While the long-standing rivalry between Marvel and DC is the stuff of legend, both publishers are putting their differences aside for a historic collaboration—their first official crossover comics since *JLA/Avengers* in 2003. And what better way to kick off this new era of unity than with one of the most unexpected duos in comic history: Batman and Deadpool?

As revealed exclusively by *Entertainment Weekly*, Marvel and DC are joining forces for a pair of one-shot specials that bring together the Dark Knight and the Merc with a Mouth. Marvel will release *Deadpool/Batman #1*, written by Zeb Wells (*The Amazing Spider-Man*) with art by Greg Capullo (*Batman*), while DC will publish *Batman/Deadpool #1*, penned by Grant Morrison (*Batman*) and illustrated by Dan Mora (*Superman/Batman: World's Finest*). Each issue will also feature “backup adventures” showcasing more exciting team-ups between characters from both universes.

This marks the first major crossover between the two comic giants in over two decades—excluding unofficial crossovers like those seen in *Fortnite: Battle Royale*. Before now, Marvel and DC had a rich history of joint projects, beginning with *Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man* in 1976.

"It happens kind of once every generation of readers. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why," says Jim Lee, DC’s President, Chief Creative Officer, and Publisher. "The timing has to be right—you don’t want to do these too often. You want them to feel special. It requires coordination, collaboration, and approvals from both sides. From a business perspective, you're sharing revenue, so it needs to be a big deal. The story must live up to the hype."

So why choose Batman and Deadpool as the stars of this monumental event? According to Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley, it came down to one simple idea.

"It just felt like a fun combo. I'll be quite frank. It was nothing more complicated than that," Buckley explains. "Deadpool hanging out with Batman brings a lot of levity and excitement. There’s also room for some intense action. Our goal is to create something entertaining, showcase the best of comics, generate buzz, and bring back lapsed readers or attract new ones."

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*Deadpool/Batman #1* is scheduled for release on September 17, 2025, followed by *Batman/Deadpool #1* later that November. *EW* also reports that both publishers are already working on another set of crossover one-shots planned for 2026, though details about which characters will appear remain under wraps.

Which Marvel/DC crossover would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out Batman’s greatest crossover moments of all time!