The Darkhold has a long and storied history in the Marvel Universe – both in the comics, where it was first introduced back in June 1972 in the pages of Marvel Spotlight #4, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where it has appeared canonically in ‘WandaVision’ and as well as the tangential TV series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ and ‘Runaways.’
Before we see the book next on-screen – likely in next year’s ‘Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness’ – this Fall, Marvel Comics will feature the dark tome in a series of one-shot special-issue stories, featuring characters from across the pages of the company’s various titles. Written by long-time comics writer Steve Orlando, the tale will start with the self-titled Darkhold Alpha #1 before moving from character to character via their own special issues.
Details of the story are being kept mostly under wraps, but Marvel does tell us that both the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom will try (and apparently fail to some degree) to contain the Darkhold from wreaking it’s magical destruction across the Marvel Universe. The company was kind enough to share the covers to two of the upcoming special issues, Darkhold: Iron Man #1 and Darkhold: Blade #1, as well as some design drawings and a few behind-the-scenes looks at a few of the comics’ pages.
Take a peek at all the goodness! Click each image to enlarge them.
Here is the “official” description of the crossover event, directly from Marvel themselves:
This September, a new mystical Marvel saga begins in DARKHOLD ALPHA #1! Written by Steve Orlando with art by Cian Tormey, this extraordinary one-shot will kick off an all-new story centered around the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom as they prevent the recently resurfaced Darkhold text from unleashing chaos on the Marvel Universe. The highly anticipated epic will be told through a series of one-shots, each centering on a different hero recruited to combat the Darkhold’s horrifying effects. Two of these mind-melting adventures will release this October: DARKHOLD: IRON MAN #1 and DARKHOLD: BLADE #1!
Ryan North, the brilliant mind behind The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, teams up with artist Guillermo Sanna to bring you the body-horror tale of the century in DARKHOLD: IRON MAN! Called forth to face the dread god Chthon, Iron Man reads from the ancient ill-fated text known as the Darkhold…and it changes the course of his entire life. The armor that has saved him countless times is about to become a prison — one whose only escape is a fate worse than death.
Emmy-nominated writer Daniel Kibblesmith, known for his bold work on the Loki comic book series, and artist Federico Sabbatini will bring Marvel’s resident vampire hunter into the action in DARKHOLD: BLADE! After reading from the cursed Darkhold, Blade attempts to enter Chthon’s dimension and stop the ancient god from destroying the Multiverse. But reading the book has changed all their lives and histories…and for Blade, the consequences are far-reaching. Vampires rule the world, and he rules over them all. But there are some heroes left—and Blade is not as omniscient as he thinks.
Enter the Darkhold if you dare when this strange and terrifying saga begins this fall!
The Darkhold Saga will kick off with Darkhold Alpha #1 this Fall from Marvel Comics, both digitally and at your local comic shop.
