Amalgam Comics
Amalgam Comics was a (more-or-less fictional) American comic book publisher, a collaboration between Marvel Comics and DC Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters to create new ones (e.g. DC Comics' Batman and Marvel's Wolverine became the Amalgam character Dark Claw). These characters first appeared in a series of twelve comic books which were published in 1996, following the Marvel vs DC miniseries. A second set (of another twelve comic books) followed a year later.
The Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four designated the Amalgam Universe as Earth-692.
Fictional origin
The two comic universes came together when the incarnations of their respective universes (referred to as "the Brothers") became aware of each other after aeons of slumber. To prevent the Brothers from destroying each other, characters from each universe battled to determine which universe would survive; several of the matches were determined by online voting. Access, a character created for the event (co-owned by Marvel and DC), served as a gate keeper who became stuck between traveling through both Universes.
When the fights concluded (including controversial victories by Wolverine and Storm over Lobo and Wonder Woman, respectively), neither universe was willing to go. To prevent total destruction, the Spectre and the Living Tribunal created a merged universe, in which only Axel Asher and Dr. Strangefate knew the truth, and struggling against each other to reverse or preserve the change..
Eventually, Axel Asher, now called Access, managed to separate the Brothers with the help of Amalgam's heroes, and all went back to normal.
Publication history
For two months, Marvel and DC published Amalgam Comics. During the publication of Amalgam Comics, the companies treated it as if it had always existed, giving it a fictional history stretching back to the Golden Age of Comics, as well as retcons and reboots, such as the "Secret Crisis of the Infinity Hour" (an amalgam of Secret Wars, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinity Gauntlet and Zero Hour), including an Amalgam version of the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, with Super-Soldier holding his sidekick's body.
Amalgam books
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1996 books
Amazon
Amazon #1, written and drawn by John Byrne, combines DC's Wonder Woman and Marvel's Storm. Amazon returns in 1997's 'JLX Unleashed'.
Assassins
Assassins #1, written by Dan Chicester and illustrated by Scott McDaniel, combines characters from Daredevil and the Batman family books. Its main characters are the two assassins Catsai (Elektra + Catwoman) and Dare (Daredevil + Deathstroke), who team up to take on the Big Question (Kingpin + Riddler).
Bruce Wayne, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D
Written by Chuck Dixon and with art by Cary Nord and Mark Pennington, this title imagines Bruce Wayne as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (like the Marvel character Nick Fury), joined by a number of characters each based on either a Batman or Nick Fury supporting character or villain, such as 'Moonwing' (Nightwing + Moon Knight).
Bullets & Bracelets
Bullets & Bracelets #1 was published in April 1996, written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Gary Frank. It stars Diana Prince (a rival Amazon to Princess Ororo, herself an amalgam of DC's Wonder Woman and Marvel's Storm) and Trevor Castle (an amalgam of Marvel's Punisher Frank Castle and DC's Steve Trevor) who fight Thanoseid (an amalgam of DC's Darkseid and Marvel's Thanos).
Doctor Strangefate
Written by Ron Marz with art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Kevin Nowlan. A powerful mystic created from a combination of Marvel's Dr. Strange and Charles Xavier, and DC's Dr. Fate. His comic also featured the character Access and highlights his adventures inbetween issues of Marvel vs. DC.
Legend Of The Dark Claw
Written by Larry Hama with art by Jim Balent and Ray McCarthy. Dark Claw (Wolverine/Batman) and Sparrow (Jubilee/Robin) take on Hyena (Sabretooth/Joker). Dark Claw returned in another title in 1997.
JLX
Written by Gerard Jones and Mark Waid, with art by Howard Porter and John Dell. Those members of the JLA (Judgment League Avengers - Justice League + Avengers) whose powers are mutant in origin turn against their teammates and, forming their own team, leave to find Atlantis. The JLX returned in another title in the 1997 series of Amalgam comics.
Magneto & The Magnetic Men
Writing by Gerard Jones and art by Jeff Matsuda and Art Thibert. The story concerns a 'Magneto' comprising Marvel's Magneto and DC's Dr. Will Magnus, accompanied by his team of magnetic versions of the Metal Men. These characters returned with another title in 1997.
Speed Demon
Written by Howard Mackie and James Felder with art by Salvador Larroca and Al Milgrom. The story concerns a composite of Ghost Rider, The Flash, and The Demon
Spider-Boy
Writing and art by Karl Kesel, Mike Wieringo and Gary Martin. A combination of Spider-Man and Superboy, he is a clone whose gravity powers enable him to mimic the wall-crawling abilities of a spider. This character returned in another Spider-Boy title in 1997.
Super Soldier
Super Soldier #1 was written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. It stars the Super-Soldier (an amalgam of Superman and Captain America), who fights the Green Skull (a combination of Superman's arch nemesis Lex Luthor and Captain America's Red Skull) and his robot Ultra-Metallo (Ultron + Metallo).
The character also appeared in JLX as a member of the JLA, and also appeared a year later in Super Soldier: Man Of War and as part of the Judgment League Avengers (a combination of the Justice League and the Avengers) in JLX Unleashed. Along with Dark Claw, he is considered on the of most central characters in the Amalgam Universe.
