J. Michael Straczynski’s Latest Series Will Unite Unlikely Duos From Across The Marvel Comics Universe

Writer J. Michael Straczynski has graced nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe with his masterful storytelling skills over the years, including acclaimed runs on Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Fantastic Four, and, most recently, Captain America.

Starting next January, we’ll follow Straczynski to wherever his imagination takes him next as he pens a new line of standalone one-shots that co-star two Marvel icons of his choosing…either in unexpected team-ups or action-packed showdowns!

In the spirit of recent best-selling comics like Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene’s Doom and Chip Zdarsky and Daniel Acuña’s Avengers: Twilight, Straczynski’s new one-shots invite all fans – new and longtime readers alike – to enjoy timeless and rousing stories featuring some of today’s most beloved and talked about Marvel characters.

A lineup of incredible artistic talent will join Straczynski: Will Robson, Bernard Chang, Elena Casagrande, Germán Peralta, Juan Ferreyra, and Phil Noto.

Straczynski and Robson kick things off in Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon where Doom does the one thing he never wants to do: ask for a favour. What awaits Rocket in Latveria? Mischief, miscommunication and an emotional journey across space and time in the Mighty Marvel Way.

Following that, Volstagg recruits the Sentinel of Liberty in Straczynski and Chang’s Captain America & Volstagg. When a war breaks out in the Nine Realms, Volstagg of the Warriors Three turns to the only man skilled enough to end it: Steve Rogers, Captain America. 

Here’s the full list of pairings:

Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon
Captain America & Volstagg
Nick Fury vs. Fin Fang Foom
Hulk & Doctor Strange (plus a backup story starring Aunt May & Agatha Harkness)
Ghost Rider vs. Galactus
Spider-Man vs. Doctor Octopus

“I like to go where the fun is, and the idea of putting together Marvel characters who had either never been paired before, or only minimally, seemed like it would be a ton of fun, and it was even more of a blast than I anticipated,” Straczynski explained.

“For the first time we could see the original Nick Fury in China along with the Flying Tigers taking on a newly awakened Fin Fang Foom…go to the edge of time and space with Rocket Raccoon and Doctor Doom…see the Ghost Rider slugging it out with none other than Galactus…Aunt May caught in the midst of a supernatural battle alongside Agatha Harkness…the more unlikely the pairing, the more eccentric the combo, the more fun it was to see it come to life.”

He added, “I’ve been sitting on news of this series for over a year and I’m so excited to know it will finally be hitting newsstands starting in January.”

You can see all the characters who will be put front and centre in this series of one-shots below courtesy of artist Leinil Francis Yu. We also have cover art for the first few issues.

DOCTOR DOOM & ROCKET RACCOON #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by WILL ROBSONCover by GARY FRANKPromo Variant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUOn Sale 1/22

CAPTAIN AMERICA & VOLSTAGG #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by BERNARD CHANGCover by TERRY DODSONOn Sale 2/26

NICK FURY VS. FIN FANG FOOM #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by ELENA CASAGRANDECover by GARY FRANKOn Sale March

HULK & DOCTOR STRANGE #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by GERMÁN PERALTACover by TERRY DODSONOn Sale May

GHOST RIDER VS. GALACTUS #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by JUAN FERREYRACover by TERRY DODSONOn Sale June

SPIDER-MAN VS. DOCTOR OCTOPUS #1Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKIArt by PHIL NOTOCover by TERRY DODSONOn Sale June