Summary
Since franchises likePlanet of the Apes,PredatorandAlienhave become pop culture sensations, the comic book industry has looked to movies for some of their best titles. With fierce competition between publishers for various licenses,Marvel, DC and a variety of independent publishers have delivered readers some excellent sequels, prequels and more through comics. In fact, some of these stories have outperformed superhero books.
As great as movie-based comics are, they can get even better when readers are treated to a franchise crossover, either between two movie universes or with a superhero property. Ranging from horror and science fiction to action and crime, the industry derives some of its best and richest genre diversity from adapting successful films. With the likes ofStar WarsandTerminatorstill seeing regular comic book releases, these movie-based comic crossovers delivered spectacular blockbuster action.
10Kong on the Planet of the ApesBrings Beloved Movie Apes Together
Ryan Ferrier, Carlos Magno and Mike Huddleston
Kong on the Planet of the Apestakes place in the aftermath of the originalPlanet of the Apesmovie, with the apes stumbling across the rotting corpse of a giant gorilla – one of Kong’s species. In response, they set off on an expedition to discover the origins of the beast, leading them to one of the last settlements of intelligent human life, Skull Island. Despite the noble intentions of the expedition’s scientists, the ape military decides to instigate war on the humans, so they can take Kong back with them.
Kong on the Planet of the Apesis effectively a remake of the originalKing Kongmovie, with the apes making the same mistake as their human counterparts in 1933.The story reads like a classic fantasy-adventure comic, replete with the island’s monstrous threats and all the hallmarks of a perilous journey across the sea. For readers who want to see two of fiction’s most iconic ape-based franchises clash, this is it.
Kong On The Planet Of The Apes Brings Two Classic Franchises Together
Kong On The Planet Of The Apes is a comic series bringing King Kong to the titular planet, in a crossover that was destined to happen eventually.
9Freddy vs Jason vs Ashis a Horror Icon Free-For-All
Jeff Katz, James Kuhoric and Jason Craig
Freddy vs Jason vs Ashfollows the horror grudge match of the century, bringing three cinematic giants to a head for a blood-soaked slasher story. The 2007-2008 miniseries takes place five years afterFreddy vs Jason, and follows Ash as he begins work at Crystal Lake S-Mart. With Freddy trapped in Jason’s mind, he manipulates the killer into using the Necronomicon ex Mortis to resurrect him – and murdering some teens along the way. With Ash convinced of a Deadite presence in the area, he goes on the hunt – along with some fellow employees.
Freddy vs Jason vs Ashis packed full of fan service for people who love slashers, and gives Ash one of his greatest stories.As a sequel to three iconic franchises all in one, the miniseries is a must-read for horror fans, and delivers on blood-soaked action in every issue, leading to its epic three-way battle.
Army of Darkness' Ash Takes on the Re-Animator in New Horror Mash-Up Comic
Ash Williams from Army of Darkness is going to be taking on Herbert West from Re-Animator this Summer in the horror mash-up of the decade
8Django / ZorroUnites Outlaw Heroes of the Old West
Quentin Tarantino and Matt Wagner
After the success ofDjango Unchainedin 2012, Quentin Tarantino joined Matt Wagner to unite the gunslinger bounty hunter with one of the oldest heroes in comics: Zorro. The 2014 miniseries, released through Dynamite and Vertigo, takes place years after the 2012 movie, with Broomhilda now safely settled and Django back on the road. Along the way, he meets Don Diego de la Vega, who takes him under his wing just as Dr. King Schultz did before.
Django / Zorroworks as both a continuation of the 2012 Western and a rehash of the 1998Mask of Zorromovie, again returning Diego to the role of teacher.The pair work together to liberate the oppressed Native Americans of Arizona from a tyrant, and it features some great moments that include Django donning the mask of Zorro.
Django, Zorro & Lone Ranger Exist in 1 Shared Universe, According to Quentin Tarantino
Zorro and the Lone Ranger already exist in the same universe, and Quentin Tarantino wants them to crossover with his own bounty hunter, Django.
7Big Trouble In Little China / Escape From New Yorkis a Love Letter to Kurt Russell and John Carpenter
Greg Pak and Daniel Bayliss
Big Trouble In Little ChinaandEscape From New Yorkrepresent John Carpenter’s forays into the action genre, as well as the films that made Kurt Russell a household name. In 2016, the characters Snake Plissken and Jack Burton clashed as their respective worlds crossed over, with the latter entering the dystopian future to aid in preventing the president from triggering war.
Big Trouble In Little China/Escape From New Yorkcombines the best of its respective heroes and their universes, sending them on an action-packed road trip to save the world.Replete with the respective protagonist’s best foes, the story merges dystopia with the supernatural in a fun story that highlights the pair’s different personalities and how they clash.
John Layman, Fabiano Neves and June Chung
Since the success ofSam Raimi’sEvil Deadfranchise,Ash Williams has become a dominant force in independent comics, having crossed over with everyone from President Obama to Red Sonja. In 2007, he made his way to the Marvel Universe – specifically, the world ofMarvel Zombies. As the hero navigates the streets of the decaying world, he is set upon by a variety of superheroes in zombie form.
Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darknesscame along at the height of pop culture’s zombie craze – and there was no Marvel property better for Williams.Here, readers get to see one of pop culture’s best zombie-killers carve his way through some of comics' greatest heroes in a blood-fueled epic.
Marvel Zombies Officially Assembles the Darkest Avengers Team Yet
Even in death, the Avengers have better camaraderie, cohesion, and teamwork as a unit than most active (or living) super-teams in the Marvel Universe.
5BatmanvsPredatorPits the World’s Greatest Detective Against the Galaxy’s Greatest Hunter
Dave Gibbons, Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert
Batman vs Predatorbegins with the murder of a Gotham City boxer, prompting the Caped Crusader to launch an investigation in this crossover published by DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics in 1991. As a Predator stalks the city streets, killing the best prey it can find, the hero is hot on its trail, leading to an epic brawl – which leaves Bruce Wayne close to death. Donning one of his many suits of mechanized armor, the Dark Knight challenges his enemy one final time.
Batman vs Predatorbuilds up Batman as one of the Yautja’s best adversaries, and is strongly evocative ofThe Dark Knight Returns(Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley).The story refrains from giving Batman excessive plot armor, instead making clear that the stakes are very real – and this Elseworlds Batman isn’t invulnerable.It should also be noted that this series will likely appeal much more to fans of the 1990s sequel than the original survivalist movie.
Batman vs Predator: Can Marvel Ever Top DC’s Crossover?
Marvel has announced that their heroes will fight Alien and Predator, but DC Comics had their heroes fight the Predator first.
4Transformers vsTerminatoris a Robot Slugfest That ’80s Kids Will Love
David Mariotte, John Barber, Tom Waltz and Alex Milne
As two of the biggest robot-oriented franchises in media, seeing a clash between the Transformers and the Terminator was inevitable. In 2020, readers were given exactly that in a story that revised both James Cameron’s 1984Terminatormovie and the G1Transformerscartoon series. The story follows the efforts of a T-800 to save Sarah Connor and lead the resistance against a Decepticon-controlled Skynet.
Transformers vs Terminatoris an excellent reimagining of both franchise’s origin points, and concludes with all-out machine warfare.The miniseries proved the two universes to be one of the better crossover fits, with Megatron’s hunger for world domination and the question of malevolent machine intelligence playing into the story. Aided by Optimus Prime, Sarah and the T-800 battle their way to a future free of machine control.
3Green LanternvsAliens
Ron Marz, Rick Leonardi, Mike Perkins, and Dwayne Turner
Following his run on theGreen Lanternseries, Ron Marz returned to the Green Lantern Corps with artist Dwayne Turner, in a story from 2000 that had them go up against a horde of Xenomorphs. After Hal Jordan moves the monsters to Mogo, Kyle Rayner returns years later, leading a squad of Lanterns on a rescue mission following the crash-landing of a starship. As they move through the wreckage, they’re set upon by a new generation of aliens.
Green Lantern vs Aliensdoes a great job of showing how versatile the Corps' adventures can be, proving to be an excellent match-up between space-based adventure and cosmic terror.As members of Rayner’s squad begin to fall, it’s down to the young Green Lantern to fight his way out and prevent the spread of the Xenomorphs.
2Predator vs Judge DreddWould Be a Great Schwarzenegger/Stallone Vehicle
John Wagner and Enrique Alcatena
The Predator has fought a number ofMarvel and DC heroes, but the best hunt comes when a dying Yautja makes its way to Mega City One. Naturally, in its attempt to find the ultimate prey for a glorious death, the creature sets his sights on Judge Dredd and his fellow street cops. Aided by the psychic descendant of Dutch Schaeffer, Dredd and Anderson determine that their enemy is dying, and just wants to go out in a blaze of glory.
Predator vs Judge Dreddwas published in 1997 and is a fun continuation of the first movie, continuing Dutch’s legacy as Dredd leads into his final fight with his enemy.The miniseries features some excellent combat sequences, and proves Mega City One to be the perfect hunting ground for the Yautja – and that Dredd makes for their best prey.
Predator’s Far Future Gives Dutch’s Granddaughter Superpowers
When a Predator hunts within Mega City One, Judge Dredd gets help from Dutch’s progeny who uses psychic powers instead of weapons in the manhunt!
1Superman / Aliens II: The God WarGives the Man of Steel His Ultimate Challenge
Chuck Dixon, Kevin Nowlan and Jon Bogdanove
Superman has crossed overinto a variety of movie universes in his past, including his team-up with Batman against Aliens and Predators. However, by far the most epic of these came inSuperman/Aliens II: The God War, the 2003 sequel to the 1996 miniseries,Superman/Aliens. The second face-off follows the Man of Steel teaming up with the New Gods to fight Darkseid’s army of Xenomorph/Parademon hybrids.
True to its name,The God Waris non-stop action as Superman, Orion, Big Barda and other heroes of New Genesis take the fight to Darkseid’s monstrous new minions. Featuring some of the most spectacular art sequences of the 2000s, the story sees the Man of Steel embroiled in non-stop combat, fighting his way to Darkseid to end the macabre attack fromAliens' Xenomorphs.
Alien
Alien is a sci-fi horror-thriller by director Ridley Scott that follows the crew of a spaceship known as theNostromo.After the staff of the merchant’s vessel perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew members attacked by a mysterious lifeform, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.
