The worlds of DC and Fortnite are about to collide. DC Comics and Epic Games have announced Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point, a six-issue crossover miniseries between the two properties arriving in April. The twice-monthly series is written by Christos Gage (in consultation with Epic Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard). The first issue of the series will feature art by Reilly Brown, Nelson DeCastro, and John Kalisz; artist Christian Duce will provide work for additional issues of the series. The first issue of the series will also sport covers by Mikel Janín and Kenneth Rocafort, and each issue of the series will be available with a premium variant by Mustard.
The release plans for Batman/Fortnite are incredibly ambitious. Each issue will release in print and digitally on the same day in North America, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and the Czech Republic (in each region/country’s respective native languages). Additionally, the print version of each issue will include a bonus code, not included with the digital version, for exclusive in-game gear; the first issue’s code will unlock a Rebirth Harley Quinn Outfit. Subscribers to the DC Universe Infinite service will also receive release-day access to the issues and bonus codes as part of their subscription.
Here’s how DC describes Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point:
A crack splits the sky above Gotham City… a tear in reality itself. This rift pulls the Dark Knight into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, with no memory of who he is or where he came from…Batman has been drawn into Fortnite!
As he fights to recall his past and escape an endless loop of chaos and struggle, he’ll come face-to-face with the likes of Renegade Raider, Fishstick, Bandolier, and more. While the world’s greatest detective strives to make sense of this strange new world, he’ll uncover the shocking truth about the Island, what lies beyond the Loop, and how everything is connected to the mysterious Zero Point.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point uncovers secrets never before revealed in game or anywhere else! Every fan of Batman, Fortnite, stunning art and edge-of-your-seat excitement won’t want to miss the Caped Crusader facing off against Fortnite champions on the Island, in a desperate attempt to save not only himself, but other familiar faces from the DCU…and perhaps the Multiverse itself!
In a statement announcing the collaboration between DC and Epic, Gage and Mustard described their enthusiasm for the project, and how the miniseries will reveal new, in-canon information about the world of Fortnite:
“When DC first approached me about doing a Batman/Fortnite series I thought it would be a lot of fun,” said series writer Christos Gage. ”After speaking with Donald [Mustard] and discovering just how deeply we’d be diving into the secrets behind the world of Fortnite, I was amazed! This series will reveal things about Fortnitethat have never been seen or heard before yet are very much part of the canon of the game.”
“I’m also looking forward to integrating other DC Super Heroes into the series, characters that Batman has existing relations with,” Gage continued. “It’ll be exciting to share with fans how these relationships will be reshaped in this new world. The art by Reilly, Christian, Nelson, and John is stunning, and my prediction is that this series will blow everybody’s mind, whether you’re a fan of DC, Batman or Fortnite.”
“When developing this project with DC, our mutual goal from day one has been to tell an awesome and authentic Batman story first and foremost,” said Donald Mustard, Chief Creative Officer for Epic Games. “Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point explores what would happen if you trapped the World’s Greatest Detective somewhere with no memory of who he is, in an environment that’s constantly changing. I can’t wait for readers to discover all the surprises, twists, and mysteries that we have in store for them!”
Batman isn’t the first comic book superhero to encounter the characters and world of Fortnite. Last year Marvel Comics teamed with Epic for a crossover during the game’s fourth season. The publisher also produced a comic tie-in to the series featuring Thor and Galactus, and released a series of variant covers for thirteen of their titles featuring Fortnite characters interacting with the heroes of the Marvel U.
A crossover between Batman and Fortnite may not be the most expected thing in the world, but it’s an incredibly smart move on DC’s part. Fortnite reportedly had 350 million players last year, and driving even a small fraction of that number to purchase a DC comic would be a huge win. The inclusion of exclusive digital codes with the physical releases of each issue is also a great way to drive new customer traffic to direct market retailers – or to lead new subscribers to DCU Infinite.
Check out Rocafort’s variant cover, as well as a preview of a few pages from the first issue of the series by Brown and DeCastro below. Look for Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #1 (of 6) to arrive in print and digitally on Tuesday, April 20th, 2021.