Batman Crosses Over: Every Team-Up Outside DC, from Hellboy to Spawn

Every kid who’s read superhero comics has, at some point, wondered who would win in a fight between Batman and, well, anyone else! Maybe first the question is who could defeat Superman? But at some point, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and others are brought into fantasy battles. That’s something comic book companies eventually decided to exploit. And thus came the cross-publisher crossovers which, because of copyrights, have sometimes become rarities.

In recent years, though, Marvel and DC have made an effort to bring back their collaborations, at least, and even started producing new ones! That’s how Batman ended up facing Deadpool. Being probably the most popular superhero character, Batman crossed multiple publisher lines through the years, more than anybody else. He went on to face Aliens and Predators, working with Tarzan, Spider-Man, Danger Girl, Spawn, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Not all non-DC crossovers focus on the Dark Knight, but this article does. Here is our guide to those crazy and unpredictable comic book meetings.

Batman vs. Other Comics: Every Major Non-DC Crossovers

Batman Meets Marvel Comics

DC and Marvel may be fierce industry rivals, but they could not ignore such a lucrative idea as having their respective heroes team-up of just fight each other. For us readers, it always feels like something improbable, which makes those crossovers so iconic. And when Batman steps into the Marvel Universe or welcomes its heroes into Gotham, it always produces instant blockbuster material!

For a long time, most of those comics were just impossible to find in collected editions. That was until the release of the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus.

Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk (DC Special Series #27, 1981) – The Dark Knight may be prepared to take down anyone and everyone in the DC Universe, but how will he fare against Marvel’s own Jade Giant? Len Wein and artist José Luis García-López dig into it when the Joker convinces the Hulk that Batman is his enemy.
Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire (1994) – Coming from Dennis O’Neil, with art by Barry Kitson, this one from the Knightfall era saw the Azrael version of Batman pitted against Marvel’s The Punisher, two ruthless warriors shooting at each other. It resulted in mindless slugfests aplenty.
Batman/Punisher: Deadly Knights (1994) – The Punisher in Gotham, again! But this time Jigsaw teams up with the Joker, and Batman wants to take them all down! Writer Chuck Dixon and artist Klaus Janson orchestrate the fights.
Spider-Man and Batman (1995) – The joking web-head and the brooding dark knight don’t look like they could work together without getting excessively on each other’s nerves, but J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Bagley don’t leave them much choice when Carnage and The Joker team up to try to kill our heroes.
Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning (1997) – J. M. DeMatteis, this time with artist Graham Nolan, brought Batman and The Amazing Spider-Man together again, this time to take on Kingpin and Ra’s al Ghul.
Batman & Captain America (1996) – Coming from John Byrne, this one brought Batman and Captain America together, but also Bucky and Robin!
Daredevil/Batman (1997) – A meeting that makes more sense in a way: Batman and Daredevil, together thanks to D. G. Chichester and Scott McDaniel. Two-Face and Mr. Hyde set their twisted sights on capturing the power of a deadly technology.
Batman/Daredevil: King of New York (1999) – The Man Without Fear and The Dark Knight meet again, this time under the pens of Alan Grant and Eduardo Barreto. Thanks to Catwoman, the Kingpin gets the weapon he needs to spread fear and anarchy throughout New York, with help from the Scarecrow. But there’re double-crosses in the air, and our two heroes must join forces to save the city.
Batman/Deadpool (2025) – Zeb Wells and Greg Capullo organised the first Deadpool-Batman team-up, while other high-profile creators complete the book with many more DC/Marvel team-ups! And it was collected in Marvel / DC: The Dead of Knight & Other Stories.
Deadpool/Batman (2026) – They didn’t stay apart for long! This time, it’s Grant Morrison and Dan Mora who concocted a mind-bending adventure for The Dark Knight and the Merc with a Mouth!

Batman Meets Image Comics

When it comes to Dark, moody, and 1990s antiheroes, Image Comics was the place to be for Batman to get into some supernatural team-ups.

Spawn/Batman (1994) – The highest of the high-profile creative team of the 1990s came together in this comic book. Writer Frank Miller worked with Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo to get Batman to go to New York City in his search for an arsenal of high-tech weapons and robots that use decapitated human heads as their brains. There, Spawn and Batman engage in violent battles before realizing they are both after the same villain. This was collected in Batman/Spawn (2023, Deluxe Edition)
Batman/Spawn: War Devil (1994) – The second team-up also brought together prestigious names with writers Doug Moench, Alan Grant, and Chuck Dixon, and artist Klaus Janson. This time, Batman is looking into the mystery of Roanoke, North Carolina, leading him into direct conflict with Todd McFarlane’s Spawn! Also collected in Batman/Spawn (2023, Deluxe Edition)
The Darkness/Batman (1999) – Coming from Scott Lobdell and Jeph Loeb with art by Marc Silvestri, David Finch, and Clarence Lansang, this meeting of The Darkness and Batman starts with a series of crimes committed in Gotham City that led Batman into Jackie Estacado’s universe. Collected in DC/Top Cow: Crossovers.

