Long before either DC Comics or Marvel were the multibillion dollar media juggernauts they are now, they were occasionally willing to work together. While almost unthinkable today, you used to be able to buy an official comic that included characters from both companies. Starting in 1976 with Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, the two publishers would periodically release comics pitting their most famous heroes against one another. Of course, they would never actually have one of them win (they were still industry rivals that had to sign off on everything), but even having a chance to see them team up for an adventure was a rare treat.
In 1996, they went one step further by creating "Amalgam Comics". A joint company under the control of both DC Comics and Marvel, it published a series of one-shots in a universe where DC and Marvel characters were combined into hybrid heroes. This included creations such as Dark Claw (Batman/Wolverine), Super-Soldier (Superman/Captain America), and Spider-Boy (Superboy/Spider-Man). This Amalgam universe even exists within both DC and Marvel's separate multiverses (Earth-496 and Earth-9602, respectively). Sadly, after only two years and 24 issues, the company was shut down.
For years these crossover comics were almost impossible to find, as the joint copyright holdings made printing new copies a legal nightmare. However, that finally seems to have changed. DC has just officially announced that both series will be getting reprinted in omnibus format:
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
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 a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.
Both collections come out August 6th.