X-Patrol
A combination of Marvel's X-Force and DC's Doom Patrol. The group is brought together by mysterious cyborg time-traveller Niles Cable, a combination of X-Force founder Cable and Doom Patrol founder Dr. Niles Caulder, to alter history and prevent the apocalyptic future in which he was born. Their first mission is to thwart a scheme by Doctor Doomsday (a combination of Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom and Superman villain Doomsday), who has discovered the existence of the Marvel and DC Universes and intends to draw their heroes and villains into the Amalgam Universe for use as his minions. At the end of the mission, Niles Cable is surprised to realize that something has happened that his knowledge of the future did not prepare him for: he has received a spinal injury that renders him paraplegic (just as Niles Caulder of the Doom Patrol was).
1997 books
Bat-Thing
Written by Larry Hama, with art by Rodolfo Damaggio and Bill Sienkiewicz. The Bat-Thing is an amalgam of Marvel's Man-Thing and DC's Man-Bat.
Challengers Of The Fantastic
Written by Karl Kesel with art by Tom Grummett and Al Vey. This title was a fusion of Marvel's Fantastic Four and DC's Challengers of the Unknown.The members were scientist Reed "Prof" Richards, SHIELD agent Susan "Ace" Storm, her daredevil brother Johnny "Red" Storm and fighting senator Ben "Rocky" Grimm. Their enemies included Doctor Doomsday (Doctor Doom + Doomsday) and Galactiac (Galactus + Brainiac).
Dark Claw Adventures
Writing and art by Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett. The "Animated Series" version of the Dark Claw comic, with an art style that mirrored Batman: The Animated Series and a title that referenced the Batman Adventures comic.
Exciting X-Patrol
The second outing of the X-Patrol, written by Barbara Kesel with art by Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary. The team fought against Brother Brood, based on Marvel's Brood and DC's Brother Blood.
Generation Hex
A combination of Marvel's Generation X and DC's western comic Jonah Hex as well as an assortment of other western titles. Written by Peter Milligan with art by Adam Pollina.
Iron Lantern
Written by Kurt Busiek, with pencils by Paul Smith, this comic features an amalgamtion between Hal Jordan, Green Lantern and Tony Stark, Iron Man.
JLX Unleashed
The second outing of the JLX sees them joined by Amazon. Credited to Priest, Jiminez and Rodriguez.
Lobo The Duck
A Lobo and Howard the Duck amalgamation, by Al Grant, Val Semeiks and Ray Kryssing.
Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto
Written by Tom Peyer with art by Barry Kitson and Dan Panosian. Magneto with upgraded Magnetic men, features 'Mister Mastermind' (Mastermind/Mistermind, 'Quasimodox' (Quasimodo/Modox), and 'The Sinsiter Society' (Sinister Six/Secret Society)
Spider-Boy Team-Up
Written by R.K. Sternsel with art byLadronn and Juan Vlasco. The second outing of Spider-Boy. The title is based on Marvel Team-Up, which frequently featured Spider-Man. In this comic, Spider-Boy teams up with characters based on Marvel and DC comics based in the far future and/or outer space, including DC's Legion of Super-Heroes and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and 2099-era heroes, creating the 'Legion of Galactic Guardians 2099'.
Super Soldier : Man Of War
Story and art by Dave Gibbons, Mark Waid and Jimmy Palmiotti. This comic presented Super Soldier in the style of WWII propaganda comics.
Thorion Of The New Asgods
By Keith Giffen and John Romita Jr. Based on Marvel's Thor and Orion from Jack Kirby's New Gods.
