The light had its turn.
For over 80 years, Marvel heroes have inspired hope. This October, that hope dies in the shadows of the MIDNIGHT UNIVERSE, a new publishing line where top creators unleash haunting new visions of Marvel’s greatest icons. The nightmare begins with three titles: MIDNIGHT X-MEN by Jonathan Hickman (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Matteo Della Fonte (Nova: Centurion); MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR by Benjamin Percy (Punisher) and Kev Walker (Infernal Hulk); and MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN by Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Infernal Hulk) and, in his exciting Marvel Comics debut, artist ScieTronc. The debut issues of all three titles will hit stands together on October 7 as the only new Marvel comics released that day, an impactful and rare move reflecting the project’s unique scope and potential to grip readers.
Dark. Unpredictable. Unmissable. The Midnight Universe draws in longtime fans and newcomers alike to enter a terrifying new world where anything can happen. Interconnected by rich lore-building, Marvel’s most definitive modern creators are given free rein to reimagine heroes with shocking twists and chilling transformations in boundary-less, creator-driven storytelling that will keep readers on edge issue after issue. The X-Men no longer fight for acceptance, they hunger for blood. The Fantastic Four venture into the unknown not to save the world—but to unleash terror upon it. And Spider-Man discovers that with great power… comes something monstrous.
“From the original New Universe to two Ultimate Universes, Marvel has a long history of creating and inspiring bold worlds filled with unforgettable characters and fresh ideas that feel new yet recognizable at the same time,” Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski explained. “With the new Midnight line, we’ve given some of our most outstanding creators the opportunity to delve into the darkest corners of their imaginations and birth some of the creepiest, most terrifying takes on the Marvel Universe you’ve ever seen.”
Midnight Universe Executive Editor Dan Buckley added, “The more we talked about Midnight, the more we realized it was far more than just the birth of another new universe—it was on an entirely different scale creatively, a doorway to something that was not only immediately exciting, but had immense long-term promise.”
“The world these creators are building is truly special and the passion behind the stories they’re envisioning was palpable,” Buckley continued. “We wanted to match their ambition with this unique launch plan, one that allows both retailers and fans to fully immerse themselves into this new line right from the start. When the clock strikes Midnight on October 7, these three series will unleash a bold new energy that we hope echoes throughout the industry for the foreseeable future.”
Befitting the line’s mysterious, ominous aura, the main covers of the MIDNIGHT titles will be Cloaked Covers, partially obscured with the full artwork revealed with a turn of the page. With the exception of the debut issues, the full artwork will remain shrouded in shadow, only revealing themselves to readers daring enough to pick them up on stands.
MIDNIGHT X-MEN #1
Midnight X-Men #1 Cloaked and Revealed Covers
The shadows of New York City are stalked by vampires and the mutant empyres. The sword of Damocles hangs over the peace between these two species and the factions within them. An outright war is brewing and the unturned will be caught in the crossfire.
On returning to the X-Men to deliver another visionary reinvention of mutantkind, Hickman said, “I haven’t been this excited about a book in a very long time. There are certain kinds of projects that I, and I think most fans, prefer for me to be working on: Ambitious stories with intricate plots and long-form payoffs, which is exactly what MIDNIGHT X-MEN is.”
“I was very excited when Marvel told me the revamped plans for the Midnight launch because when I read both Ben and Phillip’s first scripts—and even more than that when the art started rolling in—I knew that this line was going to be something special,” Hickman shared.
MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1
Midnight Fantastic Four #1 Cloaked and Revealed Covers
An obsessive scientist delves into the secrets of the universe perhaps best left unknown to mankind, leaving himself and three others warped in strange and horrifying ways. What horrible secrets lie in the new dimensions they have discovered? And can humanity survive the discovery?
On twisting the mythology of Marvel’s original super hero team, Percy said “Let’s be honest: any other circumstances, Marvel wouldn’t let me write the Fantastic Four. Because I’m too mean and evil for the first family. But this is the dark continuity of the Midnight Universe—a fresh origin story for the characters that channels cosmic, Lovecraftian terror—which makes it a perfect match for me. Mad science and cults and hidden realities await. The pacing is patient and full of dread and mystery and rich with a mythology that will feel both familiar and uncanny.”
MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN #1
Midnight Spider-Man #1 Cloaked and Revealed Covers
A young Peter Parker is transformed into a hideous spider hybrid by the ruthless Oscorp Corporation in their pursuit for eternal life. When Oscorp begins to use the secrets unlocked by his mutation to create more human-animal hybrids, Peter embraces his grotesque new form to stop them.
“Marvel’s putting a TON of trust in ScieTronc and me on this project, and we’re using that trust to make big asks and take big creative risks. I want to see a Spider-Man that was conceived by H.R. Giger, directed by David Cronenberg, adapted for the comic page by Junji Ito. I want Peter’s origin to be so upsetting it haunts me, and to see the Lizard and Doctor Octopus through the lens of a John Carpenter movie or a Resident Evil game. I’m so stoked for readers to see what we’re making.”
“The Midnight meetings with Jonathan and Ben continue to energize me, every time. I want my readers and fans to know I’ve never written a longer series outline than the one for MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN,” Johnson added. “By the time the first issue comes out, I’ll have written two 50-plus-issue series for Marvel and DC, but I want and expect MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN to be the longest, most epic series of my career… the series on which I bring everything I’ve learned to bear.”
Stay tuned for news about the Midnight Universe in the weeks ahead and experience it for yourself at your local comic shop on October 7.
Grab these comics and more at your local comic book shop! Or redeem your digital copy on the Marvel Unlimited app by using the code found in your print comic. Download the Marvel Unlimited app for iOS and Android devices today!
In this article: Midnight Universe,X-Men,Fantastic Four,Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
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