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SDCC 2026: Armageddon leads to the Fall of the Avengers and a New Iron Age for Marvel Comics

Armageddon has fallen upon the Marvel Universe and a bold new age awaits the survivors! Writers Chip Zdarsky and Joshua Williamson took to the stage of the Avengers: Armageddon panel at San Diego Comic-Con to reveal new information about the final issue of Avengers: Armageddon, the climax of the current story in Captain America, the second arc of the new Avengers series and two new story arcs from the ongoing Iron Man series.

The Marvel Universe is at a turning point. After General Thunderbolt Ross, aka the Red Hulk, led an army of gamma-enhanced soldiers in a hostile effort to “spread democracy” across Europe, the Avengers dispatched their team to put an end to Ross’ conquest despite protest from the United Nations. David Colton, a former Captain America who recently received a vast power upgrade from the mysterious Origin Boxes, engaged Ross in a highly destructive battle resulting in collateral damage. In the aftermath of that battle, the Red Hulk was captured and removed to Russia by the Winter Guard while Iron Man discovered a highly dangerous piece of technology left behind that can show the user visions of possible futures.

The discovery of this machine and the consequences of Red Hulk and Colton’s battle will be explored in upcoming issues of Avengers: Armageddon and change how everyone in the Marvel Universe feels about super heroes… while setting the stage for November’s The Avengers #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto.

Prior to the events of Avengers: Armageddon, Steve Rogers confronted the Red Hulk and was placed into a coma for his efforts. Steve’s soul was then captured and pulled down into Hell where Victor Von Doom leads an uprising against Mephisto’s forces. Together with Doom, Steve’s noble deeds cause an army of the damned seeking redemption to follow him. Mephisto isn’t taking kindly to such actions and has assembled a horde of demons to confront Rogers and Doom, led by one of Rogers’ archenemies from back on Earth, the Red Skull.

Teasing the climactic events of Captain America #16 and the possibility of regime change in the netherworld, Zdarsky has said “Steve Rogers gets the chance to redefine Hell. Easy.”

While the opening arc for the new Avengers comic series is still being kept mostly under wraps, a teaser image by Chip Zdarsky depicting a cracked Punisher skull was revealed alongside the title of the second arc: ‘The Red Line.’ Zdarsky was tight-lipped when it came to details.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing Iron Man series by writer Joshua Williamson, Tony Stark has faced one of his greatest nightmares brought to life by a vengeful Madame Masque and a new incarnation of the terrorist group A.I.M. Stark’s continued reactions to A.I.M.’s manipulations have put him under the microscope of his fellow heroes while a mysterious new figure calling themselves Citizen V implores Tony’s closest companions to distance themselves from him. With dangerous technology making it out into the wild and his increasingly reckless behavior being scrutinized by the public, Stark ends up behind bars in the hi-tech prison known as The Vault as ‘The Incarcerated Iron Man’ kicks off in December with artist Carmen Carnero.

Beginning with Part 1 of ‘The Incarcerated Iron Man’ in Iron Man #12, the series will ship twice a month with alternating story arcs and artists through March 2027, as part of the lead up to Iron Man #700. It will feature art by Carmen Carnero for even-numbered issues and odd numbered issues features art by Gleb Melnikov.

In the even-numbered issues Tony Stark is in prison. While the odd numbered issues are taken over by the ‘War Machines.’ James “Rhodey” Rhodes puts together a new team of Armored Warriors to help take down Madame Masque, Adam Ware and the new A.I.M. while Tony is locked up.

IRON MAN #12 – ‘INCARCERATED IRON MAN’ PART 1

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by CARMEN CARNERO
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
Connecting Variant Cover by GLEB MELNIKOV & NOLAN WOODWARD
On Sale 12/2

IRON MAN #12

IRON MAN #13 – ‘WAR MACHINES’ PART 1

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by GLEB MELNIKOV
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
Connecting Variant Cover by GLEB MELNIKOV & NOLAN WOODWARD
On Sale 12/16

IRON MAN #13

DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN: THE FALL OF THE AVENGERS…

In Avengers: Armageddon #5, it’s the point of no return! After the cataclysmic events of the previous issue, the world is torn asunder. Humanity turns against super heroes. And for David Colton, what is the price of all that great power? See where the pieces fall in preparation for Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s The Avengers #1!

