Hypothetical Crossover: DC x Lord of the Rings

Imagine Batman strategizing with Aragorn, or Wonder Woman fighting alongside Éowyn against the forces of Mordor

To be perfectly clear, this is NOT happening. This is purely fan speculation on our part. This idea popped into our heads when Warner Brothers executive, David Zaslav called the Lord of the Rings, DC Comics and Harry Potter franchises “underused” at a 2023 Goldman Sachs financial event. With the success of the recent Justice League x Monsterverse miniseries, it got us wondering, what if Warners did the same with DC and Lord of the Rings? From a story perspective, could that work? For your consideration, we present this hypothetical “what if” scenario of how you might handle a Lord of the Rings x DC Comics crossover.

The story could begin with a cosmic disturbance caused by a clash between powerful entities from both universes, such as Darkseid and Sauron, leading to a rift that merges Middle-earth with Earth. This merger would result in unexpected alliances and conflicts as characters from both realms strive to understand and adapt to the new reality. Imagine Batman strategizing with Aragorn, or Wonder Woman fighting alongside Éowyn against the forces of Mordor. Thematically, the collaboration could explore the parallels between the two universes. Both worlds feature epic battles between good and evil, complex characters with rich backstories, and a profound sense of destiny and heroism. Superman, with his moral compass and sense of duty, would find a kindred spirit in Frodo Baggins, while the wisdom and mystical powers of Gandalf would resonate with those of Doctor Fate.

Imagine the pages of the comic book: Batman’s sleek, shadowy figure, drawn with sharp lines and dark hues, juxtaposed against the lush, verdant landscapes of the Shire. The contrast between Gotham’s gothic architecture and Rivendell’s ethereal elegance would create a visually arresting juxtaposition. Artists could play with light and shadow to enhance the mood, with Superman soaring through the sky above the towering peaks of the Misty Mountains, his bright red cape standing out against the wintry blues and whites. Wonder Woman, with her regal armor and warrior stance, could be depicted in battle against the Nazgûl, the interplay of her bright, mythological aesthetics with the dark, ghostly apparitions of the Ringwraiths creating a dramatic visual clash.

Do we wish this would happen? No. We enjoy these stories and characters for what they are, and it would be very hard to elevate something like this in a way that it did not just feel like a corporate cash grab. In our opinion, you shouldn’t do this, but we think you could pull it off in a way that makes sense from a story perspective. It’s also easy to imagine this collaboration spanning multiple formats, including comic books, graphic novels, and even an animated series or film. It would just take a very talented creative team - with nerves of steel - to pull off this collaboration in a way that is satisfying for fans of both DC Comics and The Lord of the Rings. Thoughts? Hit us up at aloha@csnpress.com.