Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on Marvel’s March 2026 solicitations, which include some early April releases as well. Hit the links for more information. Also check out previous posts about the return of the Sentry, the relaunch of Daredevil, a Red Band series featuring Jessica Jones, a new Darth Maul mini, Dani Moonstar‘s first solo series, X-Men United and Imperial Guardians.
Wonder Man will not only debut in his own Disney+ streaming series next year, but he’ll also appear in a five-issue miniseries by Gerry Duggan and Mark Buckingham. Duggan recently wrote the character in West Coast Avengers.
“Wonder Man has always been a favorite of mine, and so’s Mark Buckingham,” Duggan said. “To be able to collaborate with one of the kings of comics and a true gentleman has been a thrill and a privilege. Simon Williams dreams of Hollywood, and his city and show business has had a rough go of it. Join us for a very special debut, starring Wonder Man, his chosen family and the one he was born into. This one’s going to be special.”
The former villain’s past will come back to haunt him in the series:
Simon Williams has had his ups and down, from being manipulated into villainy by the Enchantress, to being one of the brightest stars in the Avengers! But just like Hollywood, no matter how low the lows, Simon keeps fighting the good fight! But what happens when the past finally catches up to him? Enter Randolph Chancellor: Simon’s former cellmate! A true love letter to L.A. as well as the history of Wonder Man!
“It is has been a delight to dive into Wonder Man’s world for this brand new solo series and a pleasure to work with Gerry Duggan,” Buckingham said. “Simon is a good man, who doesn’t always make the best choices. He takes care of his family and friends… but often to his own detriment. Especially when it comes to Randolph Chancellor.”
Paulo Siqueria drew the first issue’s cover, while Netho Diaz, Phil Noto and Buckingham provide variants:
Wonder Man #1 arrives in stores March 18.
Captain Marvel: Dark Past
Paul Jenkins is not only returning to Marvel to write the Sentry; he’s also writing a new miniseries that’ll explore Captain Marvel’s “dark past.”
“Captain Marvel is such a great character who has also appeared as Ms. Marvel, Warbird and even Binary,” Jenkins said. “With such a rich and complex past, under the guidance of so many amazing and talented writers, there is a ton of material for me to mine. I hope to bring my brand of characterization and storytelling to this great character, to examine what makes Carol who she is, and perhaps even to bring out a new wrinkle or two.”
Jenkins is joined by Lucas Werneck on the five-issue series. Ejikure provides a variant cover for the first issue, featuring Carol Danvers in her classic Ms. Marvel costume. The first issue comes out on April 1.
Fantastic Four: First Foes
Marvel will return to the world featured in this past summer’s Fantastic Four: First Steps film in a series of one-shots, starting with Fantastic Four: First Foes #1 in March. Dan Slott teams with Mark Buckingham, who drew the previous Fantastic Four: First Steps tie-in one-shot, for a story about the FF fighting the Mad Thinker. Phil Noto drew the cover and one of the variants, while Kaare Andrews drew the second variant, all shown above. It arrives March 4.
Web of Venom
OK, I didn’t read the recent Battleworld series so I’m trying to follow the chain of events that have brought a new red-and-blue symbiote to the Marvel universe, one who looks like a mash-up of the classic Spider-suit with Venom. Apparently that miniseries, which featured characters from all around the multiverse, introduced Eddie Parker of Earth-8294, who wore the Spider-Man/Venom suit. Then Mary Jane, the current Venom, sported the suit in a recent issue. And now apparently a third character will wear the suit in an upcoming one-shot. Confusing? No, it’s comics!
“I don’t want to say too much about who is in the suit this time around, but it’s a deeper cut character I’ve always had a soft spot for (and I think many faithful Marvel readers do too). I can say it’s an epic comeback (wink) that fans won’t want to miss!” said writer Jordan Morris.
Web of Venom by Morris, Ramon Rosanas, and Luke Ross arrives April 8, with a cover by Stefano Caselli, a variant by Pere Perez and a design variant by Luciano Vecchio.
Lo, there shall come … an ending
Jed MacKay will wrap up his time on Avengers with issue #36, which arrives in March. Farid Karami is the artist for the issue, which will feature the third connecting cover by Russell Dauterman and variants by Pete Woods and CF Villa, the original artist for MacKay’s run on Avengers.
“It’s sad to say goodbye to the Avengers after the last few years of chronicling their adventures, but we certainly had some fun- introducing them to the Impossible City, putting them against their old nemesis, Kang, and even putting them through their paces in the blood-soaked first ever Red Band event,” MacKay said. “I got to work with some of the best artists working today on some of the biggest characters Marvel has, and I’ll always remember my time with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fondly!”
The X-Men get an annual in March written by X-Men artist Ryan Stegman, featuring artwork by Stegman, Sanford Greene (who also drew a variant cover), Steve Skroce and more. It features three of the best X-Men in a crazy story:
When an all-new mutant menace known as the Creationist forces four artists to visualize monsters that tear through reality, the X-Men must survive an attack where imagination itself becomes the enemy. Now they have to stop the Creationist before his nightmare visions consume the world in an epic issue featuring several superstar guest artists.
Luciano Vecchio’s Iceman: Omega Infinity Comic will come to print in March, as the “omega mutant” who helped terraform Mars breaks out into a solo adventure.
Variants
Finally, let’s a take a look at some upcoming variants from the House of Ideas. First up, Daredevil relaunches in March, and it will feature a “blind bag” variant program. Very clever, eh? Here’s a look at the variants by Gabriele Dell’Otto, Alex Maleev, Ryan Stegman and Dan Panosian, along with a Marvel Rivals variant:
Godzilla: Infinity Roar debuts in February, and earlier this month Marvel and Toho International announced a series of cosmic variant covers for each issue, featuring cosmic characters battling giant monsters. The line-up includes:
- Captain Marvel Vs. Mothra by Paulo Siqueira
- Galactus Vs. King Ghidorah by Junggeun Yoon
- Cosmic Ghost Rider Vs. Destroyah by Dave Rapoza
- Thanos Vs. Rodan by E.J. Su
- Phoenix Vs. Mechagodzilla by Mark Brooks.
Here are the first three:
And jumping back to February, Marvel will release a series of “Hell’s Kitchen” variant covers in anticipations of the launch of the new Punisher series. Ario Anindito drew versions of several Marvel characters with a Punisher theme:
