That is, unless they're so unbelievably random, so weirdly illogical and so, well, pointless that they turn from brilliant to brilliantly baffling. We've trawled through some of comic-dom's more scarring issues to bring you our pick of the weirdest, craziest and most WTF team-ups ever.
<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/923/923906.html'>Superman</a>+and+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/920/920776.html'>Bugs+Bunny</a>+(2000)
Issue: Superman & Bugs Bunny (Vol. 1)
Considering he's arguably the most prominent and universally recognised super-hero on the planet, DC has unsurprisingly pimped Superman out to more bonkers team-ups than almost the rest of them put together. 2000's DC Meets The Loony Tunes blended characters as well as universes, after Mr. Mxyzptlk teamed up with Do-Do to unleash all manner of mischief - specifically, merging Superman with Elmer Fudd (SuperFudd) and splicing Daffy Duck with Batman in the comic's only serviceable gag (The Duck Knight).
X-Men+and+Star+Trek+(1996)
Issue: Star Trek/X-Men
The X-Men's woeful interstellar track record continues (aside from The Phoenix Saga, natch) with a crossover that really shouldn't have boldly gone where no man (or mutant) had ever gone before. Long-inexplicably-throwaway-plot-short, the X-Men find themselves aboard the USS Enterprise attempting to stop a tag-team consisting of reality-warping nutjob Proteus and Kirk's less snazzy sounding frenemy Gary Mitchell. And if that sounds weird, just wait until you see Wolverine taken out by gangly elf-ears Spock.
Punisher+and+Archie+(1994)
Issue: Archie Meets The Punisher #1
Cheerfully and rather rightly billed as 'The Team-Up You Thought Would Never Happen' (mainly because no-one had ever even thought about the possibility in the first place), this bizarre set-up finds the world's most sociopathic superhero stumbling into the life of comics' sappiest suitor after chasing a thug who just so happens to be Archie's doppelganger. Alas, no blood is spilled, and it's actually pretty impressive to note that not only do both parties stay in character the whole time (with Frank's non-lethal methods at least given some form of explanation), but the hybrid art style - which was a jam project between both series' regular pencillers - actually works.
Superman+and+Muhammad+Ali+(1978)
Issue: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Far be it from IGN to ever question Muhammad Ali's strength (we're fairly sure he could still beat us up today), but we can't help but feel that pitting the Man of Steel against the Man of Very Manly Muscles throws up a couple of issues surrounding power levels. So it's handy that when the pair inevitably trade blows, it's beneath the Supes-depowering glare of another planet's red sun. United by an invading alien armada, the pair fight to determine who is Earth's Greatest Champion. As guest-star privileges go, Ali beats Superman into submission before teaming up to save the day.
Sonic+and+Sabrina+Teenage+Witch+(1999)
Issues: Sabrina The Teenage Witch #28/Sonic Super Special #10
Dear Whoever Greenlit This Trippy Team-Up; we'd like some of what you're on. Archie's wackiest witch finds herself set upon by Sega's speediest mascot after her arch-nemesis Ms Enchantra plucks Sonic from Mobius and hypnotises him into attacking. Throw in an oddly meta-plot (Salem the Cat collects his comics, apparently) and Sonic's defeat by cat litter, and you've got a tale more befuddling than Melissa Joan Hart's career.
Princess+Diana+and+X+Statix+(2003)
Issues: X-Statix #13-18
Marvel's relaunching of classic team book X-Force (bubblegum 90s soap opera) as the wildly, insanely different X-Statix (violent, perverted pop-culture satire) had already come under a barrage of criticism (the majority undeservedly so), but plans to release a book using the spirit of Princess Diana as one of the new heroines sparked worldwide outrage. Cue a hasty backtracking, and rehashing as exactly the same plot and arc, but with no real names or references to the Royals. Pop star Henrieta Hunter (Diana in all but hair colour) was brought back to life and aided the team in killing, amongst others, the Taliban with her empathic powers - that is, until she died. Again.
<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/923/923832.html'>Daredevil</a>+and+Uri+Geller+(1976)
Issue: Daredevil #133
One is a mentally questionable man blessed with an extraordinary, some may hypothesise, completely unbelievable power. The other is Matt Murdock. Stuffed with kitsch novelty factor, Geller aided Daredevil in defeating Mind-Wave and - we quote - His Fearsome Think Tank. While the idea of an issue full of Geller spending countless panels bending spoon after spoon sounds amazing, he was actually portrayed as an international adventurer possessing powerful telekinesis, who inevitably bends iron bars around the villain to save the day.
<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/914/914624.html'>Orson+Welles</a>+and+Superman+(1949)
Issue: Superman #62
Displaying a witty self-knowing rarely found in today's crossovers, this old-school team-up finds legendary actor and director Orson Welles calling for Superman's help after becoming trapped aboard a flying Martian saucer. Welles originally shot to fame when- his narration of H.G.Wells' alien invading novel War of the Worlds was so believable it made many listeners assume aliens really were taking over. In the comic, he broadcasts a warning to Earth that only Superman responds to. After all, as Lois astutely quips, "Who does Orson think he's kidding?"
Batman+and+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/021/021386.html'>Sherlock+Holmes</a>+(1987)
Issue: Detective Comics 50th Anniversary
Batman, for all his gadgets and fighting skills, doesn't half harp on about his credentials as the 'World's Greatest Detective'. Step forward literary detective God, Dr Sherlock Holmes. Admittedly, the logistics are a tad off (Holmes puts his prolonged 135-year old life down to 'a good diet'), but after stopping the nefarious plans of Moriarty's evil descendant, Batman and Robin bump into none other than the pipe-chomping genius himself. Who summarily flipkicks the pair's fleeing villain into touch.
Punisher+and+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://stars.ign.com/objects/916/916437.html'>Eminem</a>+(2009)
Issue: Eminem/Punisher 1
If 8 Mile proved anything, it's that Eminem is a man of many talents. Comic writing, it appears, is definitely not one of them. Yep, granted with Slim Shady's full approval, it's fair to say that Hulk scribe Fred Van Lente's story had more than a whiff of forced direction about it, with Eminem straining in every panel to appear harder than one of Marvel's most bloodthirsty, ruthless 'street' characters. A short misunderstanding (in which Shady beats the Punisher whilst rapping before gunning him down) is soon resolved when the pair team-up to chainsaw Punisher villain Barracuda to death. Cheery.
