JLA/Avengers

[ar_feiniel]

In my experience, most crossovers don't live up to their ambitions. JLA/Avengers is an exception. Also, it's got a sense of humor.

Here are some snippets of the JLA in Marvel's 616 and the Avengers on Earth One. I loved seeing how the two teams react to each other's worlds.



So, basically the premise here is that the JLA and the Avengers are pitted against each other in an inter-dimensional scavenger hunt of sorts by the Gamemaster. The JLA are the first to travel to the other universe. Batman directs that they first pair off and do some reconnaissance, but is adamant they they don't get involved.

It goes less than perfectly...







Oh Bats, I love you.


Later the Avengers venture to Metropolis...









I'm thinking of posting some Cap/Batman stuff too. Depends on if my photobucket holds up.

Comments

[q99]

Yea, that was a cool crossover.

It makes you want to see more of the two sides just bouncing off of each other :)

[runespoor]

Oh, Bruce. You're my favourite ever. ♥

Wanda and Pietro make me both smile and wince.

[salinea]

Oh, I'd heard about this but it's awesome to see it in scans XDDD

[biod]

It looks good and I've heard good things about it, but the message I'm getting from these scans is: "616 is an aweful place filled with bad things, but the DCU is awesome forever".

[korvar]

Well, this was all before the New 52 reboot :)

And they were deliberately hitting the contrast points - Marvel does so much of the "misunderstood hero" and the X-Men are explicitly about discrimination, hatred and fear.

DC meanwhile has Flash museums and extra, shinier cities. Although Captain America's opinion of Gotham might be interesting...

I think it was done before Black Adam ran his own country, too, otherwise the "They let him rule a country?!" with Doom wouldn't exactly work.

[shadowpsykie]

really it's just perspective, when put up against eachother the Marvel Universe hates thier heroes (unless you are The Fantastic Four apparently), and for the most part the DCU loves thier heroes.

[terrykun]

And Wildstorm and Image fear theirs.

[biod]

That's true and all, but I get the feeling the very worst of 616 and the very best of the DCU is being highlighted in their respective journeys. A much more fair comparison would be the JLA getting the reception all heroes get in 616: scorn and rotten produce.
I'm going to take Nyandar on his word though.

[ar_feiniel]

I'm sorry if the scans are giving that impression.

If it's any consolation, I'm a Marvel fangirl through and through, and I don't think slagging on 616 was the intention here. (I actually thought the JLA were being dicks for being so quick to judge the 616 and its heroes.)

To give some more context, Busiek was trying to build up to the two teams being critical of each other, with Cap accusing the JLA of being overly involved and controlling of their world, and Supes claiming that the Avengers were big piles of fail for not being more successful. (Both Cap and Superman were also revealed to be drinking crazy juice too, so the drama that gets stirred up eventually fizzles out and they all become BFF in the end).

[gerardotejada]

Well they did see a dictatorship a genocide a force of mass destruction created by reckless use of science and guns...

The image of Batman beating Castle to the ground
Punisher: How can you beat me? I have guns! Im cooler!
Batman: I can beat a Kryptonian, a Dinosaur and Death itself IM THE GODAMN BATMAN! *Batman slap of shame*

He beat him so hard that Punisher comics went down in sales.

[filthysize]

Well, it doesn't work treated as an actual event where the heroes cross into each other's in-continuity worlds, but as a standalone satire on the fundamental differences between the motivations behind Marvel and DC heroes, it's a pretty apt depiction of the dawn of these two universes. DC is all about a pantheon of timeless icons, whereas Marvel heroes started specifically as a reflection of social ugliness.

[amaniwolf]

This was interesting, and i can understand how the DC Heroes would see the Marvel Universe as being pretty bad, but i think it was pretty forced when you have Cap complaining that the DC Heroes only do what they do for popularity. Just seemed like the writers were looking for a way to put them at odds that didn't work. But yeah....i could easily see a Marvel hero going....screw that, i'm staying here.

[icon_uk]

IIRC It was a plotpoint that the angst and anger between the two teams was being tweaked to make the game more interesting. Cap being that snide is one manifestation of it.

