(Image Source: DC Comics / Ian Churchill)
It seems all but impossible for a crossover comic not to feature either a death or a resurrection. Such is the case with Batman/Deadpool #1. However, the villain who returns from the dead is DC‘s most powerful and dangerous character despite his obscurity.
Written by Grant Morrison, with art by Dan Mora, Batman/Deadpool #1 is the second crossover comic between Marvel and DC this year. The plot finds two universes briefly joining together, with Batman and Deadpool thrown together. After confirming that Deadpool is not a variant Deathstroke, the two work together to escape the labyrinth in which they are imprisoned.
(Image Source: DC Comics / Dan Mora)
The maze puts Batman in mind of the Court of Owls. However, they are soon attacked by the X-Men villain Cassandra Nova. All of this is a distraction, however, from the real villain responsible for all the fourth-wall-breaking madness they encounter.
What villain did DC bring back in Batman/Deadpool?
At the center of the maze, Batman and Deadpool find a figure furiously typing up a storm. Batman identifies them as “a minor villain known as The Writer”, while noting they had apparently been killed while serving with the Suicide Squad. The Writer thanks Batman for the exposition before explaining how they used his cosmic keyboard to bring both heroes to Earth-7642. This is the official setting of any Marvel/DC crossover where the DC/Marvel heroes coexist in the same reality. It also confirms that this story involves the Earth-Prime Batman and Earth-616 Deadpool.
(Image Source: DC Comics / Dan Mora)
The Writer first appeared in 1990’s Animal Man #25. An avatar of Grant Morrison, who lives within the world of DC Comics, the Writer had the power to alter reality by writing stories. The Writer used this power to kill off Animal Man’s family because it made him more interesting. However, The Writer ultimately used his power to make amends for all the pain they put Buddy Baker through and brought his wife and kids back. The Writer apparently died shortly thereafter, in 1991’s Suicide Squad #58, after developing writer’s block while in the middle of a firefight.
(Image Source: DC Comics / Chas Truog)
Luckily for the DC and Marvel universes, time seems to have mellowed The Writer. Moreover, The Writer claims the cosmic keyboard can no longer alter canon. Despite that limit, they still help Batman and Deadpool to stop Cassandra Nova. The Writer also fashions a happy ending for their Suicide Squad teammate, Sportsmaster, who helped The Writer fake their death.
Batman/Deadpool #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
