Marvel’s stable of uplifting, inspirational heroes are exploring their dark sides in the new publishing line, Midnight Universe. It starts in Midnight X-Men with the mutant heroes thirsting for blood; in Midnight Fantastic Four, the team travels into the unknown to bring something terrible to the world; and in Midnight Spider-Man the Wallcrawler turns monstrous.

In the Midnight Universe, Marvel has given creators the opportunity to “reimagine heroes with shocking twists and chilling transformations in boundary-less, creator-driven storytelling,” according to their press release. Midnight X-Men is by Jonathan Hickman (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Matteo Della Fonte (Nova: Centurion), Midnight Fantastic Four is by Benjamin Percy (Punisher) and Kev Walker (Infernal Hulk), and Midnight Spider-Man is by Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Infernal Hulk) and new Marvel artist Scie Tronc.

“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 said. “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 main covers for the first issues of the Midnight Universe books will have Marvel’s Cloaked Covers in which a partial view of the cover is surrounded by black on the front and the full cover art is on the first page. Following the debuts, the front covers will be solid black with the title and cover art on the inside. Marvel revealed the cover for Midnight X-Men #1 by Dike Ruan.

Midnight X-Men introduces a version of New York City where vampires and the mutant empires rule the dark streets. Though the sword of Damocles is the only thing maintaining peace between the groups, a war is coming and everyone outside their factions are in danger. Midnight X-Men #1 goes on sale on August 5, 2026.

“I’m so enthusiastic about this project – it’s the most excited I’ve been in years,” Hickman said. “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.”

In Midnight Fantastic Four, a scientist’s singular focus on learning the universe’s secrets transforms himself and three others into something horrifying. The series will explore what they find in a new dimension and question if our world can survive what they have unleashed. The first issue will be in stores in September.

“When I imagined this other version of Marvel – a terrifying, poisoned universe – my mind immediately went to the Fantastic Four,” Percy said. “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.”

In Midnight Spider-Man, Oscorp tries to unlock the secret to eternal life, by turning Peter Parker into a grotesque spider hybrid. They start creating more human-animal hybrids using what they’ve learned from his mutation, prompting Peter to lean into the monster he has become to defeat Oscorp. It is scheduled to start in October.

“The work we’re doing right now on the Midnight line feels like history being made. 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,” Johnson said. “You don’t take on a job like reinventing Spider-Man to go halfway. I’m leaving it all in the ring with Midnight Spider-Man and I know Jonathan and Ben are doing the same.”