Hela is the New Queen in Black: Marvel Unleashes Hellish Symbiote Event at NYCC 2025

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Trevor Maddison
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Marvel Comics just dropped a bombshell at New York Comic Con 2025, revealing a new, terrifying chapter in its symbiote saga. Get ready for Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, to take center stage as the Queen in Black in a massive summer 2026 event. And as if that wasn’t enough, a brutal new crossover, Death Spiral, will pit Spider-Man, Venom, and Carnage against a terrifying new serial killer.

Just when you thought the symbiote corner of the Marvel Universe couldn’t get any darker, Marvel turns the dial up to eleven. During a packed “Spider-Man and His Venomous Friends” panel at NYCC 2025, the House of Ideas sent a shockwave through the fandom with the announcement of Queen in Black, a major summer 2026 event that will see Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, seize control of the symbiote hive. This shocking twist comes on the heels of the reveal of Death Spiral, a violent crossover that will rock the worlds of Spider-Man and Venom starting in February 2026.

Hela as the Queen in Black Caption: Hela stakes her claim as the Queen in Black. Credit: Marvel Comics Source: AIPT Comics

Hel Hath No Fury Like a Queen in Black

The upcoming Queen in Black event, helmed by superstar writer Al Ewing, promises to plunge the Marvel Universe into a new level of darkness. Spinning directly out of Ewing and Carlos Gómez’s acclaimed Venom run and the upcoming Knull solo series, the event will see Hela usurp the throne of the symbiote god. According to details revealed at the panel, Hela will use the captive Knull as a “human battery” to power her new, terrifying reign. The tagline for the event, “Hel will reign,” hints at a grim future for the heroes of the Marvel Universe.

This development follows the shocking cliffhanger in Venom #250 and sets the stage for a cosmic-level conflict that blends Asgardian mythology with the visceral horror of the symbiotes. Ewing, known for his mind-bending work on Immortal Hulk, teased the creative chaos to come, hinting that fans can expect a story where “a symbiote can even become a guitar.” With Hela in control, the already-unpredictable symbiotes are about to get a major power upgrade, and the entire Marvel Universe will be in her crosshairs.

A Deadly ‘Death Spiral’ for Spider-Man and Venom

Before Hela’s reign of terror begins, Marvel’s web-slingers and symbiote anti-heroes will be dragged into a brutal new crossover titled Death Spiral. Kicking off in February 2026 with Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral #1, the event will be written by a powerhouse team of Joe Kelly, Al Ewing, and Charles Soule, with art by Jesús Saíz. The crossover will see Spider-Man, Venom (now bonded with Mary Jane Watson), and Carnage (Eddie Brock) facing off against a new, super-powered serial killer known as Torment.

Death Spiral cover art Caption: The official cover art for Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral #1. Credit: Marvel Comics Source: Marvel.com

This “violent collision course” will run through issues of Amazing Spider-Man and Venom from February to April 2026, promising a street-level story of horror and suspense that will test our heroes like never before. The mystery of Torment, and what terrible secret Carnage has learned, will be at the heart of this dark new chapter in the Spider-Man saga. This crossover will undoubtedly have major ramifications for the upcoming Queen in Black event, setting the stage for Hela’s rise to power.

The Return of the King in Black

Of course, you can’t have a Queen in Black without the original King. The upcoming Knull solo series, launching in January 2026 from writers Al Ewing and Tom Waltz with art by Juanan Ramirez, will explore what happens when the primordial god of the void is imprisoned and used as a power source. Described as a “very dark” and “very violent” book, the series will see Knull break free from Hela’s grasp and seek his revenge. Preview art shown at NYCC even depicted Knull killing Celestials, proving that he’s as dangerous as ever. The series will also see Knull go up against a “really big Marvel character,” leaving fans to speculate who could possibly stand against the symbiote god.

What This Means for the Marvel Universe

These announcements signal a major shift in the Marvel Universe, with the symbiotes once again at the forefront of a major cosmic conflict. With Al Ewing as the architect of this new era, fans can expect a story that is both epic in scope and deeply personal, exploring themes of power, corruption, and the nature of darkness. The introduction of Hela as the Queen in Black is a game-changer, adding a new layer of mythological terror to the already-frightening world of the symbiotes. And with the Death Spiral crossover, the personal stakes for Spider-Man and his allies have never been higher.

For more on the ever-expanding world of symbiotes, be sure to check out our article on the evolution of Venom. And for a deeper dive into the history of Marvel’s cosmic entities, explore our breakdown of the cosmic hierarchy beyond Galactus.

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