MARVEL VERSUS DC (1995-1996) / THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS (1996)

Some people consider this tale to be outside of regular continuity, some figure it's all part of the overall story for both universes. Either way, Marvel Comics and DC Comics were on good enough terms in 1996 that they were able to clash in a big way. The two universes collided and it was announced that only one would survive. Inevitably, it would all be decided by a series of tournaments between the champions of each Earth (as voted for by the comic-buying public).

But another, unexpected element entered the mix. These concept of two universes being smooshed together would end up being more literal than we ever thought. In the middle of it all, the Amalgam Universe was introduced, combing characters and teams from both inverses into new concepts for just one issue each. THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS issues are technically part of the MARVEL VERSUS DC story, but both stories can be read separately. If you're new to comics, stick to the four issue 'versus' issues, but don;t expect anything amazing.

Before the Marvel and DC Universes could meet, a rift needed to open between the two universes and a cardboard box would become a threat to both. Yes, the (allegedly) in-continuity conflict between the two biggest a universes in comics revolves around a cardboard box...

MARVEL VERSUS DC:

• Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1 
• DC Versus Marvel #1 
• Marvel Versus DC #2-3 

THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS / MARVEL VERSUS DC:

• Doctor StrangeFate #1 
• Super Soldier #1 
• X-Patrol #1 
• Bullets and Bracelets #1 
• Spider-Boy #1 
• Bruce Wayne, Agent of SHIELD #1 
• Speed Demon #1 
• Amazon #1 
• Legends of the Dark Claw #1 
• Assassins #1 
• Magneto and the Metal Men #1 
• JLX #1 

MARVEL VERSUS DC:

• DC Versus Marvel #4

Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1
In their respective universes, the Silver Surfer (of Earth-616) clashes with the Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw), while Kyle Rayner (of DC's New Earth) - the last Green Lantern - tries to contain the destructive Terrax with a little help from Thanos. Parallax (Hal Jordan) crosses universes to convince the Surfer to aid him in apprehending the Cyborg and helping him restore the rift between universes. Thanos tricks Kyle into taking him to what's left of the planet Oa where he plans to impress Death by wiping out both of their respective universes.

Green Lantern and Thanos find themslves clashing with the Silver Surfer and Parallax, until the Surfer and Lantern realise they've both been had. Thanos is cast back to the Marvel Universe with the Surfer following behind, promising he'll meet Kyle Rayner again. Back on Earth, a cardboard box in an alley squirts laser beams...

DC Versus Marvel #1
Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) is transported by a cardboard to Gotham City where he meets the Joker. Across both worlds, super-humans are transported between Earths. The Juggernaut faces Superman in Metropolis, Bullseye attacks Batman in the Batcave, while Robin becomes the focus of Jubilee's affections at the new Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. As 'Peter Parker', Ben Reilly wastes no time getting himself a job alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. But only beings like the Spectre and the Living Tribunal are aware of impending doom as they sense the reunion of two cosmic beings who should have remained apart forever...

Marvel Vesus DC #1
Wolverine and Killer Croc tear into each other on the streets of New York/Gotham City as the two Earths begin to merge. Wolverine and Gambit steal the Batmobile, Batman and Nightwing search for the missing Robin, Captain America narrowly defeats Bane and the Kingpin buys the Daily Planet. The cardboard box reveals its origins to civilian Axel Asher, explaining that two cosmic 'Brothers' once opposed each other and were separated by the big bang that then created dual multiverses. Now they're aware of each other again, they select eleven champions will be chosen from each universe to decide which one will survive. Thor beats Captain Marvel, but Wonder Woman takes his hammer to become the Goddess of Thunder! Aquaman convinces a killer whale to leap out of the ocean and crush Namor the Sub-Mariner. And the Flash speed-punches Quicksilver into submission.

Marvel Versus DC #3
Morty the Homeless Man transforms Axel Asher into Access - the new protector of the cardboard box. Robin easily defeats Jubilee without even hurting her. The Silver Surfer reluctantly beats the Green Lantern. Catwoman's lucky to be left alive when Elektra defeats her, who's lucky to be left alive. Wolverine and Lobo's scrap happens behind a bar with Wolverine emerging as the victor. Wonder Woman gives up Mjolnir for a fairer fight with Storm, only to end up losing. Spider-Man beats Superboy by electrocuting him. Superman beats the Hulk disappointingly quickly. And, figuring they're too evenly matched, Batman and Captain America end their fight and head find Access. With result being a tie, the cardboard box can't contain its energies anymore. To save both universes, the Living Tribunal and the Spectre merge the two realities creating an Amalgam Universe...

Doctor StrangeFate #1
The old universes are gone and Access finds himself in a new world. He's observed by Doctor StrangeFate who sends Skulk, Fire, Jade Nova and the White Witch to the sewers of New Gotham City to rescue Access from the mindless Abominite. StrangeFate tries to pry the shards of the previous universes from Access to destroy them and save his world, but he can't bring himself to kill Access and allows him to escape his Sanctum. Unmasking, Doctor StrangeFate himself to be Charles Xavier - a man who knows his universe is doomed.

