We live in a time 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 another? Sometimes, even famous actors get in on the fun, like when Oscar Isaac made him a knight of the moon from the Marvel Cinematic Universe show of the same name will likely beat his Miguel "Spider-Man 2099" O'Hara from "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse".

The various fandom supremacy debates are probably most entertaining when the franchises in question are so different that few would think to compare the two... like, say, Marvel's X-Men and Star Trek. Surprisingly enough, the two iconic properties actually crossed paths in 1996, thanks to the Star Trek/X-Men crossover comic. Among the many other things you'd expect from such an encounter, the comic reveals how the X-Men's resident adamantium-wielding, knife-wielding wrecking ball Wolverine would fare in a one-on-one fight against Mr. Spock. The answer? Not very well.

As the X-Man and Enterprise first officer come face-to-face in one of comics' most enduring traditions (ie, a misunderstanding that causes a fight between two protagonists before they team up), it might seem like a mismatch. After all, Wolverine has his adamantium claws, massively powerful healing ability, and combat experience. However, Spock immediately proves that none of this means anything in the face of his patented Vulcan nerve, which takes out the mutant in hand.

1996's Star Trek/X-Men tells the story of the crew of the USS Enterprise who encounter many characters familiar from Marvel's mutant adventures, from the X-Men team consisting of Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Storm, Phoenix, Bishop and Gambit to several notable members of the Shi'ari alien race. The villain of the story is, quite fittingly, a hybrid of the Star Trek character Gary Mitchell and the X-Men villain Proteus, both of whom are linked with major reality-bending powers.

Of course, the heroes save the day after initial misunderstandings, but this isn't the only time the two groups meet... though their next encounter comes with a twist. In 1998, Marvel published Second Contact, a follow-up comic to the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, in which a group of X-Men and the Enterprise crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation join forces in battle. . 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 come with a pre-established crossover history with multiple Star Trek shows. 2024 year R-rated "Deadpool & Wolverine" shows just how wild the MCU is willing to go with its mutant characters, so should the stars behind the scenes align, who knows? One day in the (no doubt distant) future, it may be possible to see Wolverine lose to Spock in live action glory.