Published May 20, 2026, 3:23 PM EDT
John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
Midnight Spider-Man writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson explains why Marvel's Midnight Universe was always going to be anything other than what fans were expecting.
In a TikTok video, Johnson responded to fans who have expressed their disappointment that Marvel Comics' upcoming Midnight Universe focuses on characters such as Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four rather than the publisher's more horror-centric characters. As it turns out, the Midnight Universe was never going to revolve around the likes of Blade or the Midnight Suns, and for good reason.
Marvel Comics' Midnight Universe as Explained by Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson
"People have been asking a lot of stuff about the upcoming Midnight Universe, and it seems like a lot of people were really surprised that we're not doing books like Midnight Sons, Blade, Ghost Rider, and Werewolf by Night, those kinds of things. That's kind of the point," Johnson explained.
"I think the number of people who were so surprised by that kind of proves the point of why we're doing what we're doing," Johnson added. "If we announced a horror reimagining of Blade, then that's not a reimagining at all... The Marvel Midnight Universe is a place where we are reimagining classic Marvel characters and stories through a hard-R [rated] horror lens. That's why we're doing classic characters like Spider-Man... We're trying something new."
What Is Marvel's Midnight Universe?
Image via Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics' upcoming Midnight Universe line of titles was teased in early May before the first full slate of titles was unveiled. Currently, the Midnight Universe will consist of three books, including Midnight Spider-Man by Johnson and artist Scie Tronc, Midnight X-Men by Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte, and Midnight Fantastic Four by Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker.
Each of these upcoming series will completely reintroduce its namesake characters as they have never been seen before. As described by Marvel Comics, "The Midnight Universe draws in longtime fans and newcomers alike to enter a terrifying new world where anything can happen. Interconnected by rich lore-building, Marvel’s most definitive modern creators are given free rein to reimagine heroes with shocking twists and chilling transformations in boundary-less, creator-driven storytelling that will keep readers on edge issue after issue."
While Spider-Man is set to undergo another monstrous transformation, The Fantastic Four of the Midnight Universe reportedly have their sights set on spreading terror wherever they possibly can. This seems to be the general mission of the X-Men of the Midnight Universe as well, albeit for different, more vampiric reasons.
Midnight X-Men writer Jonathan Hickman said of the upcoming series, "I’m so enthusiastic about this project — it's the most excited I've been in years. The conceit of Midnight X-Men aligns perfectly with the kind of stories I like to tell. It has a rich, open-ended mythology that equally mixes old and new ideas into something that feels both familiar and original."
Marvel's Midnight Universe launches in August 2026.
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