DC and Marvel crossovers returning to print

Word Balloons #1202: Several crossovers and Amalgam mashups featured in August omnibus editions

American comics' two largest publishers, Marvel and DC, have announced a return to print for several crossover stories featuring the two publishers. 

Out of print for decades, the original Marvel vs. DC comics, as well as the DC Versus Marvel series and the Amalgam mashup comics that followed, will be returning to stores in August.  

The DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will both be released on August 6, 2024.

The DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976’s Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000’s Batman/Daredevil. 

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

The second omnibus features the two universes colliding and then coming together! DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features the DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, which included the unlikely merging of universes resulting in characters like “Dark Claw,” “Spider-Boy” and “Iron Lantern.” 

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus behind-the-scenes material.

Each volume will have a comic-shop exclusive cover in addition to the main cover. 

These omnibus editions don’t include one of the most beloved Marvel vs. DC crossovers, JLA vs. Avengers, which was reprinted in a limited run just prior to the death of artist George Perez. But it’s possible the discussions that led to these reprints could mean JLA-Avengers reprint talks aren’t off the table – as well as possibly new collaborations between the companies. The 1996 DC vs. Marvel event was at least in part the result of softening comic-book sales at the time. It’s possible another crossover collaboration could provide a jolt to the comics industry again. 

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.