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The long-awaited Batman-Deadpool crossover is officially happening, marking the first major collaboration between Marvel and DC Comics since 2003.

This epic two-part comic event will unite two of pop culture’s most iconic characters. Gotham’s brooding Dark Knight and the irreverent, fourth wall breaking mercenary from the Marvel universe will come together.

As Entertainment Weekly first reported, the crossover kicks off with Deadpool/Batman in September, followed by Batman/Deadpool in November. Each issue is published by one of the two comic book giants, with Marvel releasing the first and DC handling the second.

A Historic Reunion Between Comic Giants

This event is the first official DC/Marvel collaboration in more than two decades, and fans are already buzzing with excitement.

“It happens kind of once every generation of readers,” said Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment, in his interview with EW. “You want them to feel special. It is sort of finding that right moment for both companies to come together because it is complex... But it’s going to be a big deal.”

The crossover features top-tier creative talent from both publishers:

• Issue 1 – Deadpool/Batman
  • Publisher: Marvel
  • Writer: Zeb Wells (Spider-Man)
  • Artist & Cover: Greg Capullo
  • Release Date: September 17, 2024
• Issue 2 – Batman/Deadpool
  • Publisher: DC
  • Writer: Grant Morrison
  • Artist: Dan Mora
  • Release Date: November 2024

Each issue will include bonus content, including hints at future DC/Marvel crossovers, though those details are still under wraps.

Deadpool Meets Gotham

Writer Zeb Wells admitted that after penning 60 issues of Spider-Man, he was ready for a break, until Marvel offered him the Batman team-up.

“I no longer needed a break,” Wells told EW. “It’s been a blast letting Deadpool loose in Gotham City and watching what happens.”

According to Wells, the Joker’s latest plot creates an unexpected alliance between Batman and Deadpool.

“In Batman, we’ve found someone who has even less time for Deadpool’s antics than Wolverine,” he said. “But a city-wide threat from the Joker makes strange bedfellows — literally, if Deadpool had his way.”

Batman and Deadpool Combination

When asked why these two characters were chosen for the historic crossover, Marvel’s Dan Buckley said the answer was simple:

“It was nothing more complicated than that,” Buckley explained. “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.”

The goal is creating a fun, action-packed comic event that energizes fans and brings lapsed readers back into the medium.

What's Next?

Marvel and DC are already planning the next phase of their collaboration. Another one-shot crossover is expected in 2026, though characters and creative teams remain a secret for now.

“A lot of things have to align,” said Buckley. “You want to have the right talent involved because with this type of thing, you want to elevate it... to get people excited.”

For more details, check out the full Entertainment Weekly feature and follow updates on Kotaku’s Instagram.