What do you think?
Rate this book
Crossover #1
Crossover #1
“A flat out fantastic read.” —Scott Snyder
The creative powerhouses behind the bestselling, critically acclaimed GOD COUNTRY, Thanos Wins, and REDNECK returns for the biggest launch of the year.
Imagine everything you thought was fantasy...was real. And now join us, in a world where reality is dead…and anything is possible...
The creative powerhouses behind the bestselling, critically acclaimed GOD COUNTRY, Thanos Wins, and REDNECK returns for the biggest launch of the year.
Imagine everything you thought was fantasy...was real. And now join us, in a world where reality is dead…and anything is possible...
30 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2020
5 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 6, 2021
When a mega comic book event crossover manifests in our universe, what happens? Years later, we see the fallout as we are introduced to the main character. She is a survivor of the Crossover and now owns the last "real" comic book shop in the country. Superhero comics were burned in the aftermath, Marvel and DC went out of business, and her shop is the only one still carrying them. It's an interesting take on the premise and I'm certainly intrigued.
November 6, 2020
What happens when a mega crossover event from comics happens in our world.Thousands upon thousands dead, cities leveled, and destruction like no other. This is a story about hope, above love, about acceptances as another comic character enters our world and the unfounded hate towards them begins. A interesting first issue, a little on the nose at times, but well worth reading. A 4 out of 5.
November 18, 2020
I grabbed this comic simply because Cates wrote it. I figured, I’ve liked most of his stuff so let’s give it a try. Had no idea what it was about. Well, it’s pretty damn good. An event happens in a city and that city is surrounded by a bubble. Some people escape before hand. So now we are in the aftermath. Cates does some real cool things with the idea of comic books. Some things go down in here that really got me invested in where this story is going. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
November 6, 2020
Fictional characters and real ones in the same room? What is this, a crossover episode?
Yup. A celkom dobre to začalo. Donny si zas píše niečo, čo spraví radosť hlavne jemu a dúfa, že to chytí aj nejedného komiksového nadšenca. Kresba vyzerá pekne, celé to je krásne farebné a naozaj ma zaujíma kam sa bude ďalej uberať.
Yup. A celkom dobre to začalo. Donny si zas píše niečo, čo spraví radosť hlavne jemu a dúfa, že to chytí aj nejedného komiksového nadšenca. Kresba vyzerá pekne, celé to je krásne farebné a naozaj ma zaujíma kam sa bude ďalej uberať.
November 8, 2020
Catesův další fanboyovský zářez. Popravdě jsem ani nečekal, že to bude tak strašně dobrý. Pokud se vyznáte v superhrdinech budete si rochnit protože Donník referencemi nešetří. Zároveň si to užije i člověk který ocení kvalitní a dobře zpracovaný komiks. Na první číslo se toho stalo strašně moc.
November 7, 2020
Loads of potential, very excited to see what’s in store for this series!
June 2, 2022
Wow, this is so interesting... like really interesting. Very meta. Just not in the tiring, wink-wink, Deadpool way.
In terms of what I’m thinking when I’m reading this, it’s similar to House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman (X-Men comics in 2019). It’s like I’m reading something, and I know what I’m reading. At the same time, I don’t exactly see all the implications that are set up by this story. Also like House of X/Powers of X, that not knowing brings me in so much.
It’s really good. I will need to read it again in context with other issues of the series.
In terms of what I’m thinking when I’m reading this, it’s similar to House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman (X-Men comics in 2019). It’s like I’m reading something, and I know what I’m reading. At the same time, I don’t exactly see all the implications that are set up by this story. Also like House of X/Powers of X, that not knowing brings me in so much.
It’s really good. I will need to read it again in context with other issues of the series.
November 12, 2020
Like many other readers/reviewers I am intrigued with the idea Cates presents in "Crossover" basically bringing a major comic book summer event to our very much real and present world. I realize first issues are generally set up so I, for one, am expecting bigger and better things from this series in the months ahead. Word on the street is that there will be some actual comic book heroes in this series.
