Doctor Who unites Star Trek, Star Wars and a number of other classic science fiction franchises in a jaw-dropping piece of crossover fanart. Crossovers between various television and movie properties rarely happen due to legal issues, but they nevertheless remain the dream of many fans. While not an official, canonical crossover, artist Stephen Byrne has brought together a who’s who of science fiction in a gorgeous new piece.
Stephen Byrne presented the piece in a post on X, formerly Twitter. It depicts Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor, accompanied by his companion Ruby Sunday, bearing witness to the barriers between universes breaking, resulting in a mash-up of some of the most iconic spaceships in science fiction history.
Among the assembled ships include two versions of the Enterprise, a Star Destroyer, X-Wing and Tie Fighters, as well as the Millenium Falcon. Serenity, from Firefly, is also present, as are ships from the classic Battlestar Galactica.Doctor Who villains the Daleks are also on the scene as well.
Doctor Who Is a Classic, and They Pay Homage to Other Greats As Well
Byrne Has Brought Together the Best of the Best
Debuting in 1963, Doctor Who is the perfect vehicle to bring these various science fiction properties together. The “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey” nature of the show allows the TARDIS to travel anywhere. The TARDIS does not travel to the Star Trek or Firefly universes in Byrne’s art, with the ships from other universes coming to the Doctor instead. The Doctor says what is happening is more “than a rip in the fabric of reality.” Tears in the fabric of space-time are a common occurrence in Doctor Who as well as Star Trek, and this is the perfect shout out to that trope.
Crossovers between franchises such as Firefly or Star Wars do not happen on-screen thanks to corporate politics and other legal issues. However, a number of epic crossovers have occurred in the comics. The 11th Doctor meets Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise in the acclaimed crossover Assimilation. The four-issue miniseries demonstrated the potential inherent in such crossovers, and Byrne taps into this with his stunning new piece. Bryne has culled the best of the best from across various science fiction television shows and movies. Byrne has chosen each franchise’s most iconic vehicles for his piece.
Doctor Who/Star Trek Crossover Planned to Send the Doctor to Deep Space Nine
Fans were deprived of a second Star Trek/Doctor Who crossover, that would have sent the Doctor to Deep Space Nine.
Fans Can Only Dream of a Crossover Between Doctor Who and Other Science Fiction Greats
Stephen Byrne Gives Science Fictions Fans What They Want
Byrne’s epic Doctor Who crossover art does more than simply bring together various esteemed science fiction properties. It honors those franchises as well. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars and others have inspired generations of fans from all walks of life. These same fans often take to message boards and other forums to debate which franchise is better and why, and Byrne’s art is also a love letter to these conversations. While Bryne’s crossover art does not settle who is better, it is still a gorgeous piece, teasing fans with a showdown unlike any other.
