Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans Vol 1 1

A one-shot with a cover date of November, 1982.

## Creation

In 1982, the *Uncanny X-Men* and *The New Teen Titans* shared several similarities. In addition to high popularity and strong sales, both titles were helmed by respected, established writers, in Chris Claremont (*X-Men*) and Marv Wolfman (*Teen Titans*). Given the success of each title, Marvel and DC recognized the sales potential of a jointly published crossover, with *X-Men* writer Chris Claremont scripting the story and Walt Simonson and Terry Austin providing the art. The comic was lettered by *X-Men* letterer Tom Orzechowski and edited by the *X-Men's* Louise Jones. Len Wein, the editor of *The New Teen Titans*, acted as DC's liaison with Marvel on the project.

## Appearing in "Apokolips...Now."

**Featured Characters:**

* New Teen Titans
	+ Changeling
	+ Cyborg
	+ Kid Flash
	+ Raven
	+ Robin
	+ Starfire
	+ Wonder Girl
* X-Men
	+ Colossus
	+ Cyclops
	+ Nightcrawler
	+ Professor X
	+ Sprite
	+ Storm
	+ Wolverine

**Supporting Characters:**

* John Grey
* Elaine Grey
* Metron

**Antagonists:**

* Darkseid
	+ Parademons
	+ Ravok the Ravager ***(Single appearance)*** ***(Dies)***
	+ Shock Commandos ***(Single appearance)***
* Dark Phoenix
	+ Jean Grey

**Other Characters:**

* Amazons of Paradise Island ***(Mentioned only)***
* Avengers ***(Mentioned only)***
* Azar ***(Mentioned only)***
* Deathstroke the Terminator
* Gordanians ***(Flashback only)*** ***(Mentioned only)***
* Intergang ***(Mentioned only)***
* Justice League ***(Mentioned only)***
* Lilandra ***(Flashback only)*** ***(Mentioned only)***
* Lockheed the Dragon ***(Mentioned only)***
* Terry Long ***(Mentioned only)***
* Trigon ***(Mentioned only)***
* X'Hal ***(Mentioned only)***

**Locations:**

* Apokolips ***(Mentioned only)***
* Citadel ***(Flashback only)***
	+ Tamaran ***(Mentioned only)***
* Earth
	+ United States of America
		- Gotham City
			* S.T.A.R. Labs
		- Salem Center, New York
			* Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
		- New Mexico
		- New York City
			* Central Park
			* JFK International Airport
			* Titans Tower
* New Genesis ***(Mentioned only)***
* Shi'ar Empire ***(Flashback only)***
	+ D'bari IV ***(Flashback only)***
* Promethean Galaxy
* Source Wall
	+ Promethean Giants

**Items:**

* Boom Tube
* Dyno-Blast Bazooka
* Energy Disperser Helmet

**Vehicles:**

* Mobius Chair

## Synopsis for "Apokolips... Now!"

The image of their late teammate, Phoenix, appears in dreams to the X-Men, and to Raven of the New Teen Titans, seeming to warn of a coming catastrophe. At the same time, Robin encounters the Terminator working in partnership with one of Darkseid's Para-Demons. When Starfire reveals the history of the Dark Phoenix to her comrades, the Titans investigate the connection between Phoenix and the X-Men.

They are mistaken for the mutant heroes by attacking Para-Demons and captured, along with Professor X, by Darkseid, the demonic lord of Apokolips. Meanwhile, the Terminator, sent by Darkseid to gather Phoenix's residual energies from locales where she had expended a great deal of power, is able to defeat and capture the real X-Men.

Drawing on their memories of their deceased partner-in-peril, Darkseid is able to use the gathered energies to bring Dark Phoenix back to life, after which he intends to use her power to transform Earth into a second Apokolips. Freed of their bonds with the evil god's departure, the Teen Titans and the X-Men meet for the first time, and discover the abandoned Mobius Chair of Metron of the New Gods, which they use to travel back to New York to fight a return match against the Terminator.

They are then attacked in turn by Darkseid and Dark Phoenix, and in the ensuing battle, Raven and Professor X psychically weaken the Phoenix-entity so that she it is forced to possess the body of Cyclops to survive. Reunion with her former lover returns Phoenix's memory of her life as Jean Grey, and she turns on Darkseid in revenge for his having reawakened her from death. In a mammoth explosion, both Darkseid and Dark Phoenix vanish, and Metron regains the Mobius Chair.

## Notes

* This is the fourth Marvel and DC crossover.

## Canceled Sequel

Despite the success of the project, *The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans* represented the last new DC–Marvel intercompany crossover for over a decade. A planned "*X-Men/Teen Titans*" #2, by the *Titans* creative team of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, was scheduled for publication near Christmas 1983. *X-Men* writer Claremont had shared details of future *X-Men* storylines with Wolfman to facilitate Wolfman's writing of the script. Pérez was slated to draw the much-anticipated *JLA/Avengers* intercompany crossover due for publication in 1984, which was eventually scuttled due to editorial squabbling between the two companies. Continuing disagreements between Marvel and DC and Pérez's anger over the demise of the *JLA/Avengers* book resulted in the eventual cancellation of *X-Men/Teen Titans* #2 as well. Unlike the *JLA/Avengers*, a good portion of which had already been drawn by Pérez, no artwork was ever drawn for *The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans* sequel. It was not until 1994's *Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire* that DC and Marvel joined forces again in a new publishing venture.