December 3, 2020
I saw a review online that called this story “bold,” and I honestly don’t know why. It’s an all-white cast focusing on superheroes. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that, but I can’t find the boldness in it. It feels so safe and structured to appeal to the majority of comic book fans. As someone who prefers more eccentric comics, I was incredibly bored by this. There were also three tropes that I hate to see in fiction:
1. A woman with a bizarre name who shortens it to something more “normal.” This always feels like a “not like the other girls” technique for making a woman really stand out as extraordinary simply because she doesn’t have a more common name that might be considered too feminine for a lead female character. I might sound crazy to some people, but there are so many stories that do this that it’s annoying now.
“This is Ellipses Howell. She goes by Ellie. Or El.”
2. The book compares the religious hatred of marginalized groups to superheroes. As a queer person, this felt too ridiculous. As if the true victims of our culture are nerds who like superheroes rather than people who are actually victimized.
A church-sponsored billboard that reads “God hates masks.” Religious zealots holding signs that read “Pray the capes away.”
3. The book tells me what the story is about. I prefer narratives that let me draw my own conclusions. As Jane Alison (author and creative writing professor) says, “Instead of following a line of story, your brain draws the lines, makes connections.”
“Because, again, this story… it’s not really about any of this… It’s about believing in something when the whole world tells you that you’re wrong… About trying to find a home when the one you have feels broken, or gone… In fact… believe it or not… it’s also a love story. But more than that, more than anything… more than superheroes or mega events or good guys and bad guys and the world gone wrong… this is a story… about hope.”
Now I understand that this hope reference is an ode to Superman, but it still felt so heavy-handed. I’m not trying to attack this story or its author (I love Cates because Redneck is spectacular). But I feel like there are so many bland stories people paint as “bold” or “revolutionary” when, to people from a less privileged perspective, they feel like more of the commercial content that doesn’t really have anything interesting to say.
1. A woman with a bizarre name who shortens it to something more “normal.” This always feels like a “not like the other girls” technique for making a woman really stand out as extraordinary simply because she doesn’t have a more common name that might be considered too feminine for a lead female character. I might sound crazy to some people, but there are so many stories that do this that it’s annoying now.
“This is Ellipses Howell. She goes by Ellie. Or El.”
2. The book compares the religious hatred of marginalized groups to superheroes. As a queer person, this felt too ridiculous. As if the true victims of our culture are nerds who like superheroes rather than people who are actually victimized.
A church-sponsored billboard that reads “God hates masks.” Religious zealots holding signs that read “Pray the capes away.”
3. The book tells me what the story is about. I prefer narratives that let me draw my own conclusions. As Jane Alison (author and creative writing professor) says, “Instead of following a line of story, your brain draws the lines, makes connections.”
“Because, again, this story… it’s not really about any of this… It’s about believing in something when the whole world tells you that you’re wrong… About trying to find a home when the one you have feels broken, or gone… In fact… believe it or not… it’s also a love story. But more than that, more than anything… more than superheroes or mega events or good guys and bad guys and the world gone wrong… this is a story… about hope.”
Now I understand that this hope reference is an ode to Superman, but it still felt so heavy-handed. I’m not trying to attack this story or its author (I love Cates because Redneck is spectacular). But I feel like there are so many bland stories people paint as “bold” or “revolutionary” when, to people from a less privileged perspective, they feel like more of the commercial content that doesn’t really have anything interesting to say.
November 27, 2022
First read, 14.11.2020:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solid intro. Let’s see where this goes.
3D re-read, 26.11.2022:
⭐️⭐️
The 3D didn’t work on me at all, and my opinion has soured from reading the later issues. The fourth wall stuff from Megan was dumb too. Even Morrison can only sometimes pull it off. Give it a rest.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solid intro. Let’s see where this goes.
3D re-read, 26.11.2022:
⭐️⭐️
The 3D didn’t work on me at all, and my opinion has soured from reading the later issues. The fourth wall stuff from Megan was dumb too. Even Morrison can only sometimes pull it off. Give it a rest.
November 10, 2020
Very unique & powerful!!!
November 19, 2022
Great first issue. I can't wait for more...
January 14, 2025
A great idea for a comic and a great start to the story. I'd definitely carry on reading the series based on this opener.
