Every year, we eagerly anticipate the numerous comic cons nationwide that celebrate geekdom! This year at New York Comic Con, fantastic news on what the Big 2 (Marvel and DC) have in store for us next year! Enough with my chit-chat. Let’s get into it, shall we?

MCU and Marvel Comics’ Next Big Thing

MCU and comic content this year is juicy—almost spicy, even! Some amazing shows are making their way to the small screens, while some of our favorites are returning for more! While the MCU is in good hands, the comic book side is in search of its Next Big Thing. Will Marvel bring mainline readers back, or will they have to face their Shadows of Tomorrow?

I Have High Hopes For the MCU’s Small Screen

The head of Marvel Animation and Television, Brad Winderbaum, made an appearance at New York Comic Con on Saturday to reveal what’s been cooking in the Marvel TV labs! First up, everyone got a sneak peek at animated season two trailers for X-Men ‘97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Season two of X-Men ‘97 picks up where we left off with our heroes teaming up to stop or convince Apocalypse from creating chaos. This is the TRUE Age of Apocalypse! With the fantastic body of work season one was, I’m excited to see how season two plays out!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will be one for the books. Not only do I trust the story to be immaculate, but we’re finally getting an animated cameo from Charlie Cox’s Daredevil in the series, as well as a black and gooey visitor. If you know, you know! I’m interested in the direction they’re going to take with this new season. I’ll admit that I wasn’t a big fan at first, but it eventually grew on me!

Not only are the animated shows coming back for blood, but so are the shows, specifically Daredevil: Born Again season two!

Season two of Daredevil: Born Again is something I know tons of fans and I are waiting for! The original series that premiered on Netflix years ago holds up well, and the new continuation of the series that dropped this year proved that the writers are still working with a flaming pen! It’s genuinely one of the MCU’s televised wonders of the world.

Do you know what else is wonderful? Wonder Man! Wonder Man, initially set for release this year, has been given an official release date of January 27, 2026. This 8-episode series will follow a struggling actor trying to secure the leading role in the silver screen reboot of the MCU’s Wonder Man film. Wonder Man is one of my favorite Marvel superheroes from the 90s to 2000s, and I’m excited to see how the story unfolds and if Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will nail the role (plot twist: he’s eating fr)!

Last up with the MCU, I’m excited to announce that we’re finally getting the long-awaited VisionQuest series dropping next year! With this and some of the other projects Kevin Feige ambitiously announced years ago (but never saw the light of day), I was shocked to see we’re finally getting it. Outside of Vision, we’re getting a visit from a not-so-friendly mechanical villain, and a sneak peek into what’s to come post-Agatha All Along, as well as some new faces that will help close out the Wanda trilogy. Although they only announced it’s dropping next year, they haven’t provided specifics; however, I believe a spring release would be a perfect fit for this series. Will you be tuning in?

What Is Their Next Big Thing?

Marvel Comics has announced the new era following One World After Doom, titled Next Big Thing. What does this entail? It entails a couple of events, new series, miniseries, and not-so-great news for the Ultimate Universe.

First on the docket is a new miniseries called Dungeons of Doom, where different factions try to raid the unoccupied Castle Doom. Little do they know, they’re going to have to fight like hell to escape! With One World Under Doom coming to a close, this makes for a fun miniseries! I hope some of the threats of Castle Doom make appearances in future comics. Like, scattered in different series at different times, to be honest. Dungeons of Doom releases in January 2026.

A comic I didn’t expect to be excited about is the new Iron Man series. Madam Masque tries to recreate what made Iron Man, Iron Man, and Tony must face this threat. I’m not too familiar with Iron Man stories, but I hope this makes me want to go back and read the others! Iron Man releases in January 2026.

Spider-Man is currently on a space adventure, but death spirals around him when he lands back on Earth. The Death Spiral event has Spider-Man team up with Venom and Carnage–frenemies of sorts–to take down a serial killer going after heroes and who has a bone to pick with Spider-Man. I remain hopeful, but the spider and spider-adjacent events are growing stale to me. Nonetheless, I remain confident as long as there’s a good story to be told.

