Another big comic convention means another series of announcements from major comic book publishers. For New York Comic Con, Marvel released big news for big franchises like X-Men and Spider-Man in recent days and continued to state that no, really, the Ultimate Universe will end next year. Let’s take them one at a time, shall we?
First, the larger Marvel universe. During Saturday’s “Next Big Thing” panel, the publisher revealed what’s to come after Doctor Doom’s reign on the planet ends in November. We already know that some characters will fight for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, and the new miniseries Dungeons of Doom by Philip Kennedy Johnson, Ben Percy, Charlemagne, Robert Gill, Justin Mason and Georges Jeanty will explore what happens when various factions attempt to ransack the now-vacant Castle Doom for its power and technology. This doesn’t go as planned, and they all end up in a labyrinth of dungeons where they now have to survive. Expect that in January.
In that same panel, a new Iron Man solo book was revealed. The title comes from DC writer Joshua Willamson and artist Carmen Carnero, and sees Tony Stark face off against a team of geniuses forced by Madame Masque to recreate his initial success in making an armored suit.
For Spider-Man heads, the big thing to know is that Peter Parker will be returning to Earth soon, after which he’ll be in Death Spiral Joe Kelly event (Amazing Spider-Man), Al Ewing (Poison), Charles Soule (Eddie Brock: Carnage) and Jesús Saiz (Eddie). The story sees Spider-Man teaming up with his two slimy friends to deal with a serial killer who comes after superheroes and with a specific ax to attack the webhead in particular. It will be released in February, and that summer there will be the Queen in Black event based on Knull’s recent return to the Venom region and the villain’s upcoming comic book.
Next, the X-Men are currently going through the Age of Revelation event set in the near future where Doug Ramsey (formerly Cypher, now Revelation) created a mutant utopia that doomed the rest of the world. Once this ends in late 2025, regular X-books like X-Men, weird and exceptional X-Men, and Wolverine will continue again under the new Shadows of Tomorrow banner, which is also bringing some new books.
Solo, Ciclope and Vampira will receive limited miniseries by Alex Paknadel and Roge Antonio and Erica Schultz and Luigi Zagaria, respectively. Plot details for Cyke’s book are under wraps, but Rogue will see her confront her past as a villain when it comes to “slam.” [her] right in your face,” and Destiny and Mystique will play a role in the story. Rogue #1 will be released in January and Cyclops #1 in February. For Magik fans, writer Ashley Allen and artist German Peralta are returning for a new story starring Illyana Rasputin and her brother Colossus in the five-issue series. Magic and Colossus miniseries also released in February. The team’s big new book is January’s Force X Ingloria by Tim Seeley and Michael Sta. Maria, starring Cable, Hellverine, Boom-Boom and Archangel.
The Deadpool, Storm, and Laura “Wolverine” Kinney books will continue, just with some creative teams and slightly new titles. Wade Wilson: Deadpool by Ben Percy and Geoff Shaw, Wade acquires new clients and a “worrying path”; Storm: Earth’s most powerful mutant from writer Murewa Ayodele and new artist Federica Mancin, we see Storm continue to protect the planet, unaware that the “most dangerous war there is” is looming on the horizon. Finally, Jody Houser and Jacopo Camagni Generation X-23 reunites Laura and Gabby as they meet their “long-lost friend” and “a new generation of X-subjects” who have followed Laura’s deadly side. All three will arrive in February.
Finally, Marvel has revealed new covers for the Ultimate books as they wrap up. End game end throw it away. The event’s comic history and the titles from which it originates—Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, etc. – it will all end in April 2026. Marvel EiC CB Cebulski recently declared that this is the definitive end for the universe, although some of its elements live on Earth-616, but it is not known exactly what this means. We will find out how this spirit will endure and to what extent this truly represents an ending in the coming months.
Want more news about io9? Check out when to expect the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars and Star Trek, what’s next in the DC Universe in film and TV and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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