Marvel’s summer event Queen in Black is getting a three-part tie-in series, Defenders of Light and Dark. Written by Tom Waltz (Knull) with art by Zé Carlos (who’ll contribute to the main series itself), the book will see Beta Ray Bill lead a team consisting of Monica Rambeau/Photon, Sunfire, and Dagger to take out Hela, while Iron Man (now wearing Darkforce armor), Darkstar, Flash Thompson/Agent Anti-Venom, and Cloak tackle Knull.
The synopsis states, “Beta Ray Bill is the only hero in Midgard who remembers Hela, the Goddess of Death… but does that mean he and his team can counter a Queen In Black? Meanwhile, Tony Stark’s all-new Black Metal Armor is the ultimate weapon against Knull, God of the Void… but does he have command of his own defense squad? It’s the mission that’ll decide the outcome of the entire conflict!”
Waltz comments, “Working with Al Ewing, Juanan Ramirez, and Erick Arciniega on the Knull miniseries was an absolute blast! And I’m very excited to rejoin Al and co. for more Marvel Cosmic fun with [the tie-in series]. We (or, rather, Tony Stark) have assembled a rag-tag team of superheroes to serve as the first line of Earth’s defense against the dual invasion threat of Knull and Lady Hela.”
He continues, saying, “These aren’t your normal Defenders — and teaming them up to help save the planet might seem unorthodox at first — but maybe a little superhero chaos is just what’s needed to stop Hela and Knull’s own chaotic machinations. The only way to find out is to join uber-talented artist Zé Carlos, me, and the rest of the creative team for this cosmic tale of bravery, sacrifice, renewal, and redemption!”
Issue #1 will be released on July 8, with covers by David Marquez, Peach Momoko, Whilce Portacio, and Davide Paratore, whose variants will be revealed at a later date. The book will arrive three-and-a-half years after the last Defenders series, Al Ewing and Javier Rodríguez‘s Defenders: Beyond, in 2022. Queen in Black #1, by Ewing and Iban Coello, will be released beforehand on July 1.