[kd_the_movie]

close....it was because Cap and Clark are so "attuned to their true realities" and that the marvel and DCU are so "fundamentally incompatible" that Cap/Clarks mere presence in the other universe made them uneasy and edgy.

[superfangirl1]

*lol* Oh batman you crazy crazy man. Also why does supergirl look like her animated series version for superman cartoon or the early justice league unlimited?

[auggie18]

That was Linda Danvers. Her Supergirl outfit was pretty much the one from the animated series.

[shadowpsykie]

*lol* Oh batman you crazy crazy man.
hehe i laughed. it was hilarious.

Batman:"No stay on target. Remember the miss- *eyes narrow* guns... he's using GUNS!"
Plastic Man: Yeah i know at least they're- Batman? Bats?
Batman: NO! *crunch* GUNS! *smoosh* IN! *blam* MY! *squish* CITY!
Plastic man: *sigh*

[thosefew]

It wasn't so much the guns as it was the opportunity to jump through that skylight.

[icon_uk]

"Sorry, moonlight night in an alternate universe, saw a skylight, my whole brain just went, 'What the hell?" "

[gerardotejada]

He didnt even hit him just landed and say "Im Batman" Frank Castle's brain implode after the Im

[crinos]

Its like a reflex with him.

[icon_uk]

It was actually a Doctor Who quote I was adapting to circumstances.

[pallas_athena]

Cap, do not be "hmmph"ing Power Girl or we will Have Words.

[biod]

That's Linda Danvers. She's my favorite Supergirl, so words will still be had.

[icon_uk]

IIRC this also had the wonderful reaction shot of Hawkeye seeing the JLA line up "Look! They're a knockoff version of the Squadron Supreme!"

[bruinsfan]

"Who's mind-controlling you guys this time?"

[nyadnar17]

If you haven't read this story you are really missing out. It was a labor of love and respect and it really shows. I promise any reservations or misgivings you have about out of character portrayals or signs of favoritism shown in these scans are answered during the course of the storyline.

Its honestly one of my favorite stories ever and as a bonus it appears to be in continuity for both companies(at least until DCnU.)

[pyrotwilight]

I still love the fan theory that JLA/Avengers having Wanda tap into DCU's Chaos energy was what partially led to Avengers Disassembled and Decimation.

[icon_uk]

You might want to add the Creator tags for George Perez and Kurt Busiek

[ar_feiniel]

Good call, thanks ;)

[crinos]

Another thing I loved about this crossover was te Starro/Avengers fight, where they basically Stick a Starro on Wanda, and it sends a surge of chaos through him that scares him off.

[curlyjo1]

My favorite was Darkseid holding the Infinity Gauntlet, and the premier super teams of two realities about to crap themselves.

[darkblade]

And then he throws it away because it won't work in the DCU.

[pyrotwilight]

You know I just realized this was made September of '03. Some months after Linda had retired from hero-ing from her own series and while Cir-El was running about. Guess the creative team didn't want to use her.

[pyrotwilight]

And I only point it out because of Linda showing up there on the news.

[deepspaceartist]

We don't see what the news story is about. Maybe the headline is "What happened to Supergirl?"

[pyrotwilight]

It seems to say she's voted the #1 role model for something. Course we could rationalize this took place slightly earlier and while she was up and about hero-ing.

[bariman]

There were a number of delays in the production of the series, such as Kurt Busiek injuring his hand drawing that awesome ultra cover of ALL THE HEROES EVER. So Linda was probably still around when the page was drawn.

[glprime]

Meh. If it weren't for the guns, Bruce woulda let Punisher finish. If he'd used throwing knives or something, game on.

Such a hypocrite. (yes, yes, The Batman doesn't murder, just horrifically batter and probably permanently debilitate)

[bariman]

That reminds of of the Bats Gang Leader's speech in Gotham City Imposters. "Just as Batman can afford more expensive gear and gadgets than us, so too can he afford a more honorable approach to crime-fighting. His is the more righteous path of blunt trauma and painful but non-lethal contusions. Ours is the more effecatious(?) path of cordite and home-brew explosives."