Marvel introduces new universe as a challenge to DC's Absolute line

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By

Jared Stewart

Published May 9, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot.

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For better or worse, Marvel Comics is stuffing all its eggs into one basket regarding epic events, alternate universes, and Marvel “architects_,” whose job it is to revitalize the line, at least for the next couple of years. This is not an alarming decision, either, seeing as how DC Comics has been wildly successful regarding its phenomenal Absolute universe, the recent DC K.O. event being spectacular (and rumored to be inspiring NetherRealm’s next DC fighting game), and Scott Snyder’s ubiquitousness and influence in DC Comics being so substantial via his role as a key creative architect.

Chip Zdarsky and Jonathan Hickman are now architects for Marvel Comics, with Zdarsky establishing a massive Avengers: Armageddon event for this summer that will apparently affect the Marvel line significantly thereafter, and Hickman having launched the cosmic Imperial event. According to Bleeding Cool, Hickman is now launching a brand-new Marvel Comics universe that was officially announced only recently, following the dissolution of Ultimate Spider-Man and the Earth-6160 Ultimate continuity.

Marvel Is Dipping Its Big Toe In Horror With ‘Midnight’

_ The zombified Avengers fight together in Marvel Zombies comic cover

Marvel is no stranger to horror across movies, TV shows, video games, and comic books, but its suddenly announced horror universe, dubbed Midnight_, is thrilling for all the ways it might rejuvenate Marvel and afford its mythology the same excuse as DC’s Absolute series to indulge in a tonally unique, topsy-turvy canon alongside its mainline universe. All that the actual announcement unveiled, though, was that the Midnight publishing line will boast “a terrifying new universe,” launch in fall 2026 (roughly four months from now, then), and have series and creative team reveals announced as early as next week.

It will be neat to see which iconic Marvel characters are folded into Midnight. It could be fun to see what a purely horror-oriented Spider-Man series might look like, for example, yet this could also be Marvel’s best opportunity to showcase obscure characters who are already lenient toward a horror slant, such as Lilith (Dracula’s daughter), Ghost Rider, Doctor Voodoo, Man-Wolf, Morbius, and Man-Thing.

​​​​​​​Is Midnight Marvel’s Answer To DC’s Absolute?

_ absolute batman mechs as robin

Committing to a horror publishing line seems like a fairly drastic measure. Therefore, the natural assumption is that Marvel’s Midnight_ horror universe is a direct response to how popular the mature and modern Absolute universe is for DC.

​​​​​​​The Absolute line is not necessarily horror-oriented, but, reading Absolute Batman and witnessing how terrifying a lot of its Batman rogues’ gallery villain designs are, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Marvel Comics has felt compelled to fabricate a universe that can be equally brazen with its characters’ traditional lore and looks.

Indeed, books like Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman are excellent because they essentially regale readers with retellings of characters’ origins. For instance, Diana being raised in Hell allows her to become the Witch of the Wild Isle and Princess of Hell, and Bruce Wayne having a parent to raise him throughout his childhood and young adulthood arguably enabled him to foster the loving support system and circle of friends he had.

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