DC has done a great job of tapping into He-Man nostalgia with their recent Masters of the Universe books. In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before Eternia's mightiest heroes crossed paths with the Justice League. They are all under one roof now. And while inter-universe crossovers are usually varying shades of generic and disappointing, DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe avoids many of the usual pitfalls.

The key to this book's success rests in retaining Keith Giffen as writer. Giffen has shown the right blend of reverence for the MotU mythology and willingness to make changes and poke fun at its more outlandish elements. None of that changes as he begins linking Eternia and Earth in a new conflict. But maybe “new” isn't the right word. This crossover manages to spin pretty organically out of the ongoing MotU series, with He-Man and friends still recouping from Hordak's takeover of Eternia and investigating Skeletor's disappearance. With a few logical ties to DC's magic-wielding heroes, the plot is off and running.The best that can be said about this issue is that Giffen manages to simultaneously appeal to that inner child that squeals at the thought of these two groups of characters crossing paths as well as that more discriminating side that demands more in-depth drama and nuanced characterization. This story is both silly and dark at the same time, and it works fabulously. For the most part. Giffen's Teela is as annoying here as she has been in the main series. Her constant snark and sexual tension with He-Man never lets up for an instant.Dexter Soy is, in many ways, an ideal fit for this crossover. His style is geared towards hulking figures and a surreal, even sinister edge to his environments, all of which suits the tone of this story well. At times the colors are too murky and overpowering, though,and Skeletor's new costume is every bit as goofy in execution as it looked upon its reveal. For now, DCU vs. MotU is more geared towards the magical side of both universes. The real challenge for Soy will come when the battle becomes more physical.That last fact may prove a sticking point for readers who are lured in by Ivan Reis' cover. So far, this is not a crossover predicated on heroes punching other heroes. The actual Justice League characters don't even appear. But this nontraditional approach is exactly what makes DCU vs. MotU work so well in the first place.

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