While perusing the January 2026 solicits for Marvel Comics, one particular item caught my eye: who is the “can’t miss blockbuster return creative team from Avengers’ past” on Avengers #34?
The issue itself is by writer Jed MacKay and artist Farid Karami, and has an intriguing tease of the time-traveling Kang “at the precipice of a NEW UNIVERSE.” Could that mean the return of the actual “New Universe” from 1986? We’ve already seen some of those characters popping up, and with Marvel ending the Ultimate Universe, perhaps an Ultimate New Universe is waiting in the wings.
But more interesting is the other tease mentioned above. The legacy-numbered issue #800 has a “spoiler variant cover by TBA” and is co-written by a “surprise writer” and drawn by a “surprise artist.”
“AVENGERS #800 is a milestone for both the title and our story, as we enter the grand finale of the story we’ve been telling for the last few years!” MacKay said via a press release accompanying Russell Dauterman’s wraparound connecting cover for issue #34-#36. “It’s been fantastic to be a part of such a big anniversary issue, and to have contributed to the history of the Avengers!”
So who else is contributing? If we’re going “New Universe” sadly a lot of the participants there have passed away, including recently, Jim Shooter. Still kicking, pun intended, are Kickers, Inc. creators Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz; though they’re not necessarily associated with Avengers despite contributing from time to time.
Bringing back Brian Michael Bendis for something would be a big deal, paired possibly with John Romita Jr or maybe his New Avengers compatriot David Finch. Similarly, Jonathan Hickman could come back with one of his artists, but given he’s been guesting throughout the Marvel Universe that would be less of a surprise. Kurt Busiek would be great, though he was most associated with the also departed George Pérez.
The biggest possible surprise? If they resurrected Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and convinced them to work together again. Hey, Kang does time travel – let’s make it happen!
Avengers #34 hits stores in January. You can check out the solicit info, below.
AVENGERS #34
JED MACKAY & SURPRISE WRITER (W) • FARID KARAMI & SURPRISE ARTIST (A)
WRAPAROUND COVER BY RUSSELL DAUTERMAN (ISSUES #34-36 ARE CONNECTING COVERS)
VARIANT COVER BY CAFU • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY CAFU
VARIANT COVER BY JUNGGEUN YOON • VARIANT COVER BY LEONARDO ROMERO
X-MEN TRADING CARD VARIANT COVER BY ALESSANDRO CAPPUCCIO
HOMAGE VARIANT COVER BY TBA • SPOILER VARIANT COVER BY TBA
AVENGERS LEGACY ISSUE #800!
• EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES mark a critical MILESTONE with eight hundred issues!
• Everything has been building toward this: MYRDDIN’s ENDGAME!
• KANG stands revealed at the precipice of a NEW UNIVERSE!
• PLUS: A SURPRISE CAN’T-MISS BLOCKBUSTER RETURN CREATIVE TEAM FROM AVENGERS’ PAST!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$7.99
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