What a Time to Be Alive!
Imagine saying, “Yeah, man, I just read the first issue of the DC x AEW crossover today,” five years ago and not being looked at like an absolute weirdo. But we are here, and this fever dream has become a reality.
The heroes of the DC Universe have to team up with the champions of AEW to retrieve the shards of the W.A.M. Intergalactic Championship. These shards contain the dangerous Element X, which can alter reality itself. DC x AEW #1 scratched a part of my brain I didn’t even know had an itch; it appealed to two of my favorite things in the entire world: professional wrestling and comic books.
I am self-aware enough to know I’m approaching this with "fanboy glasses," but not every issue is meant to reinvent the wheel. Some, like this one, are just meant to be fun. The debut is not without its flaws—specifically pacing, repetitiveness, and the fact that some AEW wrestlers don't quite look like themselves—but those issues are overshadowed by the premise, the partnerships, and the sheer novelty of the idea. While not perfect, DC x AEW #1 laid a solid foundation for what is set to be a highly entertaining arc.
A True Forbidden Door
The Forbidden Door Saga kicks off with Deceilia Starshame from Wrestling Across the Multiverse (W.A.M.) destroying the Intergalactic Championship after losing it to Mercedes Moné. Following Starshame's arrest, the Justice League discovers that the title she shattered was layered with Element X—an element capable of rewriting history based solely on a person’s thoughts. With the belt broken into dozens of shards scattered across the multiverse, the AEW wrestlers and DC heroes must reluctantly join forces to recover them.
The roster splits into some truly unique pairings to track down the Element X fragments: Will Ospreay and Nightwing, Jon Moxley and Guy Gardner, Swerve Strickland and John Stewart, and a brooding duo in Darby Allin and Batman. Eventually, Mercedes Moné and Aquaman secure the final shard to finally piece the belt back together. However, in a shocking twist, Moné betrays Arthur and aligns herself with Lex Luthor. As it turns out, "The CEO" is a true belt collector and wants the ultimate prize for herself.
What Happens Next?
The fate of the multiverse now hangs in the balance thanks to the dastardly betrayal of Mercedes Moné. With Moné and Lex Luthor in control of the Element X-layered belt, they possess the power to bend and rewrite history at will. The fallout leaves the remaining AEW and DC heroes reeling: how will they come to terms with the fact that one of their own sold out the multiverse for power? More importantly, how can they possibly stop the combined intellect of Luthor and the ambition of "The CEO"?
The possibilities for future issues are tantalizing. Will we see an AEW heel and DC villain alliance? A Legion of Doom featuring the likes of MJF would be absolutely fantastic—a perfect way to integrate AEW’s most popular antagonists into the fold. DC x AEW #1 leaves us with enough burning questions and high-stakes drama to ensure the rest of the series remains a "must-read" on the pull list.
What Worked Well?
Writer Steve Orlando did an excellent job of bringing the uniqueness of each character into the pages of DC Comics. The attributes of what makes each AEW character so special are spot on--especially with Excalibur as the narrator of the story. The mannerisms, way of speaking, and even wrestling moves (Ospreay and the Tiger Driver ’91) are all on point, and exactly like we see on a weekly television. Orlando is also the writer who worked on 2024’s AEW Origins, so he is a real sicko like the rest of us. This means something to Orlando, and it comes across in DC X AEW #1.
The “twist” ending was so much fun, and even continues the in-ring story of the “Belt Collector” Mercedes Mone. She teamed up with Lex Luthor to make sure she, not the Justice League, ended up with the belt. So, while the DC X AEW #1 didn't start the strongest, it definitely ended on a high note. There are so many possibilities of what happens next in issue #2 and the rest of the series.
One tiny part of this issue, and will hopefully continue throughout the series, is that the DC heroes are so entrenched in kayfabe that they did not once wonder why the AEW wrestlers are there in the first place. I know it's silly, but this is the only way a crossover like this could have worked. In the history of comic books, when real-life characters interact, they are always treated as serious heroes. I'm glad it is working here. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Nightwing all see Hangman Page, Moxley, and Darby Allin as equals. That's so fun, and I'm sure it's really rewarding for the AEW Wrestlers. A feeling of disbelief and amazement must be flowing through their bodies every time they see this DC X AEW #1.
Nit Picks
As much as I enjoyed DC x AEW #1, it is not without its faults. The premise felt contrived and rushed; I realize there are only two scheduled issues for this crossover, meaning a lot has to be jam-packed into the page count, but the density was still noticeable. It felt like the narrative was sprinting toward the finish line from page one. The pacing was set at a breakneck speed—we flew by everything. We went from the reader trying to figure out what W.A.M. was to Mercedes Moné betraying the roster in what felt like moments.
I know the novelty of the idea—AEW wrestlers and DC icons working together—is supposed to do most of the heavy lifting in a story like this, but a couple more issues to flesh out a cohesive, rounded-out plot would have been nice. Because of the Flash-esque speed of the story, the team-ups between the wrestlers and heroes felt repetitive. I understand that limited space makes it tough for a creative team to tell a short, novelty story, but the formula was a bit too visible.
Each pairing, while amusing and entertaining, became somewhat monotonous. We got two to four pages of characters teaming up hesitantly, defeating a DC villain, and retrieving a lost shard. Every interaction followed that exact blueprint without deviation. While the chemistry between the specific characters was fun and helped break the monotony, the repetitiveness remained a prominent issue.
I’m still giving this story the benefit of the doubt, even with only one issue left to go. Hopefully, in DC x AEW #2, they can slow down just enough to stick the landing.
The Art
Travis Mercer did an exquisite job of bringing this wacky world to life. The most impressive aspect of his art is how each world melds into the others while using BUSY action sets. There is so much going on, and it could be easy for an artist to get carried away and lose the path for the reader to follow along. That is not the case for DC X AEW #1. Jumping from character to character and planet to planet can't be easy, and it all looks as beautifully chaotic as the story is.
Mercer’s Batman is GORGEOUS. That slick suit with minimal detail looks so good. I know he's worked on a few Batman-adjacent titles, but Mercer needs a proper Batman run to highlight his talent. Andrew Dalhouse’s color plays are why blue pops off the page. His use of that lighter blue is to die for.
If there is one quibble with the art, it is that some AEW wrestlers do not look like their characters. Most of the characters do not look like their real-life counterparts. This wouldn't be such an issue if we didnt have that amazing cover by Lucas Meyer. In those renderings, Meyer’s characters look exactly like Moxley, Nightingale, and Omega. However, the art is still fantastic, and Mercer’s take on the AEW wrestlers does not take away from the overall greatness of DC X AEW #1.
My Final Verdict
While it took a while to get going, DC X AEW #1 ended on a high note and has me interested in picking up issue #2. The job of the first issue is to hook you for the rest of the series, and I believe that DC X AEW #1 did just that, especially for AEW fans who wanted to see their favorite characters in the DC universe. Writer Steve Orlanado did a fantastic job of providing accurate depictions of AEW wrestlers in the comic book. His fandom spills over to his work, and you can tell he is passionate about the material. As a wrestling fan, that is all you can ask for.
Even with all of its faults, DC X AEW #1 is still a fun and entertaining issue that should make every AEW wrestling fan celebrate how far the start-up company has come since starting 5 years ago. While being drenched in corporate synergy, it is nice to see the second-most-popular wrestling promotion in the United States on such a big platform. So while the comic might leave something to be desired, AEW wrestling fans should be extremely happy to see Darby Allin and Batman on the same page!