November 8, 2020
Well here's Crossover. The title being touted as the next Watchmen by its company. Perhaps too bold a claim to sustain but its usually a good sign when a company puts this much effort into a product. It means they believe in it and that what's inside is worth caring about.
Now as far as this issue goes... its a little heavy handed and a little more impressed with itself than can possibly be cashed- buuuuut... I liked it. 😊
Still think God Country was more well written and mature with its themes. This one is... I'm still thinking about a lot of it honestly. The main character is named Ellipses. And I'm yet to really commit to whether or not I find that pretentious or charming.
The church stuff lacks subtlety but I imagine that's intentional. I already get the impression we're gonna have a few Redemption arcs because of it. (As you can imagine I'm really excited about that).
The art is unquestionably cool. Reminds me of Revival and Into the Spiderverse.
The ending is what has me intrigued. That final splash page is making a promise and anyone who has an interest in comics will undoubtedly have their eyebrows raised a few centimeters by it. If they're gonna do what I think they're gonna do I have a certain sense of pride that Image comics has come this far to be able to pull something like this off.
Is it gonna work? No idea. But the effort is nice. You feel like the people making this really believe in it and I think that's contagious. I want this to work.
I really don't know if I know enough to make a clear Judgement. But it's engaging enough so.... yeah? 👍
This is fine. 😊
Now as far as this issue goes... its a little heavy handed and a little more impressed with itself than can possibly be cashed- buuuuut... I liked it. 😊
Still think God Country was more well written and mature with its themes. This one is... I'm still thinking about a lot of it honestly. The main character is named Ellipses. And I'm yet to really commit to whether or not I find that pretentious or charming.
The church stuff lacks subtlety but I imagine that's intentional. I already get the impression we're gonna have a few Redemption arcs because of it. (As you can imagine I'm really excited about that).
The art is unquestionably cool. Reminds me of Revival and Into the Spiderverse.
The ending is what has me intrigued. That final splash page is making a promise and anyone who has an interest in comics will undoubtedly have their eyebrows raised a few centimeters by it. If they're gonna do what I think they're gonna do I have a certain sense of pride that Image comics has come this far to be able to pull something like this off.
Is it gonna work? No idea. But the effort is nice. You feel like the people making this really believe in it and I think that's contagious. I want this to work.
I really don't know if I know enough to make a clear Judgement. But it's engaging enough so.... yeah? 👍
This is fine. 😊
March 24, 2021
The first issue is pretty good. First time I read, I was a bit turned off by the bit when they are asking us whether we're real or superman is real. I don't know. I feel like I've heard conversations in sci-fi stories before and they always do that to convey a since of normalcy before shit really hits the fan. I would've like it if we have at least one page of dialogue from the comic itself. Then draw back from it to the real world. It would have gave the premise more impact. Or just remove the text blocks from the first two pages. Let the art do the talking.
That being said. I do like the world-building behind the premise and the execution behind it. I definitely liked the way they utilized the different era of comics. That little girl with the dots really distinguish itself from the rest of the people. It makes her feel alien. It's something that, if adapt into film or television, would be able to match. Books that use the meta in comics are what I love cause they're usually clever with that comics can do and what other mediums can't.
I just hope that this writer is smart enough to take this premise to its fullest. Good premises doesn't always from from good writers. It's promising, but I'll need to read more. And you should too.
That being said. I do like the world-building behind the premise and the execution behind it. I definitely liked the way they utilized the different era of comics. That little girl with the dots really distinguish itself from the rest of the people. It makes her feel alien. It's something that, if adapt into film or television, would be able to match. Books that use the meta in comics are what I love cause they're usually clever with that comics can do and what other mediums can't.
I just hope that this writer is smart enough to take this premise to its fullest. Good premises doesn't always from from good writers. It's promising, but I'll need to read more. And you should too.
November 10, 2020
I'm honestly torn, and half way through reading this I was convinced that I was going to write a bad review...and then...it sucked me in.
You see, it's a little too sure of its own cleverness, and that always puts me off...but, then, aren't I a little too sure of my own cleverness in some of the comics I write? And...maybe this is clever? I'll admit that I do think naming the main character Ellipses is fairly brilliant.
