We live in an age of countless amazing fictional universes, as well as inevitable debates between different fandoms: which characters from one universe could beat the best and brightest from the other? Sometimes even famous actors have fun, like when Oscar Isaac considered his Moon Knight of the eponymous Marvel Cinematic Universe series would probably beat its Miguel “Spider-Man 2099” O’Hara from “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

Debates over the supremacy of different fandoms are arguably most entertaining when the franchises in question are so different that few people would even think to compare the two… like, say, Marvel’s “X-Men” and “Star Trek.” Surprisingly, the two iconic properties crossed over in 1996, thanks to the “Star Trek/X-Men” crossover comic. Among many other things you’d expect from such an encounter, the comic reveals just how well Wolverine, the X-Men’s resident adamantium-laced, knife-wielding wrecking ball, would fare in a one-on-one fight against Mr. Spock. The answer? Not very good.

As X-Man and the Enterprise’s first officer come face to face in one of the most enduring comic book traditions (i.e. a misunderstanding that causes a fight between two protagonists before they don’t team up), this can seem like a mismatch. After all, Wolverine has his adamantium claws, an extremely powerful healing ability, and combat experience to spare. However, Spock immediately proves that none of this means anything in the face of his patented Vulcan nerve pincer, which takes out the mutant with ease.

1996’s “Star Trek/X-Men” tells the story of the crew of the USS Enterprise encountering many familiar characters from the adventures of Marvel Mutants, an X-Men team consisting of Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Storm , Phoenix, Bishop and Gambit. several notable members of the Shi’ar alien race. The villain of the story is, fittingly, a hybrid of “Star Trek” character Gary Mitchell and X-Men villain Proteus, both associated with great reality-bending powers.

Sure, the heroes save the day after the initial misunderstandings, but that’s not the only time the two groups meet… although their next encounter comes with a twist. In 1998, Marvel published “Second Contact”, a sequel comic to the 1996 film “Star Trek: First Contact”, in which a group of X-Men and the crew of the Enterprise from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” team up to fight. none other than Kang the Conqueror.

While the X-Men themselves are still taking their first steps into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s fascinating to know that they have a pre-established crossover history with several “Star Trek” shows. 2024 “Deadpool and Wolverine” rated R shows how wild the MCU is willing to get with its mutant characters, so should the stars behind the scenes align, who knows? One day in the (probably distant) future, it may be possible to see Wolverine lose to Spock in glorious live action.