Last summer, DC Comics released a series of six crossover specials in which their beloved superheroes teamed up or faced off against the equally beloved characters of the Looney Tunes cartoon universe. Martian Manhunter met Marvin the Martian, Wonder Woman met the Tazmanian Devil, Batman met Elmer Fudd in what might be the most memorable of these crossovers, and more. It was a fun chance to explore the characters from both universes in new ways, and it worked so well that this summer DC has decided to do it again.
The publisher announced Thursday that it’s launching four more DC/Looney Tunes specials this August, featuring all-new encounters you never expected to see. And this time, the focus is on villains and antiheroes.
Each issue will be 48 pages, and feature both a main story told in the DC Universe style and a backup story told in a more Looney Tunes-like style. Just like last time, DC has brought in some of the best comics talent out there to create these comics, and just like last time, the pairings they’ve chosen are both surprising and intriguing.
First up, there’s Catwoman/Tweety and Sylvester Special #1, with a main story by Gail Simone and Inaki Miranda, a backup story by Shea Fontana and Walter Carzon, and a cover by Emanuela Lupacchino. The issue will feature eternal enemies Sylvester and Tweety Bird making their way to Gotham City, where Sylvester finds an ally in Catwoman and Tweety finds an ally in Black Canary. What happens next? All-out war between cats and birds, naturally.
Next, there’s Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special #1, with a main story by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amander Conner (who’s also on cover duty), and Pier Brito, and a backup story by Sholly Fisch and Dave Alvarez. This story features Harley Quinn discovering Gossamer (the monster from the Bugs Bunny classic “Hair-Raising Hare”) in a crate on the beach, and while they become fast friends, they soon find themselves facing trouble in the form of a giant robot.
In The Joker/Daffy Duck Special #1 — main story by Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, and Norm Rapmund, with a backup story by Joey Cavalieri and Luciano Vecchio — Daffy heads to Gotham City to visit the headquarters of the Acme company, the source of so many Looney Tunes explosions and traps gone wrong that it’s hard to keep count. When he gets there, though, he finds the company is gone, and in its place is The Joker’s hideout.
And finally, there’s Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special #1, with a main story by Mark Russell, Brad Walker, and Andrew Hennessy, a backup story by Jim Fanning and John Loter, and a cover by Ben Oliver. In that issue, Porky Pig is at the end of his financial rope when he finally lands a job at LexCorp. Porky’s so pleased to have been saved by his new gig that he becomes a loyal ally to Lex Luthor. When a Congressional investigation looms, though, Luthor may offer Porky up as a scapegoat.
All four of the new DC/Looney Tunes specials arrive Aug. 29.
