Comedian books should not simply gasoline for a number of the greatest films and TV exhibits of all time. Apart from being a genuinely nice medium that might enrich the lives of many individuals who have not beforehand wandered down that countless rabbit gap, comics supply the possibility to do issues that may’t be finished on display. They characterize creativeness that’s solely restricted by what a given artist can do with a pen, and what a author can dream up. That even extends to totally bonkers crossovers that could not occur wherever else, like “King Kong” meets “Planet of the Apes.” It seems, the world got here very near getting a DC and “Star Wars” crossover a number of years again. Why did not it occur? That is the place issues get irritating.
For some historic context, author Kurt Busiek revealed in 2017 on Twitter that he was engaged on a “Superman/Star Wars” crossover with the legendary artist Alex Ross earlier than it was later tabled by the powers that be.
“Alex Ross and I have been geared as much as do SUPERMAN/STAR WARS, however the company events concerned could not agree on how one can divvy up the cash,” Busiek wrote on the time. He additionally shared idea artwork of Superman duking it out with Darth Vader (which you may get a glimpse of above), and referred to Superman/Star Wars as “a useless mission.”
Now the desk is ready. Extra just lately at Tampa Bay Comedian Conference, former DC writer Dan DiDio just lately addressed this proposed crossover (by way of Popverse). The precise timing is unclear, however what we all know for certain is that Marvel Comics took over the “Star Wars” license in 2015 following Disney’s buy of Lucasfilm. In any occasion, DiDio confirmed that this crossover made its method to his desk.
“I used to be introduced a DC Universe and Star Wars crossover. There was combating over what you could possibly and could not do, and who will get the higher shot, and who will get the hero second … it wasn’t value it. Actually, it simply wasn’t value it.”
Would a Superman vs. Star Wars crossover even make sense?
DiDio served as co-publisher at DC Comics from 2010 till 2020 alongside Jim Lee. In 2023, Lee was named as President of DC Comics. In any occasion, this proposed crossover clearly occurred sooner or later in that window when DiDio was working the present with Lee. At the moment, Darkish Horse Comics was publishing “Star Wars” comics, with the writer holding the license from the early ’90s till they went again to Marvel in 2015. Reasonably crucially, that was additionally earlier than Disney had any involvement.
Even so, it seems like company squabbles acquired in the best way. These crossovers may be difficult. Every occasion may be very involved for his or her respective franchise. If Superman beats the tar out of Darth Vader, would Lucasfilm be pleased with that? In all probability not. Equally, if Darth Vader cuts Superman’s arm off with a lightsaber, with DC like that? Nope. So this all must be negotiated all the way down to the letter. That is why a Marvel/DC crossover in all probability will not ever occur in live-action. DiDio, talking a bit additional, defined that the creator, presumably Busiek and/or Ross, was none too blissful when all of it fell aside.
“The creator who got here onboard acquired actually indignant as a result of he brokered the deal and introduced it to us. I simply did not wish to do it at the moment, as a result of it did not make sense.”
DiDio appears to be saying it did not make sense from a enterprise perspective. However wouldn’t it have made sense from a narrative perspective? On the very least, Superman was born on Krypton and has alien origins. Marrying that to the entire, “A very long time in the past, in a galaxy far, far-off” bit could be powerful, however stranger issues have occurred in comedian books. In any occasion, that is merely one thing to marvel about within the “What if?” sense as a result of Marvel and DC are far much less more likely to make this occur now.