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Art by DELIO DIAZ and FRANK ALPIZAR
Cover by DIKE RUAN
On Sale 10/21

The point of no return! After the cataclysmic events of AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON #4, the world is torn asunder. Humanity turns against super heroes. And for David Colton, what is the price of all that great power? See where the pieces fall in preparation for Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s AVENGERS #1!

Avengers: Armageddon #5

WHO WILL RULE HELL?

In Captain America #16, the battle for Hell’s throne reaches its dramatic climax and Steve Rogers realizes he may have chosen the wrong side. The effects of the war spill out into the living world, bringing the Marvel Universe to the edge of ARMAGEDDON!

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Art and Cover by VALERIO SCHITI
On Sale 10/28

As the battle for Hell’s throne reaches its dramatic climax, Steve Rogers realizes he may have chosen the wrong side. The effects of the war spill out into the living world, bringing the Marvel Universe to the edge of ARMAGEDDON!

Captain America #16

IN THE WAKE OF ARMAGEDDON, A NEW TEAM ASSEMBLES…

With the world order completely rewritten after Avengers: Armageddon, there comes a day, a day unlike any other, when a new group of Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves united to avenge the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and [REDACTED]! The Avengers take center stage once again in the Marvel Universe, and it all starts in The Avengers #1.

Ultimate Universe: Finale teases what’s next for the Ultimate Universe… it’s NOT Ending

THE ULTIMATE GOODBYE…Following the events of Ultimate Endgame #5, the creative teams of all the Ultimate books come together one last time to say farewell…

Story: Jonathan Hickman, Bryan Hill, Chris Condon, Deniz Camp, Peach Momoko
Art: Marco Checchetto, Stefano Caselli, Alessandro Cappuccio, Juan Frigeri, Peach Momoko
Color: Marico Menyz, David Curiel, Bryan Valenza, Federico Blee
Letterer: Travis Lanham

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle


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Preview: Ultimate Universe: Finale #1

Ultimate Universe: Finale #1

(W) Peach Momoko, Bryan Hill, Chris Condon, Deniz Camp, Jonathan Hickman (A) Peach Momoko, Alessandro Cappuccio, Juan Frigeri, Marco Checchetto

THE ULTIMATE GOODBYE… Following the events of ULTIMATE ENDGAME #5, the creative teams of all the Ultimate books come together one last time to say farewell…

Cover of Marvel's Ultimate Universe comic issue #1 featuring characters Spider-Man, Iron Man, and other superheroes. The design includes vibrant colors and action poses, with a tagline 'FINALE' prominently displayed.

In the wake of Armageddon, Marvel announces Avengers from Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto

This November, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto reunite to launch a trailblazing new run of Avengers! The new ongoing series spins out of Avengers: Armageddon, the five-issue limited series by Zdarsky, Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar launching next week, which brings Earth’s Mightiest Heroes into a dramatically transformed Marvel Universe. Now, Earth itself needs to be avenged! A bold lineup of heroes—a mix of legendary Avengers, proven mainstays and wildcard newcomers—assemble to protect a broken world that has more reason than ever not to trust them. Once again, the Avengers take center stage in Marvel Comics storytelling, and it all starts here! 

EARTH’S MIGHTIEST SURVIVORS!

With the world order completely rewritten after the events of Avengers: Armageddon, a day unlike any other arrives, when a new group of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes find themselves united to avenge the Marvel Universe: SPIDER-MANWOLVERINECAPTAIN MARVELDAREDEVILLUKE CAGE and an all-new hero set to make their explosive debut soon!

