DC and Marvel Comics are joining forces for the first time in 22 years, and the companies are hanging the long-awaited collab on two icons: Batman and Deadpool. According to Entertainment Weekly, the two comic book juggernauts will square off in a pair of one-shot specials starring the Bats and everyone’s favorite Merc With a Mouth. DC Comics will publish Batman/Deadpool #1, written by Grant Morrison and drawn by artist Dan Mora. Marvel Comics will release Deadpool/Batman #1 will be penned by Zeb Wells, while Greg Capullo will handle the book’s art.
Additionally, each story will feature “backup adventures” focused on other characters within the Marvel and DC Comics universes; the details regarding these other characters is currently unknown. Fans can expect to get their hands on Deadpool/Batman #1 on September 17, 2025, followed by a November release for Batman/Deadpool #1.
DC’s president, chief creative officer, and publisher Jim Lee explained to EW why the two companies were unleashing a crossover for the first time since 2003’s JLA/Avengers special.
“It happens kind of once every generation of readers. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why,” said Lee. “The timing has to be right in that you don’t want to do these too often. You want them to feel special. It is sort of finding that right moment for both companies to come together because it is complex. There’s a lot more coordination, collaboration, approvals that have to be done. And, obviously, from the business side, you’re sharing revenue, but it’s going to be a big deal. So you want the story, creatively, to warrant the hype of it all.”
As for the reason why Marvel and DC Comics landed on Deadpool and Batman to lead this moment, Marvel Entertainment president Dan Buckley explained that Bruce and Wade “felt like a fun combo.”
“I’ll be quite frank…It was nothing more complicated than that,” Buckley said. “Like, Deadpool hanging out with Batman. There’s a lot of levity to be had in there, a lot of fun. And it would also be a little bit uber violent at the same time…Our big thing is we want to do something that is a lot of fun, showcase comics, generate excitement, and bring new readers or lapsed readers back into the industry.”
As for the future of Marvel and DC Comics working relationship, Buckley and Lee detailed that the companies were already hard at work on another crossover one-shot for 2026. And, of course, no word has been revealed on which characters will appear in that story.