While we’re on the topic of spider-adjacent events… the Queen In Black event launches summer 2026. What is it about? I’m not quite sure. I might sit this one out, to be honest. There’s a limited series about Knull coming out soon that both Knull and Hela play a role in, and maybe that’ll determine if I get around to reading. Nonetheless, I know it’s going to be a great event because of the King In Black event. I have a nagging fear that it won’t live up to the hype.

The Ultimate Letdown

The Ultimate Universe comics are some of Marvel’s best series to drop over the past year, and unfortunately, it’s coming to an end. Ultimate Spider-Man kicks off the cancellations first in December, while the remaining titles follow in February. The last Ultimate Universe comic will be Ultimate Wolverine #16 in April. They’ve assured fans that it’s going to have a good ending to close out the stories, but a part of me can’t help but wonder if the creators on these projects had more story to tell and are being cut short by Marvel themselves. Nonetheless, I, along with many other fans of the Ultimate Universe, am happy to have experienced this rebooted universe.

Shadows of Tomorrow

After the X-Men titles wrap up the current Age of Revelation comic storyline, the X-Men titles will be bannered under Shadows of Tomorrow. What does the overarching story entail? I’m not too sure. I believe it’ll center around demons of the characters’ past coming to the light, that will change the landscape of mutantdom forever. What I am sure of is that it’ll be a great time for X-Men fans with all the content dropping starting January 2026.

Starting strong, Inglorious X-Force is an ongoing series launching in January 2026, where Cable leads Hellverine, Archangel, and Boom-Boom on a mission to stop an assassination that he does not know all the details about. The holes in his memory are full of secrets that’ll not only change him, but will also change the trajectory of his teammates’ lives. I’m excited to see what Tim Seeley and Michael Sta. Maria do with this series. It feels like a breath of fresh air to have a new twist on the X-Force.

Another ongoing series I’m excited for is Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant! There’s a dangerous war being fought in the cosmos that Storm is unaware of due to her taking a break on Earth. This break, however, will go from well-needed to gut-wrenching. How can the mightiest mutant bounce back? Will she be able to stop further bloodshed? I’m excited to see the direction that Murewa Ayodele and Federica Mancin take this series in. Murewa has already delivered a phenomenal 12-issue Storm series, and is in charge of the upcoming Rogue Storm, so I know he’ll have no problem delivering a phenomenal story!

Two other ongoing series releasing in February 2026 are Generation X-23, which lays the groundwork for the next generation of X-subjects, and Wade Wilson: Deadpool, which has Deadpool confront something (or someone) from his past that makes all his previous sins unforgivable. To add to that, we’re getting a few limited series such as Cyclops (I’m STOKED), Rogue, and Magik and Colossus. I’m just happy that my boy, Cyclops, is finally getting his own run, even if it’s just a limited series! My boy deserves. Lastly, ongoing titles such as X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Exceptional X-Men, and Wolverine are returning. I haven’t been this excited to read X-Men titles since the age of Krakoa!

DC Comics Cannot Miss!

From news about the ongoing DC K.O. event, firm stances on AI, the Absolute Universe, and their next steps, DC Comics has made a name for themselves. Fans like me are excited for what DC has in store for us this upcoming year!

Batman: Knightfall

The comic book portion of the DC panel is hefty, so let me address the only televised piece of media first. It was announced that DC is adapting the early storyline of Batman: Knightfall into a multi-part animated film, with part one dropping next year! Batman: Knightfall, one of my favorite Batman stories (though that’s not saying much, given I haven’t read many Batman titles), is finally getting an animated release I’ve been praying for! Are any casual or diehard Batman fans excited for this? Let me know in the comments!

Comics Galore

There’s so much comic news from DC that it’s hard to figure out a starting point. So, let’s start with the small stuff and work our way up to the grand finale. And just because we’re starting with the small stuff, it doesn’t mean it’s a small feat!