Avengers #1 will be the next Marvel Comics launch available in True Believers Blind Bags, each containing an exclusive variant cover not available for regular ordering—including one-of-a-kind, hand drawn sketch covers by surprise contributors! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Avengers #1 announcements, including additional story information, variant cover reveals and more.

The path to Avengers #1 and the formation of Earth’s Mightiest Survivors begins next week with Avengers: Armageddon #1, on sale June 10. Avengers #1 debuts November 4.

Exclusive Preview: Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1

Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1

(W) Kevin Smith (A) Giuseppe Camuncoli
(I) Cam Smith, Roberto Poggi (C) Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega (L) Travis Lanham, Joe Sabino
(CA) Marco Checchetto and Guru-eFX (VCA) Michael Allred and Laura Allred, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith and Federico Blee, Jim Mahfood and Mike Spicer, Phil Noto, Rudy Siswanto

DOOM DECREES “THE DIM-WITTED DUO MUST DIE!”

Capped, tan American Jay and friendly neighborhood wider-man Silent Bob make a quick stop in the Marvel Universe! But when Doctor Doom decrees these Jersey guys must die, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men and and a whole hoary host of heroes must team up on a joint mission to save the dim-witted duo from a lethal case of super-hero fatigue!

Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1

Get a first look at Ultimate Universe: Finale #1

Marvel has released a first look at Ultimate Universe: Finale #1.

THE ULTIMATE GOODBYE… Following the events of Ultimate Endgame #5, the creative teams of all the Ultimate books come together one last time to say farewell…

Out June 10, it’s by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri; Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto; Bryan Edward Hill and Stefano Caselli; Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio; and Peach Momoko.

The Next Era of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Begins in Avengers: Armageddon #1

Avengers: Armageddon, a new event series by writer Chip Zdarsky and artists Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar, is set to transform Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a way not seen since Avengers: Disassembled. Spinning out Zdarsky’s current run of Captain America as well as One World Under DoomWolverine: Weapons of Armageddon and more, the long-awaited saga sees some of Marvel’s greatest icons assemble against Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, A.K.A the Red Hulk, whose takeover of Latveria puts the entire world in jeopardy. When the dust settles on the cataclysmic showdown, a new era of Avengers begins, complete with a bold new lineup that includes an all-new hero with unrivaled power. Today, fans can see all the covers for the debut issue and a special sneak peek.

The new preview brings together heroes from all across the Marvel Universe including the Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Bucky Barnes, Namor and the recently introduced Captain America, David Colton. The preview also reveals the terrifying new Hulk squad, one of the many way Ross aims to keep Latveria in his tight grip…

In addition to Dike Ruan’s main cover, Avengers: Armageddon #1 will feature variant covers by Jerome Opeña, Skottie Young, Chip Zdarsky, Kaare Andrews, and Jenny Frison. The issue will also have a variant cover featuring artwork from Alex Ross’ Marvel Dimensions and a top secret Spoiler Variant Cover by Marco Checchetto offering a glimpse at the seismic shocks in store for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Plus, each first printing of Avengers: Armageddon #1 will come with an exclusive Magic: The Gathering promo card featuring art by Ryan Stegman. This special “Warstorm Surge” card will also be presented a variant cover.

Check out the art and covers and preorder Avengers: Armageddon #1 at your local comic shop. Don’t miss a special prelude for the saga in Armageddon/X-Men #1 CGD 2026, available at your participating local comic shop on May 2, Comics Giveaway Day.

Avengers: Armageddon #1

The X-Men and Fantastic Four join Forces to Stop the X-Virus from Mutating Mankind in DNX!

EVOLUTION IS CONTAGIOUS! This September, the X-Men and Fantastic Four unite against a bombshell of a threat that even their combined intelligence and strength can’t overcome in DNX, a new five-issue comic book event series from writer Jed MacKay and artist Federico Vicentini. The latest in the two legendary super team’s history of iconic team-ups, DNX kicks off when the Chairman, the misguided original Hank McCoy, A.K.A. founding X-Man Beast, and his Machiavellian group of supervillains known as 3K prepare to unleash a virus that will forcibly—and horribly—transform humanity into mutants! This long-seeded plan, built up since the very beginning of MacKay’s hit run, hits the Marvel Universe with seismic repercussions that not only impact MacKay’s continuing work on the franchise, but upset the very balance between mutantkind and humanity as we know it!

