​The time has finally come for Jonathan Hickman to give us another phenomenal Marvel event. After the success of the short-lived Ultimate universe, Hickman is leading Marvel comics into the Midnight Universe: a horrifying alternate reality with menacing vampires and gruesome science experiments.​
Three first issues were released the week of October 7th: Midnight Spider-Man by Phillip Kennedy-Johnson, Midnight Fantastic Four by Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker, and Midnight X-Men by Jonathon Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte. They were the only Marvel comics to be released this week, just in time for the Halloween season.
Of the three new titles, Midnight Fantastic Four starts the slowest. We get a glimpse into Reed Richards’ life in the Midnight Universe as a professor at the New York Institute of Technology. Reed’s dedication to his odd line of study doesn’t prevent him from developing the addiction that gets him kicked out. When Sue Storm approaches Reed with an offer to get him back on his feet, Reed accepts.​
There’s not much in this issue besides set-up for the rest of the arc, so it’s hard to parse the quality of this issue without the larger context. Walker’s art is fine, but compared to the other Midnight titles is a little more rugged and textured.​
Midnight Spider-Man begins right before Peter Parker’s 18th birthday. He’s a research assistant with a secret online identity that criticizes modern science corporations. This issue, like Midnight Fantastic Four, retells Peter’s origin in this new universe. However, we still have yet to see his powers in use.
Midnight Spider-Man is by far the most gruesome of the three Midnight titles, with fantastic art by ScieTronc. While the portrayal of Felicia Hardy, a.k.a. Black Cat, is a tad objectifying, the rest of the art is spectacularly suited to the horror genre. Midnight Spider-Man is set to be the most horrifying of the Midnight titles so far.​
Finally, Midnight X-Men takes the cake for the most interesting plot. Since the X-Men don’t need an origin story, we’re dropped right into the middle of their antics. In this universe, there are vampires and “empyres,” that is, mutant vampires. Classic familial vampire drama suits the mutant world perfectly, with long lineages and hidden operations. We get a glimpse of some mutants who have been turned, but the fate of others remains to be seen.
There are several different factions that Midnight X-Men seems to follow. The most exciting is the House of X, fronted by none other than Magneto and containing Polaris, Havok, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver. It seems that the mainline retcon of Wanda and Pietro’s parentage has been discarded in the Midnight continuity.
Hickman proved his capability to organize great storytelling during X-Men’s Krakoa era, so it’s no surprise that the Midnight Universe is already shaping up to be great. The darker twist to these heroes is a great way to shake up the status quo. Additionally, the Midnight Universe might prove to be a great jumping-on point for new fans. The biggest obstacle is Marvel’s tendency to stop series short before they find their rhythm. Right as the Ultimate universe took off, Ultimate Endgame came to shut it all down. Hopefully, Midnight will last a bit longer.
