Over the last decade, the closest things Marvel has had to gauranteed hits are anything involving alternate universes, and anything written by Jonathan Hickman. And usually those two are tied together. First there was 2015’s “Secret Wars” universes colliding “Secret Wars” (helmed by Hickman), which now reportedly serves as the inspiration for what Marvel Studios is setting up with the next two upcoming Avengers movies. Then we had Hickman’s refresh of the X-Men line of comics in 2019 and then his reboot of the Ultimate universe in 2024. And now Hickman and company are at it again, but this time, things are getting horrifying.
Marvel Comics this week revealed a new publishing line, titled the “Midnight Universe”. Whereas the Ultimate universe was meant as a modern day refresh (entry point) for new readers that wasn’t meant to be tied to years of continuity, the “Midnight Universe” appears to be a dabbling in doing “horror” versions of our favorite Marvel superheroes.
From the press release put out by Marvel:
“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.””
The first three titles in the publishing line have now been revealed:
- “Midnight X-Men” by Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte
- “Midnight Fantastic Four” by Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker
- “Midnight Spider-Man” by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Scie Tronc
To explain all of the new titles, Marvel gave a detailed response (with input from the creative teams):
“The clock strikes midnight, and it’s the dark dawn of a new era, beginning with MIDNIGHT X-MEN! 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’m so enthusiastic about this project—it’s the most excited I’ve been in years. The conceit of MIDNIGHT X-MEN aligns perfectly with the kind of stories I like to tell. It has a rich, open-ended mythology that equally mixes old and new ideas into something that feels both familiar and original.”
Then, in MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR, 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 getting the chance to explore his darkest impulses, Percy explained, “If you’ve read my work, you know that I see the world through a dark, disturbed lens. To me, it’s always midnight,” Percy explained. “When Hickman called me, it was from a landline in the basement of an abandoned house with the wires cut. Blood poured from the receiver into my ear. I said yes.
“When I imagined this other version of Marvel—a terrifying, poisoned universe—my mind immediately went to the Fantastic Four. This is a title I have always loved, but would never be allowed to write otherwise. Now I could lean into my worst instincts and reimagine their story as one of cosmic, Lovecraftian dread. I am joined in this by the visionary Kev Walker, who is hard at work bringing a new origin story for Marvel’s ‘first family’ to screaming life. I can’t wait to share our nightmares with you.”
And in MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN, 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.
“The work we’re doing right now on the Midnight line feels like history being made,” Johnson shared. “We’re all bringing creator-owned sensibilities to our projects, we’re redefining boundaries, we’re reinventing these timeless characters in a way that’s never been done. Midnight is nothing like the main line, nothing like the Ultimate line. You will see things in these books that shock you.”
“You don’t take on a job like reinventing Spider-Man to go halfway,” he continued. “I’m leaving it all in the ring with MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN and I know Jonathan and Ben are doing the same.”
Are you looking forward to a horror twist on Marvel’s line of superheroes? The “Midnight Universe” begins with “Midnight X-Men” this August.