Adding to the excitement of this new mutant milestone, DNX #1 will be the latest Marvel Comics launch available in True Believers Blind Bags, special sealed bags that contain exclusive variant covers not available for regular ordering, including rare, one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn sketch covers from surprise contributors.

THE X-VIRUS UNLEASHED!

The X-Men and 3K. Each steered by an original heir of Xavier, each with their own vision for the mutant people. Each at one another’s throats. Cyclops and the Chairman both experienced the future of the Age of Revelation and came home with a renewed mission: The X-Men to prevent that future. 3K to own it. While the X-Men seek out the Fantastic Four to help save one of their own, the White Beast begins his plan to unleash the X-Virus in a major population area!

DNX #1 True Believers Blind Bags will only contain exclusive variant covers not available for regular ordering. The main cover and regular open-to-order variant covers cannot be found in True Believers Blind Bags. See below for a list of the exclusive blind bag variant covers. In addition to those listed, fans can once again look forward to super rare exclusive covers by surprise contributors, including hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind sketch covers.

EACH BLIND BAG CONTAINS ONE OF THESE VARIANT COVERS TO DNX #1

  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER B BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER C BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • DNX COLLECTION VARIANT COVER D BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
  • BLACK AND WHITE X VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YU
  • VARIANT COVER BY FANYANG
  • VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
  • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
  • ANIMATION VARIANT COVER
  • NEGATIVE SPACE FOIL VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
  • MARVEL RIVALS VARIANT COVER BY NETEASE GAMES
  • BLANK VARIANT COVER
  • WRAPAROUND VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS GIARRUSSO
  • VARIANT COVER BY KEN LASHLEY
  • OR ONE OF SEVERAL RARE, HAND-DRAWN SKETCH COVERS BY SURPRISE CONTRIBUTORS!

Check out Kaare Andrews’ “Hidden” main cover, with one version you see on the shelf and an alternate version hiding underneath. Open-to-order variant covers revealed today include Vicentini’s epic connecting covers for all five issues along with pieces by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan Stegman, Marco Checchetto and John Tyler Christopher’s latest Negative Space Variant Cover, which will also be available as a Blind Bag exclusive virgin variant cover.

Get your first look at DNX during Comics Giveaway Day on May 2 by picking up Armageddon/X-Men #1 CGD 2026 at your local participating comic shop and stay tuned for more news about the series in the months ahead.

Ultimate Spider-Man #24 succeeds because it brings all of what made this book great to a crescendo

Finally, one of the Ultimate Universe books sticks the landing, and of course, it’s the flagship title Ultimate Spider-Man with Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, David Messina, and Matthew Wilson concluding the series on a suitably heartfelt note. The strength of this series has been its focus on the web (Pun intended) of relationships between Peter Parker and his family and friends, and the extra pages in Ultimate Spider-Man #24 gives plenty of space for character-driven grace notes as well as an exciting battle royale against Kingpin, Mr. Negative, Mysterio, and Earth 6160’s Anti-Venom, who is a gnarly love child of Todd McFarlane spaghetti webbing and John Romita Jr. bulky design with a sleek high tech Hickman twist.

To use a vastly different comic as a metaphor, Ultimate Spider-Man #24 has a nice balance of love and rockets. Checchetto and Messina draw some big, physical action sequences especially when an enhanced Wilson Fisk is involved. However, they and Hickman also make a flashback to when Mary Jane realized she was pregnant with Richard end up becoming the crux of the issue and probably the whole run. There’s a clear throughline to Peter unexpectedly becoming a father and also obtaining superpowers, and it’s been cool to see his relationship with his son Richard develop throughout the series as he takes on the mantle of Spider-Man, er, Venom. (I was kind of sad to see Peter’s interactions with May kind of tail off because her being the only one to know he was Spider-Man was an adorable highlight of early Ultimate Spider-Man issues.) Richard levels up and has a big damn superhero moment in Ultimate Spider-Man #24, but it’s nice that the comic doesn’t end with some big blast of energy instead giving the Parker family some time to breathe and reflect before leaping headlong into the action of Ultimate Endgame in which Peter plays a key role.

