Superman. Captain America. Batman. Thor. Iron Man. Wonder Woman. Those are familiar names, even to people that don’t read comics. Most people know they are heroes. But it takes a comic fan to know they are preeminent figures in comics and stalwart members of two of the most storied and legendary superhero teams in all of comics DC’s Justice League of America (JLA) and Marvel’s Avengers. Recently, DC and Marvel teamed up to publish ‘JLA/Avengers Book One: A Journey Into Mystery.’

The significance of this event lies with each company’s imminence: DC and Marvel are the Leno and Letterman of comics publishing. Unlike the late-nite funnymen however, the two companies have been battling it out for more than 50 years. Because of DC and Marvel’s heated rivalry for sales, it is rare when their respective heroes team-up for tales of daring. Though there have been a few campy crossovers in the past, nothing anywhere near as large as this project has ever come to fruition. Take the two biggest superhero teams in all of comics and throw them into the same comic? The idea seemed too large to even consider. Perhaps that is why it has taken 20 long years for this project to finally see the ink of a page.

With the publication of the first issue Sept. 3, this long awaited mini-series finally brings together the JLA and the Avengers, making the wet dream of every comic fanboy come true. A curious thing about the JLA/Avengers project is that even though the target audience is comic fanboys, many non-comic readers are becoming aware of this project simply because of its massive scope. Over the course of four issues and 200 pages, writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Perez painstakingly cover every character who was ever a member of the JLA and the Avengers, bringing them all together to deal with one epic cosmic threat.

While it seems the cosmic storyline seems to be the default when dealing with large amounts of superheroes teaming up, it’s difficult to look down on it in this case. Busiek and Perez have been working on this project for ages now, and it shows immediately from the start of the comic this is clearly not a haphazardly executed excuse to reap financial gain. Though it will turn a profit, the creators are obviously having the time of their lives creating copious amounts of fine-combed detail. A general knowledge of comics does help in understanding the more obscure references, but even the greenest of comic readers will grin and gape at the likes of the Flash having to take the bus in the Marvel Universe or Thor hurling his enchanted hammer Mjolnir right into Superman’s grill.

Printed in the prestige format, with 48 pages, glossy paper and no ads, this book is guaranteed to please anyone interested in comics, even those who are relatively new to the genre. The price is a hefty $5.95, but you certainly get what you pay for. Issue #2 goes on sale Oct. 22.