Batman Meets Dark Horse Comics

When DC partnered with Dark Horse Comics, Gotham City became a nightmare battleground for pop culture’s deadliest sci-fi icons: Alien, Predator, Hellboy, Grendel!!

Batman vs. Predator (1992) – Coming from Dave Gibbons and Andy Kubert, this 3-issue comic miniseries saw the hunter become the hunted when Batman is pitted against Predator! It was collected in Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch (1994) – A rematch organised in a 4-issue miniseries by Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy. It’s a hot summer in Gotham, and things get even more heated when Batman finds out that there is a contract against him, drawing the elite of the world’s killers gunning for him, but the killers find themselves outmatched. Also collected in Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties (1997) – Chuck Dixon and artist Rodolfo Damaggio brought the Predator back to Gotham. This time though, the monster wants to show his son the thrill of the hunt, and that’s how a younger Predator looks to “cut his teeth” on Robin. Now Batman must find and neutralize the threat while trying to keep Robin out of the path of these deadly aliens, and this may require the use of Mr. Freeze! Available in the collected edition Batman vs. Predator (2017).
Batman/Grendel (1993) – Matt Wagner brought the Dark Knight in front of his own creation when Bruce Wayne and Hunter Rose start to play power games in Gotham’s high society. Batman finds himself up against a new and vicious foe of uncanny intellect and evil intent: Grendel.
Batman/Grendel (1996) – Once again, Batman steps into the Grendel universe under Matt Wagner’s pen, but this time around an unholy relic, the bones of Hunter Rose, has brought a deadlier foe to his city: a relentless, merciless foe known as Grendel-Prime.
Batman/Aliens (1997) – Move over Predator, it’s time for the Aliens to face the Dark Knight in a 2-issue miniseries written by Ron Marz with art by the legendary Bernie Wrightson. This tale takes us amongst the Mayan ruins of the Amazon forest where Batman is out of his element as he faces an intergalactic infestation of Aliens. Collected in Aliens (2016).
Batman/Aliens II (2002-03) – They are back, but this 3-issue miniseries, written by Ian Edginton with art by Stewart Johnson, brings the Aliens to the heart of Gotham City. A construction crew uncovers a sealed vault housing an unspeakable horror! After years in hibernation, a nearly desiccated Alien is unleashed upon the modern world. Collected in Aliens (2016).
Batman/Hellboy/Starman (1998) – Mike Mignola went back to drawing Batman, but this time it was as part of a 2-issue miniseries written by James Robinson that involved Starman and Hellboy! After the Golden Age Starman, Ted Knight, is kidnapped by neo-Nazi skinheads whilst giving a lecture on alternative energy sources, Batman and Hellboy team up to rescue him. Collected in Starman Compendium Two.
Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman (1999) – Ron Marz and Igor Kordey brought Batman to Tarzan’s jungle in a quest for a lost city to stop those who want to steal its treasures. This 4-issue miniseries was collected in Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman.
Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator (2007) – Mark Schultz and artist Ariel Olivetti doubled down on the heroes versus monsters from space formula with a team-up of Batman and Superman to deal with Predators and Aliens on Earth that expose a moral dilemma that required two issues to solve. These were collected in Aliens (2016).

Batman Meets IDW Publishing

Undeniably, the most popular Batman non-DC crossover in recent years took place at IDW when the Caped Crusader teamed up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s a trilogy of 6-issue miniseries by writer James Tynion IV with art by Freddie E. Williams II (Kevin Eastman collaborated on the art for the last miniseries) that has now been collected in one big omnibus.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2015) – The first one starts in Gotham City, where a series of deadly raids leads Batman to believe he’s up against a group of highly trained ninjas known as the Foot Clan! They’ve crossed over to another dimension, but they haven’t come alone: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo are hot on their trail.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (2017) – Then, looking for a new mentor to help him improve his fighting skills, Donatello opens a doorway to another reality and is sent to Gotham City. The problem is that Bane jumps in the portal too, from the other way, and ends up becoming a new gang boss in New York City. Donnie and Batman must find their way back to stop Bane.
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (2019) – Finally, Krang has gotten his hands on the most dangerous technologies in the DC Universe—and no universe is safe from his wrath!
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (2016) – Another Batman/TMNT 6-issue crossover miniseries, but this time it’s one from the animated world! Written by Matthew K. Manning with art by Jon Sommariva, this story puts the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon cartoon and Batman: The Animated Series on the same page when villains start to mysteriously escape Arkham and flee to the New York City of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Collected in Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.
Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams (2018-2020) – Far away from the Turtle business, Batman stepped into Sam Kieth’s world. When a devious new doctor at Arkham Asylum conducts unconventional forays into the human psyche, he kicks off a disastrous chain reaction by experimenting on Arkham’s newest patient: The Maxx! The city of Gotham soon begins to merge with the Outback, The Maxx’s psychedelic mental landscape! Collected in Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams.