Super Soldier #1
In 1938, a rocket carrying a space baby crash-landed on Earth in 1938. Scientists took samples of the baby and injected them into the body of a 4-F volunteer who went on to become the Super Soldier. He fought bravely during World War II he was drawn into the icy depths of the North Atlantic in his fight with the Nazi's Ultra-Metallo. IN the present, the Judgement League Avengers revive the Super Soldier. He's lured into a trap by Hydra leader Lex Luthor, aka the Green-K powered Green Skull. The Super -Soldier saves Washington, defeats the rebuilt Ultra-Metallo and apprehends the Green Skull.

X-Patrol #1
The mysterious Niles Cable assembles a selection of disenfranchised metamutants to form X-Patrol. Without any training or time to bond, Cable leads the group to the island nation of Latkovia, where Doctor Doomsday appears to be recruiting an army of superhumans from other universes (actually the Marvel and DC universes). Completely overpowered and underprepared, X-Patrol are forced to retreat and Niles Cable reveals he's lost the use of his legs.

Bullets and Bracelets #1
Someone has kidnapped the infant son of Diana Prince and the Punisher (Trevor Castle). The trail leads them through a horde of Hand ninjas to the armoured villain Monarch (James Rhodes) who sends them through a Boom Tube to the hellish Apokolips. After fighting their way past Big Titania, the Female Furies, Parademons and Granny Harkness, they face the bog boss, Thanoseid. His assassin, Kanto, reveals that he's actually their fully-grown son having been sent through time by Thanoseid. Kanto and Big Titania escape Apokolips and return to Asgard. Diana Prince and the Punisher return to Earth, reunited as lovers and surprisingly ok with the fact they've missed about 25 years of their son's life.

Spider-Boy #1
Dr Dabney Donovan has been spiking Prof Reed Richards' cereal with evil DNA, making him release King Lizard and the backwards speaking symbiote Bizarnage from Project Cadmus. Spider-Boy (Pete Ross) recalls his origin as a clone of Super-Soldier, created by Peter Parker and raised by General Thunderbolt Ross. Having recaptured Bizarnage, Spider-Boy uses Dr Ray Palmer's white dwarf prototype to shrink King Lizard down into the Sub-Atomic Universe. Later, Dr Otto Octavius hooks him up with his date for the evening... Mary Jane Watson, aka the Insect Queen!

Bruce Wayne, Agent of SHIELD #1
The Green Skull is strangled to death by his own daughter, Madame Cat (Selina Luthor). But the Skull's dead man's switch gives him the last laugh, as the Terra Cannon is activated and it could mean the end of the world. Colonel Bruce Wayne, the Black Bat (Barbara Hardy), Moonwing (Richard Grayson) and a host of highly trained agents take on Madame Cat's forces, including Baron Zero, the Venom-infused Nuke and Deathlok (who's revealed to be former SHIELD agent Jason Todd). Bruce Wayne and his crew infiltrate Hydra's base only for it to explode as the Green Skull watches from afar...

Speed Demon #1
The Night Spectre drained the life of Blaze Allen's wife-to-be on their wedding day for refusing to sell him his soul, so Merlin gave Allen a shot at revenge by bonding him to Etrigan the Speed Demon. All the Night Spectre needs is the soul of the Green Goblin (Harvey Osborne). Blaze's nephew, Wally West, becomes a Speed Demon to rescue Blaze Allen from the Night Spectre's realm and free Iris West's soul. This is the worst comic I've ever read. Seriously.

Amazon #1
The Amazon warrior, Wonder Woman, learns her true origin from Olympian sea god Poseidon. Her parents found a cursed statue which ruined their family's lives. They died trying to return the statue to the sea and young Ororo washed up on Themiscyra where she was adopted by the Amazonians, eventually becoming their greatest champion. Wonder Woman escapes Poseidon and knocks him down a peg by calling him and the gods greedy, petty and immature. Back in Louisiana, Diana Prince shows up looking pretty battered. I guess we'll never know why...

Legends of the Dark Claw #1
The Huntress (Carol Danvers) learns Dark Claw is really Logan Wayne. The Claw allows Huntress to accompany him on his mission to save the President from the insane Hyena, revealing his origin on the way. Hyena emerges from a toilet on Air Force One, tries to gas Bill Clinton and finds himself sucked out of the jet when Dark Claw slices the side of it wide open. Sparrow saves Dark Claw in the Claw-Copter, but the Hyena escapes by parachute. The chase continues...

