevin Smith with art by Ralph Garman and Ty Templeton. Batman, The Green Hornet, Robin, and Kato are reunited! But what could force these rivals to join forces? How about the deadly team of General Gumm and The Joker! Collected in Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet.
Batman ’66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel (2016) – A 6-issue comics miniseries written by Ian Edginton with art by Matthew Dow Smith. As Bruce Wayne shows the beautiful head of a UK electronics company the sights of Gotham, they are interrupted by the felonious feline Catwoman! Unwilling to leave Miss Michaela Gough unprotected, Bruce resigns himself to the fact that Batman cannot save the day. But some new players have arrived in town-though even as the catsuit-clad lovely Mrs. Peel and her comrade John Steed take control of the situation, nefarious plots continue apace! Collected in Batman ’66 Meets Steed & Mrs. Peel.
Archie Meets Batman ’66 (2018-19) – A 6-issue comic book miniseries written by Jeff Parker with art by Michael Moreci. A battle in Gotham City extends its reach into Riverdale-with Mr. Lodge becoming enemy #1 of the dynamic duo! Now it’s up to Veronica to recruit some help and place a call… to the Batcave! Collected in Archie Meets Batman ’66.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point (2021) – A 6-issue comics miniseries written by Christos Gage on a story by Donald Mustard with art by Reilly Brown. A crack splits the sky above Gotham City… a tear in reality itself. This rift pulls the Dark Knight into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, with no memory of who he is or where he came from… Batman has been drawn into Fortnite! Collected in Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point.
Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgement On Gotham (1991) – A comic written by Alan Grant and John Wagner with art by Simon Bisley. DC’s Batman and Fleetway’s Judge Dredd must stop fighting long enough to face a menace that threatens both of their worlds. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle (1995) – A comic book written by Alan Grant and John Wagner with art by Carl Critchlow and Dermot Power. Cosmic villain Xero plans a bloodfest with Batman and Judge Dredd as the star performers. Using the Riddler as a pawn, Xero gathers the toughest beings from throughout the cosmos and pits the Dark Knight of Gotham City against the number-one lawman of Mega-City One. Now it’s hero vs. hero – to the death. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing (1998) – A 2-issue comic book miniseries written by Alan Grant and John Wagner with art by Glenn Fabry with Jim Murray and Jason Brashill. The Death Judges are manipulating the Joker into freeing them to kill again. And again and again. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/The Shadow (2017) – A 6-issue comic book miniseries written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo. Murder has come to Gotham City, and Lamont Cranston appears to be the culprit…but he’s been dead for over fifty years! Batman will go to the ends of the Earth to unravel the mystery of Cranston’s life, but the mysterious Shadow will do everything in his power to stop him from learning too much… The superstar team of writers Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando and artist Riley Rossmo brings you a dark and twisty modern noir like nothing you’ve seen before, with a brand-new villain unlike any either hero has faced! Collected in Batman/The Shadow.
The Shadow/Batman (2017) -A 6-issue comics miniseries written by Steve Orlando and drawn by Giovanni P. Timpano. The World’s Greatest Mystery. The World’s Greatest Detective. They can barely stand each other, so how will they possibly deal with the World’s Greatest Evil? What legacy can two of the world’s most enduring icons of justice leave once they discover an ancient evil has been living inside the world they protect for centuries, attached to its heart? Can Batman and the Shadow save the world without killing it in the process? Collected in The Shadow/Batman.
Inter-DC Crossovers
Batman/Danger Girl (2004) – A comic book written by Andy Hartnell with art by Leinil Francis Yu. Danger Girl mentor Deuce dispatches Abbey Chase, Sydney Savage, Johnny Barracuda and Valerie on an assignment in Gotham City, home base of Batman! Meanwhile, Donavin Conrad, old enemy of Abbey, is also in the big G, and forms an unlikely alliance with one of Batman’s greatest foes! Adventure, mirth and mayhem ensue as the Dark Knight joins forces with the hottest spy chicks in comics!
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham (2021) – A 6-issue comic book miniseries written by Bill Willingham with art by Brian Level. Worlds collide as a Gotham mystery kick-starts a return to the world of Fables! With the blood dry at Gotham’s fourth gruesome murder scene in as many weeks, Batman is stumped. The same hallmarks haunt each investigation: brute-force entries, bodies ripped to shreds and stamped with enormous bite marks, and clumps of fur—wolf fur—scattered in the wreckage. The streets buzz with rumors of the “Werewolf of Gotham.” Determined to crack this case, Batman finds no leads and a mysterious, hairy, chain-smoking figure dogging his every move. The Dark Knight’s dangerously close to losing his cool when a series of bombings levels the city’s libraries in the days leading up to the 32nd annual Gotham Literary Festival. Collected in Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham.