Ultimate Spider-Man #24’s excellent rounding out of character arcs doesn’t just apply to the Parkers, but to their friends the Osborns as well. Harry Osborn wants to be a heroic figure like his friend Peter Parker, but he’s caught in the middle between his wife who has merged with four other people to be Mysterio and his father Norman, who taunts him via AI. So, he doesn’t really do anything in the big final battle except watch the Maker’s Council try to rebuild and watch Mysterio consolidate power and not resemble the woman he married in the slightest. These scenes and Harry’s whole arc in Ultimate Spider-Man explore what if your family was a negative influence on you as a hero instead of giving you something worthy to fight for. This search for motivation is what ends up being the last stop for Harry in Ultimate Spider-Man (I’m sure we’ll see him in Endgame.), and it’s cool seeing Peter take up a mentor role in his life as well as being his best friend. In a positive way, it reminds me of Peter and Harry’s relationship in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films sans the James Franco smarminess and with more cool tech because this is in fact a Jonathan Hickman comic.

Without gratuitous guest stars and through an epic broadcast/monologue from those truth-searching newspapermen Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson, Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and David Messina align Ultimate Spider-Man with the anti-fascism and capitalism of Deniz Camp and company’s The Ultimates. The narrative captions add a heft and relevance to the book’s extended fisticuffs/whatever is going on with Richard Parker’s web fluid/symbiote. You can see why these characters play a key role in Ultimate Endgame, but as I mentioned earlier, Jonathan Hickman doesn’t focus on big political statements, but every day resistance through the lens of an iconic superhero and his supporting cast.

Ultimate Spider-Man #24 succeeds because it brings all of what made this book great to a crescendo. There’s the action against colorful, tech savvy, ultracapitalist villains, a grounding in family and friends, and even some romance, both mature between Peter and Mary Jane and developing between Richard and Black Cat. Add the gorgeous art from Marco Checchetto and David Messina and solid coloring from Matthew Wilson (He nails the flat colors for the Venom/Anti-Venom fight scene.), and this is a memorable final chapter in this superhero comic for grown-ups that still know has to have fun and will go down as an evergreen run for Marvel’s mighty webslinger.

Story: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Marco Checchetto and David Messina
Colors: Matthew Wilson Letters: Cory Petit
Story: 8.6 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus ComicsKindle

Jay & Silent Bob Crash the Marvel Universe in Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past

It’s real! This summer, Jay & Silent Bob team up with Marvel’s heroes in Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past, a one-shot written by Kevin Smith and drawn by Giuseppe Camuncoli.

A lifelong True Believer, Kevin Smith has contributed to the Marvel legacy with his own Marvel Comics projects, frequent Marvel references in his film work and fun cameos on the comic page. Now, the moment he and fans have waited decades for finally arrives as his most beloved creations, Jay & Silent Bob, enter the Marvel Universe in a multiverse-shattering one-shot! The duo will go on a wild trip across the Marvel mythos, teaming up with its greatest heroes against Doctor Doom, in an adventure that blends their iconic slacker humor with super hero storytelling!

THEY’RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS UNIVERSE!

Capped, tan American Jay and friendly neighborhood wider-man Silent Bob make a quick stop in the Marvel Universe! But when Doctor Doom decrees these Jersey guys must die, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men and a whole hoary host of heroes must team up on a joint mission to save the dimwitted duo from a lethal case of super hero overload!

Check out the main cover by acclaimed artist Marco Checchetto and preorder Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 at your local comic shop today!

Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1
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