As we saw with the first generation of DC/Marvel collaborations published between 1976 and 1982, the focus was on stories starring the respective companies’ most popular characters… and rightfully so. This makes the most sense because such a story is likely to attract the most readers, generate the most media coverage, and have the greatest chance of attracting old comics readers or new comics readers.
Published in 1995 Darkseid vs Galactus: Hunger is another example where I wish there was an introduction explaining the idea behind the book as it is the most explicit no Crossovers featuring the publisher’s most popular characters.
In fact, while Darkseid and Galactus have been recurring in their respective fictional universes since 1970 and 1966, respectively, neither has had its own comic book—not even a miniseries or one-off (Eater will get a miniseries). Devourer Devourerwhile Darkseid got one hit in 1998 and 2017).
Who is it? this Booking…?
I guess the obvious answer is that this is for die-hard comic book fans, who of course know that both of these cosmic characters are some of the most feared villains in their universes, and are both Jack Kirby’s creations. Galactus appears in Kirby’s groundbreaking run Fantastic Four with Stan Lee (with whom he co-created the character), while Darkseid was introduced in an issue of Kirby. Superman’s Best Friend Jimmy Olsen and became a major character in Kirby’s “The Fourth World” book series, and was eventually chosen as a DCCU-wide villain.
Another guess? Maybe John Byrne pitched the book, and neither publisher was willing to turn down an offer from a relatively popular creator like Byrne, who wrote the underlying story for both of them?
There’s no doubt this is a Bourne book, as he handled the script and art, the only other credit is to colorist Rick Taylor (no attribution is given, so I’m not sure if that means Bourne handled it himself This is also true), or if they just left a signature on the title page for some reason.
Now I miss all the work Bourne did best He is best known for his work in the late 1970s and 1980s Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Sensational She-Hulk and aftercrisis Reboot the Superman series. I can count the number of Bourne books I’ve read on one hand (wait, let’s test this: Superman: Man of Steel #3, legend, Batman: The Many Deaths of Batman, JLA Arc “Tenth Circle” and Genesis….yeah, that’s just a hand!
So his appearance didn’t exactly excite me as much as it might for readers who are about ten years older than me. I mean, I skipped it when it originally came out in 1995, and, like the previously discussed X-Men/Titans crossover, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it here.
Like most ’90s DC/Marvel crossovers, it’s only 48 pages long, with a straightforward plot and basic conflict. You might even have intuited it from the title alone. Galactus, a space-faring cosmic giant who sustains himself by sucking all the energy out of planets and feeding on them, has set his sights on Apokolips, the tyrannical space god Darkseid rules with an iron fist ‘s home planet.
(It’s worth noting that the title page includes a special thank you. After a nice dedication to Kirby, “When our universe was too small to contain him, he created his own,” “Special Thanks to Mark Galinis McFinn, “He said to me one day, ‘The Galactus is trying to eat Apokolips…'”)
Byrne begins a four-page narrative of the origins of Apokolips and New Genesis and their respective New Gods, getting the people of New Genesis so excited about the coming threat that sources suggest Highfather responded with this cryptic message: “The Hidden World.”
Of course, something has to be done to get New Genesis out of Galactus’s path, otherwise why would he choose to attack Darkseid’s Apokolips when the more coveted alternatives are out there?
They do, so when Galactus’ forerunner, the Silver Surfer, bursts onto the scene in a dramatic splash page, he makes a beeline for Apokolips, where he’s immediately surrounded by dozens of Parademons. Of course, they were no match for him and he sent a signal to his master.
As Highfather waited on his now-hidden planet, he told Orion the story of Galactus’ origins, before Titan descended on Apokolips and got to work installing his planetary drainage device. From here on out, it’s basically like the title says, Darkseid vs. Galactus, with the former using his planet’s various defenses against the invader in a futile attempt to stop him.
Meanwhile, the impatient Orion, unable to stand idly by for so long, puts on his helmet and takes action against the Silver Surfer. This leads to a fight between the two that manages to stretch out the pages (as does Darkseid’s account of the Surfer’s origins; although the book seems relatively niche, it’s actually meant for potential new readers written).
The Surfer finally overpowers his New God foe, striking him with a bolt of cosmic energy (“Let the troubles end”). Now“) That should Killing him…but when the Black Racer comes to pick Orion up, the Surfer delays him long enough so that Orion’s Mother Box can heal him. (Of course, some Kirby fans are excited to see the Silver Surfer and Black Racer sharing a panel, right?)
So where will all this fighting end up…? Well, there is no way real Being the winner is not just about the fact that this is an inter-company crossover, so neither character can really completely and clearly defeat the other. No, because the stakes are so high that victory for either side means the destruction of the other, we can’t have a comic where Darkseid kills Galactus, just like we can’t have a comic where Galactus destroys Apokolips… and , presumably, everyone who lives there.
The back cover copy describes the conflict as “an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object,” which rings true. So how to solve it without stopping applying force or moving the object?
Bourne has a very clever twist that essentially leads to a draw, with the two protagonists coming face to face, acknowledging their similarities, and then abandoning their conflict and leaving the status quo unchanged.
In other words, it had to end, but Byrne came up with an interesting reason for it, one that suited Kirby’s creation perfectly.
While these characters all have strengths and attributes, none of them are really my personal favorite. That said, I find they usually work when faced with more relatable heroes, or in stories with point-of-view characters that ground all of the cosmic drama in something close to the real world.
Orion and the Silver Surfer are our closest heroes here, and both of them have the same over-the-top, purple dialogue as all the other characters. Of course, it’s not Byrne’s fault. It’s just who these characters are and how they’ve always been portrayed.
I’m also not a big fan of Bourne’s art style, though, to be fair, the focus here is entirely on the otherworldly, so everything he draws is essentially a “cover” designed by Kirby, and there are no visual effects whatsoever. Century’s futuristic look, unrivaled.
So there’s nothing to grab here; you’re either a fan of Byrne’s reinvention of Kirby, or this story might not be for you.
That said, Bourne does a solid job of reintroducing all the players and concepts so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility for people to encounter the story. become Byrne is a fan of Kirby’s work and thankfully made the whole process very easy.
Not only the fundamental nature of the conflict, but also the narrative of the story. He doesn’t delve too deeply into the history and continuity of the individual characters. The pages also feature relatively few panels, with plenty of splashes and large panels dedicated to showing off important “moments” (Surfer versus Orion, Darkseid using the Omega Effect on Galactus, etc.). This is a relatively quick and easy read.
What would happen if the Devourer tried to devour Apoclippus? That’s Bourne’s answer, in the form of a short but epic-feeling comic.
Next page: 1995 Spider-Man and Batman #1
