Al Ewing and Iban Coello are cranking up the heat in Queen in Black #2. Arriving July 29, this issue throws the Avengers and the Fantastic Four directly into the crossfire of a massive cosmic power struggle. As the direct successor to the events of Venom (2025) and the Knull (2026) limited series, the stakes have never been higher: Hela has officially claimed the throne, and she’s leading a full-scale symbiote legion as the formidable new Queen in Black.
A Battle of Light and Void
Rather than retreating, Knull has seized the Lightforce Dimension for himself, reborn as the formidable God of the Void. Earth now stands as the ultimate prize in a brewing war between the Goddess of Death and the symbiotes’ original creator. Al Ewing is leaning heavily into the cosmic oddities of the Marvel Universe, reintroducing the Symbiote Intelligence in a “big and weird” expansion of the mythos. It’s a bold direction that promises to fundamentally reshape symbiote history.
QUEEN IN BLACK #2
Written by AL EWING
Art by IBAN COELLO
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
On Sale 7/29
In QUEEN IN BLACK #2, Tony Stark races against time, assembling powerful twin teams—Defenders of Light and Defenders of Dark—to battle Hela and Knull amidst the cosmic void. As their clash shakes the stars, Hela unleashes her devastating assault on Earth, forcing the Avengers into action for humanity’s survival. But chaos doesn’t end there: the monstrous Symbiote Intelligence descends upon New York City, igniting a fierce confrontation as Venom and the Fantastic Four leap into battle! Will heroes unite and overcome the tide of darkness threatening the universe?
Essential event tie-ins include QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK, a limited series following two groups of heroes specifically assembled by Iron Man and Beta Ray Bill to take down Hela and Knull; QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA and QUEEN IN BLACK: THOR, dual one-shots centered around Asgard that reveal how Hela overthrew Knull and bring Thor into the battle; QUEEN IN BLACK: VENOM UNCHAINED, a limited series starring Eddie Brock who must escape prison before joining the fight against Hela; and upcoming issues of VENOM, packed with key insights into the developments Venom, Dylan Brock, and Mary Jane will undergo in the saga and prepare them for an uncertain future…
QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK #1
Written by TOM WALTZ
Art by ZÉ CARLOS
Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
On Sale 7/8
UNLEASH THE HEROES! Beta Ray Bill is the only hero in Midgard who remembers Hela, the Goddess of Death… but does that mean he and his team can counter a Queen in Black? Meanwhile, Tony Stark’s all-new Black Metal Armor is the ultimate weapon against Knull, God of the Void… but does he have command of his own defense squad? This all leads to the mission that’ll decide the outcome of the Queen in Black saga!
QUEEN IN BLACK: VENOM UNCHAINED #1
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by JUANAN RAMÍREZ
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
On Sale 7/15
EDDIE BROCK, IMPRISONED! Eddie Brock is in prison after a failed bond with Carnage, and the Queen in Black is coming! Eddie wants to get back to Venom. But without a symbiote, how will he escape?!
QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA #1
Written by AL EWING
Art by CARLOS MAGNO
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
On Sale 7/8
THE QUEEN TAKES HER THRONE! All the secrets of the Queen in Black—revealed! Why were Hela and Tyr in Midgard when the Rainbow Bridge fell? How did she cage Knull, God of the Void? And which Thor tried to stop her? Balder the Brave seeks the answers from Karnilla of the Norns… but will he live to tell anyone else?
QUEEN IN BLACK: THOR #1
Written by AL EWING
Art by SERGIO DAVILA
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
On Sale 8/5
A TRUE KING RISES! As Beta Ray Bill battles Hela at the edge of space, he considers his role as the heir of Thor’s story… little dreaming that the story continues with Sigurd Jarlson or that the Death-Goddess has plans for the Mortal Thor. Somewhere in the city, a man with a hammer is about to face the ultimate test.
VENOM #260
Written by AL EWING
Art and Cover by CARLOS GÓMEZ
On Sale 7/8
THE LEGACY OF THE LETHAL PROTECTOR REVEALED. Months ago, Dylan Brock was killed by Carnage—and granted an audience with the Eventuality, the ultimate iteration of his father. He asked five questions, and he was given five answers – hints at a dark future waiting for him. Now that future is here…
