Tripwire Provides A Top Ten Of The Most Unexpected Comic Book Crossovers

Unlikely Partnerships

With the recent news that Marvel Comics (in their infinite wisdom) plan to publish a Star Wars crossover comic where the likes of Darth Vader may cross lightsabres with the Avengers or perhaps even battle with Captain America. Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul Neal thought it might be a good opportunity to look back at some of the other more slightly unexpected comic book crossovers from the past.

While Marvel may very well have a sales success on their hands with Keven Smith writing this inevitable crossover, there have been others in the past that may have raised a few eyebrows.

Here is Tripwire’s Top Ten of questionable crossovers…

10. Judge Dredd and the Biker Mice From Mars

This is a recently announced title that apparently involves Judge Dredd colliding with the Biker Mice From Mars in a two-issue comic event launching in December 2026.

The story is written by Dan Watters (M.A.S.K., Batman: Dark Patterns) and Ryan O’Sullivan (Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War), with artwork by Jordi Tarragona (Injustice: Gods Among Us) and cover art contributions from David Finch and others.

Given the fact it has yet to be published, comic fans cannot be too quick to judge. It could be amazing, but on the face of it this crossover sounds quite strange indeed, but there is a possibility we will all be pleasantly surprised.

9. Spiderman / Ren And Stimpy

The Ren & Stimpy Show was a strange beast and perhaps a product of its time. It followed “Ren” an unstable Chihuahua, and “Stimpy” a rather silly but happy freaky cat on countlessly bizarre and increasingly surreal adventures. So clearly Marvel Comics decided it would make sense to add Spider-man to the mix.

This is a comic that would be best described as a curiosity or perhaps a guilty pleasure. It is very far from becoming a collector item.

8. Batman / Elmer Fudd

Before wandering down the path of insanity that the top five has to offer, this is a crossover that shouldn’t work. Some argue it was inspired. Yes, the art is absolutely beautiful and in many ways it is a wonderful comic, but it just doesn’t quite work. The whole affair is just far too jarring to carry even the greatest or most willing reader to its slightly disappointing conclusion.

On paper it may have been a good idea, but on actual paper it failed to deliver.

7. Eminem and The Punisher

In the history of comic books, this comic will hopefully always be considered a HUGE MISTAKE.

Fred Van Lente and Salvador Larroca are wonderfully talented comic creators as a writer and artist respectively that have produced numerous titles that are worthy of great respect. During their careers they have produced many fine and exceptional comics that are entertaining and worthwhile.

Simply put this is not one of those comics. It is really, really bad. It honestly is not good.

6. Colonel Sanders / Green Lantern

There is little more that can be said about this rather perplexing crossover. Whoever exactly decided that Green Lantern and KFC’s secret recipe of thirteen herbs and spices would make a tasty mixture for a fan favourite comic deserves a medal of some description. It is almost absurd enough to be cool and interesting.

But it isn’t.

5. Star Trek Meets Doctor Who

The crossover comic “Assimilation²” is a unique blend of two iconic science fiction franchises, combining elements from both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Doctor Who. The story unfolds on the Federation planet Delta IV, where the Borg and Cybermen attack without surrendering, leading to an unexpected planetary evacuation.

The Doctor and Picard team up to defeat the Cybermen, allegedly showcasing the strengths of both franchises in a single narrative. It is insanely odd, and it truly loses the magic of both franchises.  It is not actually bad, it just feels like a very odd mixture.

4. Pinhead Versus Marshal Law

Some might consider this a rather left-field choice. Created by Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill, Marshal Law is a triumph of anarchy and insanity, and Pinhead is the creepy disfigured villain of the Hellraiser movie franchise.

In theory this was meant to be a classic crossover. Despite the obvious talent of the creative team, it just did not gel at all. Compared to all the other Marshal Law and Hellraiser comics, this is not an immediate classic.

3. Mars Attacks / Popeye

The Mars attack franchise has been an inspiration to many. It spawned a slightly bonkers Tim Burton movie and these strange squawking Martians even ventured to Mega City One to meet 2000AD’s flagship antihero Judge Dredd, and yet a crossover with the beloved animated and comic character Popeye might count as a very strange creative choice.

This was very strange indeed.

2. Punisher Meets Archie

This a remarkable comic book. In truth it is an inspired masterpiece of sorts. Featuring the artistic talents of John Buscema and Tom Palmer it does not disappoint, and yet there is something so incredibly strange going on that history ought to remember this as a bold but exceptionally and deeply flawed experiment that should never to be repeated.

1. Godzilla Versus Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley vs Godzilla is the holy grail of weird comic crossovers.

It was based on a 1992 Nike commercial where a giant Charles Barkley plays basketball against Godzilla in Tokyo. Apparently the advert was originally intended for Japanese audiences but strangely it gained popularity in the United States, and it was was eventually adapted into a truly bizarre one-shot comic book by Dark Horse Comics in 1993, where Barkley grows to Godzilla’s size to defend San Francisco using a magic gold coin.

Surely this is the most spectacular example of comic book crossover madness?

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