Christmas is going to be pretty wild in the Marvel Universe this year. Not only will Knull the Symbiote God finally arrive to invade and conquer the world with his symbiote hordes in King in Black, but the holidays themselves could be in jeopardy. A one shot tie-in issue featuring the unlikely pairing of Iron Man and Doctor Doom will see the two of them having to save Christmas as Santa Claus himself will become possessed by Knull’s symbiotes.
The one-shot issue will be coming from the mind of writer Christopher Cantwell with art by Salvador Larroca this December for the Christmas season. For his part, Cantwell will be the new Iron Man writer in all new ongoing series starting mid-September and will be bringing his new take on the Armored Avenger who’s going back to basics. This will be alongside a team-up with Doctor Doom, who is being labeled as “frenemy” to Iron Man, as the two have had quite the tumultuous history over the years in the Marvel Universe. However, what can bring people together more than Christmas cheer?
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Cantwell was excited about his work and the story they’ll be telling in King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1:
“As Marvel’s resident writer of armor-clad egomaniacs, it brings me so much joy to put Iron Man and Doctor Doom on the page together,” Cantwell told CBR. “I’m also incredibly honored to be included in such a massive event like King in Black, where I get to earn my first cross-over stripes. And this issue won’t be just a battle royale — at least, not between Tony and Victor. The two of them will once again be forced to reckon with their similarities to each other and difficult ‘frenemy’ status as they go up against one of the worst grotesqueries of Knull’s infected Earth… Santa Claus.”
If Jolly Old Saint Nick is going to be taken over by a symbiote, all bets are off and any grudges or pat personal issues will have to wait. Christmas needs saving and that trumps all. Here’s the cover image and solicitation for the upcoming tie-in issue:
KING IN BLACK: IRON MAN/DOCTOR DOOM #1
¨Written by CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL
¨Art by SALVADOR LARROCA
Iron Man has risked everything to save Eddie Brock, but now he’s left with nothing but guilt. As longtime ‘frenemy’ Doctor Doom shows up with both counseling words and ulterior motives, they’ll be forced to battle an all-too-familiar specter of the holiday season — albeit one now twisted and controlled by the recent invasion of Earth by the symbiote homeworld. As Iron Man and Doom fight as temporary allies, their unexpected encounter both with each other and a horrifying inversion of yuletide joy may ultimately reveal to them the true meaning of Knull-mas.
According to the solicitation, Iron Man will have tried to save Eddie Brock but perhaps fails in his efforts, leaving him with guilt. This definitely does not paint a pretty picture for Venom’s future when King in Black begins at the end of this years. Regardless, it should be equally ridiculous and awesome to see such an epic team-up happen to battle and hopefully save Symbiote Santa in King in Black.
