In the midst of the comic book industry temporarily shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been interest expressed by creators from both Marvel and DC Comics about a new potential crossover. But, just how would a crossover make sense in both competing universes? Batman writer Scott Snyder has a pretty good idea.
Marvel and DC Comics have an extensive history of crossing over. Spider-Man famously paired up with Superman, Marvel and DC characters faced off against one another in a crossover decided by fan voting, and the Justice League of America took on the Avengers in JLA/Avengers. The two publishers even technically share a character together. But, it’s been more than a decade since the last crossover, so how would one work in a world where superheroes have never been more popular?
In a Q&A in benefit of the Hero Initiative, Snyder, who’s upcoming Dark Night: Death Metal is set to fix DC’s grander aspects of its continuity, said that he had a conversation with legendary comic book writer Grant Morrison (The Multiversity, Doom Patrol) about how the DC’s Source Wall could make a crossover possible. In Snyder’s Dark Nights: Metal series the Source Wall, a cosmic barrier at the edge of existence that surrounds the entire multiverse, breaks and frees the Dark Multiverse. Snyder’s Metal sequel series will focus on the Earth being engulfed by the Dark Multiverse and the remaining heroes’ last attempt at fixing it. It’s still unclear exactly what lies beyond the Source Wall, but Snyder and Morrison discussed the possibility of the Marvel universe sitting on the other side. (H/T Newsarama)
If you break the Source Wall you have to put something on the other side of it that’s equally wondrous and terrifying, Snyder recalls Morrison advising him. “I said ‘Yeah, I know, I’m going to,’ and Grant said, ‘Let me guess. They break the Source Wall and on the other side is Marvel Comics?
And I was like ‘Ahh, if only … if only we could do that.’ Like if the Source Wall breaks at the end of Metal and you see the Silver Surfer. You know what I mean? Like it’s the beginning of the DC-Marvel crossover.
Snyder said he would “do that in a second… if he ruled the world.” Honestly, the Marvel universe sitting beyond the Source Wall would not only make sense considering the grand scale of the Jack Kirby-creation, but it would an extremely cool way to start a new crossover. Imagine, once the Dark Multiverse is defeated and the heroes go to the broken Source Wall and discover there’s another world beyond the wall. While the potential crossover would have huge implications (is there a Source Wall on Marvel’s side?) it’s actually a pretty great idea. Whether it ever happens remains to be seen, but if Marvel and DC Comics ever decide to another crossover, it’s a solid place to start.