Assassins #1
Catsai (Elektra Kyle) and Dare the Terminator (Slade Murdock) are hired to kill Edward Fisk, the crime-lord known as the Big Question. Slaughtering their way up Arkham Tower, the duo kill his deadliest agents - Deadeye, Lethal and Wired - then learn the overweight 'kingpin of riddles' is actually the one who hired them. Fisk rips out the horns he previously implanted in Dare's head. She doesn't live long. Catsai rips him to pieces and leaves him hanging, nearly naked but alive, from the side of his own building.

Magneto and the Magnetic Men #1
Magneto's adoptive family, the Brotherhood of Mutants, were killed by Sentinels. Now, he continues the war to save his species from his brother's murderous robot army with a small robot army of his own, the Magnetic Men. Will Magnus' latest creation, Sinistron, protects a lab on Genosha where mutants are being experimented on. While they take down Sinistron, the Magnetic Men's human personas begin to come through and Magneto realises he has a family again.

JLX #1
Mister X wasn't able to help Magneto against Sinistron because his Justice League X-Men came under attack from the Justice League Avengers, then saved a sinking sub from Will Magnus. Magnus' Sentinels are defeated, Mister X is revealed to be a Skrullian Manhunter and the JLX begin their search for the lost citizens of Atlantis...

DC Versus Marvel #4

Access arrives and pulls the shards of the merged universes from their hiding places inside Dark Claw and Super Soldier, reuniting them, ending the Amalgam Universe (Earth-9602) and restoring the Marvel DC universes. The Brothers decide to battle it out directly which starts to tear the universe apart. Spider-Man and Superboy kick the Kingpin out of the Daily Bugle. Robin and Jubilee are together. Hulk and Superman get the Mole Man out of the Batcave. Wolverine and Lobo tackle Thanos. Quicksilver and the Flash fight Venom. Elektra and Catwoman face down the Abomination. Thanos' attempts to go after Darkseid are interrupted by a handful of X-Men, Avengers and members of the Justice League. The Brothers are so inspired by the heroes that they decide both universes should live. The put everything back as it was and only Captain America, Batman and Access remember what happened. Access opens a portal and disappears...

Generation Hex #1 (1997) 

Although the Amalgam Universe is gone, twelve more stories reveal more snippets of that universe's history (starting with the Wild West heroes, Generation Hex) during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Super Soldier: Man of War #1 (1997) 

Super Soldier, Sgt Rock and James Olsen's time during World War II is expanded; Aqua-Mariner is revealed to have allied himself with Super Soldier during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Spider-Boy Team-Up #1 (1997) 

Another Spider-Boy adventure is revealed during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Challengers of the Fantastic #1 (1997) 

The Challengers of the Fantastic get their own adventure during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Exciting X-Patrol #1 (1997) 

Another adventure of the X-Patrol is revealed; Brother Brood first appears during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Dark Claw Adventures #1 (1997) 

Another Dark Claw and Sparrow adventure is revealed during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Thorion of the New Asgods #1 (1997) 

Thanoseid returns during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Magnetic Men featuring Magneto #1 (1997) 

Another Magnetic Men adventure is revealed during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

JLX Unleashed #1 (1997) 

Bruce Wayne is revealed to have survived the explosion at Hydra's headquarters; it's revealed that Aqua-Mariner managed to find the missing Atlanteans during RETURN TO THE AMALGAM AGE OF COMICS.

Incredible Hulk #436 (1995) 

The Hulk's 'perfect life' almost immediately begins to fall apart again during GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE.

Fantastic Four #405 (1995) 

Doctor Doom is officially revealed to have returned during STRANGE DAYS.

Silver Surfer/Superman #1 (1996) 

The Silver Surfer and Superman cross into each others' universes again.

DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4 (1996-1997) 

Access returns when beings from the DC and Marvel Universes begin switching Earths again; Doctor StrangeFate creates a new Amalgam Universe; StrangeFate is defeated by Access and Doctor Strange; Doctor Strange allows the new Amalgam Universe to continue to exist in a pocket dimension; Access decides to stay in the DC Universe.

Unlimited Access #1-4 (1997-1998) 

The Marvel and DC universes begin to crossover again; Access visits a number of alternate timelines relating to both universes during UNLIMITED ACCESS.

Superman/Fantastic Four #1 (1999) 

Superman gets advice from Access to travel to the Marvel Universe and hunt down Galactus; Cyborg Superman returns to the Marvel Universe, briefly becoming a Herald of Galactus.

JLA/Avengers #1-4 (2003) 

The Avengers and Justice League meet again.

Marvel/DC Crossover Classics vol.4
Includes GreenLantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1

DC Versus Marvel Comics
Collects DC Versus Marvel #1, 4 and Marvel Versus DC #2-3

The Amalgam Age of Comics: The DC Collection
Collects Amazon #1, Assassins #1, Doctor StrangeFate #1, JLX #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1 and Super Soldier #1

The Amalgam Age of Comics: The Marvel Collection
Collects Bruce Wayne Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracellets #1, Magneto and the Magnetic Men #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1 and X-Patrol #1