Marvel Comics used its Marvel Comics: Avengers Armageddon panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday to unveil a wave of announcements that set the stage for the publisher’s biggest stories heading into late 2026 and beyond.
The panel, billed as a look at the blockbuster event that’s reshaping the Marvel Universe, delivered new details on the finale of Avengers: Armageddon, the next chapter of Chip Zdarsky’s Avengers, Joshua Williamson’s expanding Iron Man run, and several surprise teases for 2027.
The biggest reveal centered on Avengers: Armageddon #5, the event’s finale arriving in October. Written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar, the issue promises the aftermath of the devastating fourth chapter as the world turns against its heroes.
According to Marvel’s solicitation:
“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!”
The newly revealed cover drives that point home, depicting David Colton hovering over what appear to be the fallen bodies of Iron Man, Sam Wilson, and the Thing amid a devastated battlefield.
“In AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON, we’re about to introduce something huge, that will set the scene for the future of the Marvel Universe,” explains series writer Chip Zdarsky. “I know how that sounds but trust me: it will.”
The panel also revealed Captain America #16, where Steve Rogers’ battle in Hell reaches its climax. The issue ties directly into Avengers: Armageddon, with Marvel teasing that the conflict spills into the living world and pushes the Marvel Universe toward Armageddon.
So what’s Captain America #16 about?
WHO WILL RULE HELL? 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!
The cover features Mephisto looming behind Captain America with enormous wings and a blood-soaked skull, while shattered glass in the foreground reflects Bucky Barnes, Iron Man, Thor, and Sam Wilson.
Marvel also previewed the future of Zdarsky’s new flagship Avengers series with teaser images for the book’s second story arc.
Iron Man accelerates toward issue #700
Joshua Williamson’s Iron Man is also getting a major expansion.
Marvel announced the series will move to a twice-monthly release schedule as it races toward the milestone Iron Man #700.
The publisher unveiled plans for:
- Iron Man #10 (October), finally unmasking the mysterious new Citizen V.
- CITIZEN V: UNMASKED! The new Citizen V has been stalking Tony Stark. Is he friend of foe? Can Citizen V protect Iron Man from Whiplash’s final attack? And why has he taken on Baron Zemo’s old Thunderbolts name? Finally, this issue: Learn all his secrets and history with Iron Man!
- Iron Man #11 (November), whose cover shows an imprisoned Tony Stark trapped inside an orb while Reed Richards and Sue Storm appear in sinister new roles.
- Iron Man #12 (December), kicking off “Incarcerated Iron Man Part 1,” with Tony behind bars.
- Iron Man #13 (December), launching “War Machines Part 1,” illustrated by Gleb Melnikov.
Marvel also revealed connecting covers for Iron Man #12 and #13 by Gleb Melnikov and Nolan Woodward.
A promotional double-page image showcased the growing cast surrounding the title. On Iron Man’s side stand Ghost, MODOK, and Whiplash, while the War Machine side features Madame Masque alongside the new Advanced Iron Man armor.
“‘The Incarcerated Iron Man’” is the story we’ve been building to since IRON MAN #1,” details series writer Joshua Williamson. “Tony has accepted his role as the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous hero and believes the Vault is the safest place for him to be, but that also means he’s locked up with some of his greatest enemies. But it’s a mystery how and why Tony finds himself behind bars. It’s been fun to build on his history and then take Tony in a new and unexpected direction. This turns the series into a high-stakes thriller.”
More teases for Marvel’s future
Among the additional reveals was a striking promotional image for Maximum X-Men, featuring Bishop, Firestar, Gambit, Justice, Wolverine, Colossus, Iceman, and Storm leading the team. Written by Christopher Yost with art by Tony S. Daniel.
On reuniting with Marvel’s Merry Mutants, Yost shared “I’ve worked on my fair share of X-Books over the years, but MAXIMUM X-MEN is everything I love about comics rolled into one— it’s underdog heroes saving the world from the biggest Avengers-level threats imaginable, it’s mind-breaking action and drama and everything people expect from X-Men, all with a classic Claremont vibe. Rolling MAXIMUM X-MEN out as part of the new world post-Armageddon only lets us spotlight the need for a story like this… and to top it all off, I get to work with legendary artist Tony Daniel. As a life-long X-Men fan, it doesn’t get any better!”
So what’s Maximum X-Men about?
In the wake of the events of Avengers: Armageddon, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are no more! So who will stand in defense of the Earth? The X-Men will! Storm gathers an elite team for just that task, including Wolverine, Colossus, Bishop, Iceman, Psylocke, Firestar and Justice! Mutants by birth, heroes by choice! And their first challenge is a full-on invasion from the Negative Zone! Is this Annihilus again—or something far, far worse?
“The X-Men have long been my favorite characters since discovering Giant Size X-Men #1 in the fourth grade,” Daniel added. “I’ve always dreamed of working on my favorite characters so it’s an incredible honor to launch MAXIMUM X-MEN with Chris. I’ve been a fan of Chris’s writing for a long time, but this is our first time joining forces. I’m already in love with the story in the first issue. Its vibe and energy reminds me so much of the kind of X-Men stories I loved as a child and I can’t wait for the audience to see what we have in store.”
Check out Daniel’s cover below!
Marvel also teased Avengers: The Red Line, a 2027 Punisher project carrying the ominous tagline:
“First you avenge. Then you punish.”
While no creative team or plot details were announced, the teaser strongly suggests Frank Castle will emerge in the aftermath of Avengers: Armageddon.
Zdarsky was similarly tight-lipped when it came to details.
“All I’ll say is Frank Castle is fun to write,” Zdarsky teased.
Another promotional image titled “Armageddon Assembles” spotlighted Iron Man alongside the phrase “The Future Is Iron,” hinting Tony Stark may play a central role once the event concludes.
Fans attending the SDCC panel also received an exclusive edition of Avengers: Armageddon #2 featuring a secret Chip Zdarsky cover teasing what’s next for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.