The Teen Titans once met the X-Men in an unforgettable DC/Marvel crossover in the 80s. The two teenage superhero teams are the perfect pairings for a universe-merging storyline.
On a special occasion, the DC and Marvel universes come together with fan pleasing team-ups and fights. Superman has famously met Spider-Man, and the Justice League has met the Avengers. However, many of these stories tend to make fan service the priority, compromising the storytelling potential for characters to interact with each other. There are few instances in which a company crossover comic has incorporated quality writing and art in the process of providing a mind-blowing team-up. When the two best selling titles of 1982, The New Teen Titans collided with The Uncanny X-Men, readers were left wanting more in the one-shot written by Chris Claremont with art by Walt Simonson, Terry Austin, and Glynis Wein.
The Titans encountered their mutant counterparts in The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, with a story that incorporated Darkseid, Deathstroke, and Dark Phoenix. The DC/Marvel crossover highlighted the best of both the X-Men and the Teen Titans, as the two teams were arguably at their heights. When Apokolips’ dictator senses the Phoenix Force in distant space, he realizes he can locate Jean Grey and utilize her power. Deathstroke seeks out the two teams before they have a chance to interfere in Darkseid’s plans, as Starfire begins to realize what is happening. Working together, the mutants and the Titans make a strong pairing.
Unfortunately, the crossover only lasted one issue, despite its promising premise. At one point, a followup issue was in motion from Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, but the crossover never saw a definitive conclusion. It has been several years since DC and Marvel came together, making now the perfect time for a second issue to come featuring the two best iterations of the X-Men and the Teen Titans. The book which was practically an amalgamation of both titles’ strongest components would now be a tribute to the 80s’ in comics.
Dick Grayson AKA Robin and Scott Summers AKA Cyclops make a good partnership, as the two leaders share many personality traits. Similarly, the teams known for their “coming of age” storylines each have their own distinct power sets to contribute to the fight against Darkseid. Although Cyborg and Colossus are clear counterparts, just like Starfire and the Phoenix, Beast Boy and Nightcrawler, and Raven and Storm, each pairing brings their own unique personalities to the crossover. The X-Men and the Teen Titans encapsulate the best of the 80s’ in comics.