I'm also unsure of the way the comic book community is presented here, but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and see how it plays out.
I find it funny that the "fictional" characters...the ones who've stepped out of the pages of a comic, are coloured traditionally, with the dots of four colour process printing...while everyone else, who is actually also a fictional character in a comic, is coloured like...well...a regular modern comic. It gets very meta.
But that last page...promises something that...it can't possibly deliver on...right?
But, then, this is called Crossover...
You see, it's a little too sure of its own cleverness, and that always puts me off...but, then, aren't I a little too sure of my own cleverness in some of the comics I write? And...maybe this is clever? I'll admit that I do think naming the main character Ellipses is fairly brilliant.
I'm also unsure of the way the comic book community is presented here, but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and see how it plays out.
I find it funny that the "fictional" characters...the ones who've stepped out of the pages of a comic, are coloured traditionally, with the dots of four colour process printing...while everyone else, who is actually also a fictional character in a comic, is coloured like...well...a regular modern comic. It gets very meta.
But that last page...promises something that...it can't possibly deliver on...right?
But, then, this is called Crossover...
March 12, 2021
Dude this was such a compelling first issue. This issue touched on: comic book characters coming to life, the importance of Superman, DC and Marvel as being companies that exist, religious zealots hating superheroes, doing an interesting thing with comics becoming devil iconography, and the idea of these character's escaping a prison made to separate them from the rest of society (it's really a bubble but that's the function). All things I am very much interested in! Maybe it's because I have spent so much time reading and thinking about comics as a whole, and maybe it's because I love third person narration, but this issue got me so excited to read on. I am definitely going to need to get my hands on the trade when it comes out because I am super interested in what happens next.
January 30, 2021
I'm really on the fence here. It has potential. Basically a 3.5. The 2nd half of the issue I liked a lot. The first I struggled with. It's an interesting art style and an intriguing story. Certainly continuing.
The "Us vs Them" aspect...is not new. And starting to feel overdone. But sadly it's real-life so I get why it keeps getting repeated. I just feel like I'm tired of reading/seeing scenes in comics that feel like people protesting against gays. As someone from that community, I just feel like I see the equivalent of "G*d Hates ***" signs in every other comic now. It feels cliche and I don't like it. But I'm going to ignore that and keep reading.
The "Us vs Them" aspect...is not new. And starting to feel overdone. But sadly it's real-life so I get why it keeps getting repeated. I just feel like I'm tired of reading/seeing scenes in comics that feel like people protesting against gays. As someone from that community, I just feel like I see the equivalent of "G*d Hates ***" signs in every other comic now. It feels cliche and I don't like it. But I'm going to ignore that and keep reading.
December 5, 2020
Interesting premise but this issue is good but it dress the table, but since this is the premise of the book , what comes next will determine if it goes beyond that. Reminds me of ready player one . I hope this is not just a tool to promote image characters.
February 12, 2021
The premise too this book has me excited like I haven't been in a very long time comic wise.what if superheroes were real and they came to life but instead of heroes we viewed them as enemies.god damn im excited to see where this goes!
November 10, 2020
Oh I am fucking in
November 11, 2020
Very interesting story, great easter eggs, and what a finale.
Again very good work from Donny Cates and the team.
Can't wait to see what will happen.
Again very good work from Donny Cates and the team.
Can't wait to see what will happen.
November 18, 2020
Um. Wow.
November 18, 2020
I love the concept of this comic! Donny Cates has done it again and had me hooked from the first bubble!! Cant wait to see where this is taken in the next issue.
November 24, 2020
Review can be found here:
https://9ekunst.nl/2020/11/20/crossov...
https://9ekunst.nl/2020/11/20/crossov...
December 8, 2020
This was a great Issue #1, and I have high hopes for this series. I believe we are going to see some surprising cameos in future issues.
December 15, 2020
Liked it. A comic about comics.
January 14, 2021
Off to an intriguing and interesting start. Looking forward to see how the story goes
February 24, 2021
I know it's just the first issue, but this was pretty fantastic! Donny Cates has really been on a role in the last couple years and this looks like it's gonna be another great title.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews