Marvel Comics pulled back the curtain on the next phase of its publishing plans during the annual Next Big Thing panel at San Diego Comic-Con, announcing a new Venom ongoing series, a starring role for Mary Jane Watson, and a four-part line of Infernal Hulk Vs. one-shots leading directly into Hulk War.
The panel also featured updates on Amazing Spider-Man #1000, Infernal Hulk, DNX, and Queen in Black, while revealing new details about upcoming Punisher and Deadpool titles.
Charles Soule reunites Eddie Brock and Venom
Launching in October, Venom #1 reunites Charles Soule with Marvel’s iconic symbiote alongside artist Tommaso Bianchi.
The new ongoing sees Eddie Brock and Venom bonded together once again after years apart. Determined to prove himself as the symbiote’s ultimate host, Eddie sets out to become the hero he believes he can be, regardless of what the rest of the Marvel Universe thinks.
“I am so thrilled to be relaunching VENOM with an all-new #1 this October with art by Tommaso Bianchi, who is doing astonishing work,” explains series writer Charles Soule. “Every panel leaps off the page into your eyeballs, it takes up room, it nests in your mind, which is a good thing in this case.”
“We are doing new things with the character that have not been done before. It is thrilling, it is fast-paced, and perhaps a bit provocative. Venom is the best. Venom rules. Venom. Venom. Venom.”
The series features a main cover by Davide Paratore and a variant cover by Nick Bradshaw.
Mary Jane takes center stage
Marvel also announced Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane, a five-issue limited series launching in November from writer Ashley Allen and artist Phil Noto.
Spinning out of the events of Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger and Queen in Black, the series follows Mary Jane Watson as she launches Watson Productions and begins a new career as a producer.
Her latest chapter quickly takes a dangerous turn when Chameleon targets her new venture. To fight back, Mary Jane will rely on her own resourcefulness along with a top-secret gift from Venom.
“I’m so excited to be taking Mary Jane on this next chapter!” shared FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD MARY JANE series writer Ashley Allen. “MJ has always understood people in a way few can, and that’s what makes this series so exciting to write. While we hinted at what’s coming in FACE IT, TIGER, MJ’s ready to plot her own story … even if it’s from behind the camera. But entertainment’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and MJ’s storytelling ambitions might put her in the direct path of someone who views her empathy as a threat to their plans.”
The debut issue features a cover by J. Scott Campbell.
The road to Hulk War expands
Marvel also revealed the complete lineup of Infernal Hulk Vs. one-shots, each serving as another step toward the publisher’s upcoming Hulk War event.
The lineup includes:
- Infernal Hulk Vs. Wolverine #1 (September) by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Jonas Scharf, where Wolverine leads the hunt to rescue mutants corrupted by Infernal Hulk.
- Infernal Hulk Vs. Fantastic Four #1 (October) by Johnson and Cian Tormey, revealing Reed Richards’ mysterious Immaculate Engine as Infernal Hulk’s next objective.
- Infernal Hulk Vs. Spider-Man #1 (November) by Johnson and Javier Pina, with Spider-Man launching a desperate rescue mission after the Baxter Building falls.
- Infernal Hulk Vs. Avengers #1 (December), written by Johnson, concluding the “March to Hulk War” as Earth’s last remaining heroes make their final stand.
Each issue features a cover by Nic Klein.
Deadpool and Punisher collide in “Big Guns”
Marvel also spotlighted the concluding chapters of Benjamin Percy’s crossover between Wade Wilson: Deadpool and Punisher.
October’s Wade Wilson: Deadpool #9, illustrated by Geoff Shaw, brings Bullseye into the hunt for the mysterious weapon known as Black Hole.
The crossover concludes in Punisher #9 by Percy and José Luis Soares, where Black Hole springs his trap as Bullseye, the Badpools, Punisher, and Deadpool collide in what Marvel describes as the wildest crossover of the year.
With new ongoing series, major Spider-Man expansions, and the full path to Hulk War now in place, Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel offered fans a clear roadmap for the publisher’s biggest stories heading into late 2026.
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