Batman Meets The Other Company Properties

From 1960s TV nostalgia to modern video game universes, Batman has crossed paths with some of entertainment’s biggest non-DC properties, including the campy fun of Batman ’66, the law-enforcing brutality of Judge Dredd, pulp icon The Shadow, and the battle-royale mayhem of Fortnite!

Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet (2014) – A TV crossover on paper! With this first 6-issue comic book miniseries from Kevin Smith, with art by Ralph Garman and Ty Templeton, Batman, The Green Hornet, and their sidekicks Robin and Kato join forces to stop the deadly team of General Gumm and The Joker! Collected in Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet.
Batman ’66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel (2016) – The Dark Knight meets the Avengers, but the ones from British TV! Another 6-issue miniseries, this time written by Ian Edginton with art by Matthew Dow Smith, puts the 1966 TV version of Bruce Wayne in a bind when he shows Gotham to the beautiful head of a UK electronics company and the felonious feline Catwoman intervenes! Thankfully, some new players have arrived in town-though even as the catsuit-clad lovely Mrs. Peel and her comrade John Steed take control of the situation. It’s the start of a campy team-up! Collected in Batman ’66 Meets Steed & Mrs. Peel.
Archie Meets Batman ’66 (2018-19) – Finally, Jeff Parker and artist Michael Moreci put Batman into Archie Comics when a battle in Gotham City extends its reach into Riverdale, with Mr. Lodge becoming enemy #1 of the dynamic duo! Now it’s up to Veronica to recruit some help and place a call to the Batcave! Collected in Archie Meets Batman ’66.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point (2021) – Writer Christos Gage worked on a story by Donald Mustard with art by Reilly Brown to help introduce Batman in the world of the video game Fortnite. It all begins when a crack splits the sky above Gotham City, and a tear in reality itself. This rift pulls the Dark Knight into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, with no memory of who he is or where he came from… Collected in Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point.
Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgement On Gotham (1991) – A legendary creative team made up of writers Alan Grant and John Wagner and artist Simon Bisley unite DC’s Batman and Fleetway’s Judge Dredd. Together, they must stop fighting long enough to face a menace that threatens both of their worlds. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/Judge Dredd: The Ultimate Riddle (1995) – Alan Grant and John Wagner, this time with artists Carl Critchlow and Dermot Power, brought the unlikely duo together once more when Cosmic villain Xero plans a bloodfest using the Riddler as a pawn. He pits the Dark Knight of Gotham City against the number-one lawman of Mega-City One in a death fight. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing (1998) – Finally, Alan Grant and John Wagner penned an ultimate 2-issue crossover miniseries, with art by Glenn Fabry, Jim Murray, and Jason Brashill. This time, the Death Judges are manipulating the Joker into freeing them to kill again. Collected in The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection.
Batman/The Shadow (2017) – Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando, with artist Riley Rossmo, delivered the most logical crossover miniseries ever when the Batman met the pulp hero that inspired his creation in the 1930s. A murder in Gotham City points to Lamont Cranston…but he’s been dead for over fifty years! Batman will go to the ends of the Earth to unravel the mystery of Cranston’s life, but the mysterious Shadow will do everything in his power to stop him from learning too much. Collected in Batman/The Shadow.
The Shadow/Batman (2017) – Writer Steve Orlando teamed up with artist Giovanni P. Timpano for the World’s Greatest Mystery. Batman and the Shadow can barely stand each other, but they must find a way to deal with the World’s Greatest Evil once they discover an ancient evil has been living inside the world they protect. Collected in The Shadow/Batman.

Inter-DC Crossovers

Not every non-standard Batman crossover required stepping outside DC’s corporate walls. Over the years, the Dark Knight crossed paths with characters from DC’s specialized imprints like WildStorm and Vertigo, bridging superhero traditions with spy thrillers and dark fairy tales.

Batman/Danger Girl (2004) – Written by Andy Hartnell with art by Leinil Francis Yu, this DC/Wildstorm team-up starts when Danger Girl mentor Deuce dispatches Abbey Chase, Sydney Savage, Johnny Barracuda, and Valerie on an assignment in Gotham City. There, an old enemy of Abbey unites with one of Batman’s greatest foes!
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham (2021) – Before making its return on Fables, Bill Willingham worked with artist Brian Level on a crossover between his Vertigo series and DC mainline. Murders in Gotham led Batman on the trail of the rumored “Werewolf of Gotham.” A mysterious, hairy, chain-smoking figure dogging his every move might be the key to the mystery. Collected in Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham.

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