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The thing about comic book universes is that they are always about to end because of some intergalactic threat or a dimensional atrocity. For Marvel, they’ve got two of those happening at the same time as Hela and Knull arrive to do what they do best, which is destroy everything. The heroes are fighting back with Iron Man and Beta Ray Bill both leading their own team of Defenders in the crossover event.

Marvel has already announced the upcoming Queen in Black crossover event from Al Ewing and Iban Coello. As part of that storyline, Hela, goddess of death, and Knull. god of the void, are sweeping across existence to destroy everything they touch. Two sets of heroes are being formed to combat this threat. 

In Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark, writer Tom Waltz and artist Zé Carlos have Beta Ray Bill leading Photon, Sunfire, and Dagger in the fight against Hela. Meanwhile, Iron Man, in his new Darkforce armor, leads Darkstar, Agent Anti-Venom, and Cloak to take on Knull. These two revamped teams aren’t who you’d expect to be saving the world, but that is kind of the point. “These aren’t your normal Defenders,” Tom Waltz explained. “And teaming them up to help save the planet might seem unorthodox at first, but maybe a little super hero chaos is just what’s needed to help stop Hela and Knull’s own chaotic machinations.”

Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #1 (of 3) goes on sale July 8, 2026.

Want more? Make sure you've read our list of all the best Marvel Comics stories of all time, and get ready for all the free Marvel comics coming as part of this year's Free Comic Book Day 2026 / Comics Giveaway Day  2026 events.