Collected editions
- The Amalgam Age of Comics: The DC Comics Collection (ISBN 1563892952)
- The Amalgam Age of Comics: The Marvel Comics Collection
- Return to the Amalgam Age of Comics: The DC Comics Collection (ISBN 1563893827)
- Return to the Amalgam Age of Comics: The Marvel Comics Collection (ISBN 0785105611)
Amalgam characters
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
| Character | DC Character | Marvel Character | Appears or Referred To in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apokalips | Darkseid | Apocalypse | Thorion of the New Asgods #1 |
| All Highfather Odin | Highfather | Odin | Thorion of the New Asgods #1 |
| All-Star Winners Squadron | All-Star Squadron | All-Winners Squad | |
| Amazon \ Princess Ororo | Wonder Woman | Storm | Amazon #1 |
| Ambush The Lunatik | Ambush Bug | Lunatik | Lobo The Duck #1 |
| American Belle | Liberty Belle | Miss America | All-Star Winners Squadron #1 |
| Angelhawk | Hawkman | Archangel | JLX Unleashed #1 |
| Apollo | Ray | Cyclops | JLX #1 |
| Aqua Mariner | Aquaman | Namor the Sub-Mariner | All-Star Winners Squadron #1 |
| Baron Zero | Mr. Freeze | Baron Zemo | Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 |
| Bat-Thing | Man-Bat | Man-Thing | Bat-Thing #1 |
| Beastling | Beast Boy | Beast | X-Patrol #1 |
| The Big Question | Riddler | Kingpin | Assassins #1 |
| Bizarnage | Bizarro | Carnage | Spider-Boy #1 |
| Brother Brood | Brother Blood | Brood (comics) | Exciting X-Patrol #1 |
| Bruce Wayne | Bruce Wayne | Nick Fury | Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 |
| Captain Marvel | Captain Marvel (DC Comics) | Captain Mar-Vell | JLX #1 |
| Catsai | Catwoman | Elektra | Assassins #1 |
| Dare The Terminator | Deathstroke the Terminator | Daredevil | Assassins #1 |
| Dark Claw | Batman | Wolverine | Legends of the Dark Claw #1 Dark Claw Adventures #1 |
| Dr. Strangefate | Doctor Fate | Doctor Strange and Professor X | Dr. Strangefate #1 |
| Dial .H.U.S.K. | Dial H for Hero | Husk | X-Patrol #1 |
| Doctor Bongface | Scarface | Doctor Bong | Lobo the Duck #1 |
| Dr. Doomsday | Doomsday | Doctor Doom | |
| Elastigirl (Amalgam) | Elasti-Girl | Wasp (comics) | X-Patrol #1 |
| Ferro Man | Ferro (comics) | Colossus | X-Patrol #1 |
| Firebird | Fire | Jean Grey (Phoenix) | JLX #1 |
| Fin Fang Flame | Brimstone | Fin Fang Foom | JLX Unleashed #1 |
| Galactiac | Brainiac | Galactus | |
| Gold Kidney Lady | Kidney Lady | Goldstar | Lobo The Duck #1 |
| Green Guardsman | Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) | Guardsman | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Green Skull | Lex Luthor | Red Skull | Super Soldier #1 |
| Human Lantern | Green Lantern | Human Torch | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Hyena | Joker | Sabretooth | Legends of the Dark Claw #1 |
| Iron Lantern | Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) | Iron Man | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Iceberg (comics) | Ice | Iceman | JLX Unleashed #1 |
| Impossible Dawg | Dawg | Impossible Man | Lobo The Duck #1 |
| Jade Nova | Jade | Nova (Frankie Raye) | Dr. Strangefate #1 |
| JLX | JLA | X-Men | JLX #1 |
| Jono Hex | Jonah Hex | Chamber | Generation Hex #1 |
| Judgment League Avengers | Justice League | Avengers | JLX #1 |
| King Lizard | King Shark | Lizard | Spider-Boy #1 |
| Lobo the Duck | Lobo | Howard the Duck | Lobo the Duck #1 |
| L'ok D'saad | Desaad | Loki | Thorion of the New Asgods #1 |
| Madame Cat (Selena Luthor) | Catwoman | Madame Hydra | |
| Madame Sapphire | Star Sapphire | Madame Masque | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Mandarinestro | Sinestro | Mandarin | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Mistress Maxima | Maxima | White Queen | JLX Unleashed #1 |
| The Magnetic Men | Metal Men | Brotherhood of Evil Mutants | Magneto and the Magnetic Men #1 |
| Mephisatanus | Satanus | Mephisto | Doctor Strangefate #1 |
| Mercury | Impulse | Quicksilver | JLX #1 |
| Nightcreeper | Creeper | Nightcrawler | JLX #1 |
| Nuke | Bane | Nuke | Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 |
| Oa the Living Planet | Oa | Ego the Living Planet | Iron Lantern #1 |
| Rä's-A-Pocalypse | Ra's Al Ghul | Apocalypse | Dark Claw Adventures #1 |
| Runaway | Gypsy | Rogue | JLX #1 JLX Unleashed #1 |
| Shaggynaut | Shaggy Man | Juggernaut | |
| Shatterstarfire | Starfire | Shatterstar | X-Patrol #1 |
| Scarecrow | Scarecrow | Scarecrow | |
| Skinhunter | Skin | Scalphunter | Generation Hex #1 |
| Skulk | Solomon Grundy | Incredible Hulk | Doctor Strangefate #1 |
| Sparrow | Robin | Jubilee | Legends of the Dark Claw #1 Dark Claw Adventures #1 |
| Speed Demon | Flash and Etrigan | Ghost Rider | Speed Demon #1 |
| Spider-Boy | Superboy | Spider-Man | Spider-Boy #1 |
| Spider Clone #1 | Bizarro | Scarlet Spider | |
| Super-Soldier | Superman | Captain America | Super-Soldier #1 |
| Thanoseid | Darkseid | Thanos | Thorion of the New Asgods #1 |
| The Whiz | The Flash | The Whizzer | All-Star Winners Squadron #1 |
| Thorion | Orion | Thor | Thorion of the New Asgods #1 |
| Trevor Castle | Steve Trevor | Frank Castle | Bullets and Bracelets #1 |
| War Monarch | Monarch (comics) | War Machine | Bullets and Bracelets #1 |
| White Witch | Zatanna | Scarlet Witch | Doctor Strangefate #1 |
| Wraith | Obsidian | Gambit | JLX #1 |
| X-Patrol | Doom Patrol | X-Force | X-Patrol #1 |