Everything Is Absolute

Fans of DC Comics’ Absolute Universe are getting an added appetizer to their meal with the announcement of an Absolute Catwoman miniseries launching mid-2026. I know I’m excited to see what Scott and Che have in store for this Brazilian baddie! This, plus the launch of Absolute Green Arrow next year, means they’re making their rounds, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Additionally, fans of the Absolute Universe who tune into DC K.O. don’t have to worry about cameos interfering with their current stories. At least, that’s what Scott Snyder said. So, fans can rest easy knowing their faves are getting a fleshed-out story before a big crossover event. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any crossovers in DC K.O.!

Looking Beyond the Elseworlds

During the Jim Lee and Friends panel, it was revealed that DC K.O. will take the tournament-style event a step further by pulling entities from other universes into the tournament. No, I’m not talking about an alternate Superman, I’m talking about his egotistical fake and his friends. That’s right, Homelander from The Boys, Annabelle from The Conjuring, Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat, Red Sonja from Conan the Barbarian, Samantha the Bear from Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and Vampirella are joining the fray in February’s issue!

“Who doesn’t want to see Homelander fight Superman?” – Scott Snyder

I’m excited to see this interesting cast of characters enter the realm of DC Comics for an issue or two. What do they have to offer our heroes and villains that they don’t have? Will we finally put the power scaling conversations to rest and enjoy what’s going to pop off? I know I will! Scott Snyder also teased that there may be more guest characters joining the fight! Comment on who you think is joining the guest ensemble.

Taking It to the Next Level

DC Comics also revealed its comic lineup following the events of DC K.O., and it’s titled ‘Next Level.’ The best original logo is making a return with (hopefully all ongoing) series such as:

• Batwoman
• Deathstroke: Terminator
• Firestorm: The Nuclear Man
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat
• Zatanna
• Lobo
• The Demon
• Barbara Gordon: Breakout
• Legion of Superheroes 

They’re a star-studded list of writers and illustrators behind these series, such as Greg Rucka, Joshua Williamson, Jeff Lemire, Mariko Tamaki, and more! I know I’m the most hype for the Zatanna and Firestorm series.

Giving Me Vertigo

The highly anticipated Vertigo comics are spearheading a relaunch with ten new titles in February of 2026! I’m not that knowledgeable on past Vertigo titles, but I’m excited to give some of these a read at launch! The titles dropping are:

• Bleeding Hearts by Deniz Camp
• End of Life by Kyle Starks
• The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery by Chris Condon
• 100 Bullets: The US of Anger by Brian Azzarello
• Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy by Ram V
• Necrataceous by Tom Taylor
• Fanatic by Grace Ellis
• The Crying Doll by Mariko Tamaki
• A Walking Shadow by Simon Spurrier

Delayed not Denied

This one is controversial, but writer Rick Veitch and artist Michael Zulli can finally see the finale of their body of work from the comic run of Swamp Thing back in 1989. Issues #88-#91 were their final story, where Swamp Thing travels back in time and meets Jesus. It ends with Swamp Thing morphing into the cross on Calvary Hill. Initially, it was not published out of fear of controversy, but now, after thirty-six years, it’s finally seeing the light of day!

Their story will be featured in DC’s Black Label comics. Issue 88 will keep Zulli’s original artwork while Tom Mandrake and colorist Trish Mulvihill illustrate the remaining issues. Its initial release will be as a facsimile edition to mimic the format of the original series, and a trade paperback collection will follow later.

Down With the Chatbots!

Lastly, DC Comics president and publisher Jim Lee announced that their company does not support AI-generated storytelling or artwork, and assures us fans that its work will always have that human touch!

“People have an instinctive reaction to what feels authentic. We recoil from what feels fake. That’s why human creativity matters.” – Jim Lee.

During a time where everyone is using AI for everything, especially art and stories, it’s reassuring to hear that we’ll always have work created by humans in DC Comics! I don’t care if the work is good or bad; at least it’s made by us. So, down with AI!

A New Era Is On the Horizon

With a surge in comic book enthusiasts and the release of amazing new content, I’m excited to see the diverse conversations and the emergence of new fans that this era of Marvel and DC will bring! What’s something you’re excited to see from this stacked lineup? Comment down below!

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Signing Off,

Michael