JLA/Avengers #1
(W) Kurt Busiek (A/CA) George Perez
In the light of the epic cross-overs of late like Batman / Deadpool or Spider-Man / Superman it's easy to overlook just how complicated these projects really are. On the surface, they feel like pure fan-service. Behind the scenes, they're a collision of intellectual property, editorial oversight, and creative ambition that doesn't always play nicely together. Protecting each publisher's characters while still delivering something fun and meaningful? That's a tightrope walk, and sometimes it borders on impossible.
Back in 2003, I was deep in my weekly comic shop routine - the kind where Wednesdays felt like a ritual. That's when JLA/Avengers by Kurt Busiek and George Perez finally hit shelves. Like a lot of readers at the time, I jumped in without really grasping what I was holding. To me, it was just an awesome idea executed at the highest level. I didn't yet understand the decades-long road that made it possible - I was just enjoying the payoff.
The truth is, this crossover was the product of persistence stretching all the way back to 1979, when Marvel and DC first agreed to collaborate. The original plan had Gerry Conway writing and Perez illustrating, with early work in the '80s involving Kang the Conqueror and Epoch. But editorial disputes and corporate friction derailed everything. The project was shelved, effectively becoming one of those “what could have been” legends whispered about by fans.
It took more than 20 years before the stars aligned again. When Busiek and Perez finally brought JLA/Avengers to life, it wasn't just a crossover - it was a statement. Sure, putting the most iconic heroes from both publishers in one story gives it a natural advantage. But that's also what makes the achievement so impressive. Every character matters. Every universe is respected. The balance is meticulous in a way that feels almost unreal. Reading it isn't just entertaining, it's like flipping through a living encyclopedia of what makes these characters endure.
I'll own it. I’m a fanboy here. But even if you're not into the so-called "Big Two," this is still essential reading. It nails the ensemble format in a way few stories ever have. It takes characters built to be the center of attention and reframes them, showing why they belong as part of something bigger without diminishing what makes them special.
Now, with a new facsimile edition bringing this story back into the spotlight, it feels like the perfect time to revisit it - or experience it for the first time. If you've never read it, this is your moment. And if you already have it sitting in your collection, it's worth picking up one of the new variants or foil editions - just to give this classic another well-earned spotlight on your shelf.