The light had its turn, now it’s time to dive into darkness with Marvel Comics Midnight imprint. This new line of comics re-imagines three of Marvel’s most iconic franchises, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and X-Men into modern-day horror tales.
For Midnight X-Men #1, the series drops us into a chilling, gothic alternate universe. Here, New York City is caught in a brutal cold war between humans, pure vampires and mutant vampires known as empyres. All factions are locked into a tenuous truce, with the agreement that “the peace must hold.” But rising tensions threaten to make that goal impossible…
The Crusade
The issue starts at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. A high-ranking church delegation rolls up, led by none other than Cardinal Stryker. Alongside him are armed, hooded guards called Purifiers and their leader, Major Corvo. Stryker leaves the muscle outside because the only weapon St. Patrick’s will allow inside is the Sword of Faith. Inside the cathedral transept, Stryker meets Sister Aquilla, a glowing-eyed nun originally from the hidden Amazonian society of Nova Roma, before finally coming face-to-face with Bishop Wagner.
That’s right. Kurt Wagner, the blue-skinned, swashbuckling Nightcrawler, is a high-ranking Bishop in the Midnight Universe. It fits because in the main 616 continuity and most adaptations, Kurt is a staunch Catholic whose faith acts as source of comfort for the fuzzy blue elf. He also almost became a priest in the main comics years ago, so making him a Bishop a nice nod to that.
Stryker hands Kurt a formal, wax-sealed decree from the Pope that was originally written a month ago. What does it say? It’s a form laying out the boundaries of Stryker’s ability to act independently of Kurt’s archdiocese. Because Stryker and his Purifiers aren’t just here for a casual visit. They are on a crusade to kill out vampires.
“Which kind?” a stunned Kurt asks.
“Yours,” Stryker says, making it clear mutants will not be spared in his crusade.
Later that day, Stryker meets with Kurt in the church’s garden to check on him. Kurt says he needed a moment to consider what it means for the new world to re-embrace the old ways. Stryker argues that killing vampires is not comparable to the sin of committing murder. Humanity has been at war with these creatures for centuries and eliminating them is, to him, a just act. Their conversation is polite but tense as Stryker mentions that many of these empyres were X-Men and Kurt’s friends. It also doesn’t help that nobody knows how the blue mutant was able to ascend all the way to get his rank as Bishop.
Before Stryker leaves to secure the Purifiers’ parish, he reminds Kurt that while their methods are different, the two are still on the same mission of mercy. “What is it we used to say? God loves. Man kills,” Stryker says. “Well, now we have an altogether different thing to consider…”
The Cold War
It’s been 3,268 days since the first instance of vampiric infection was recorded. It’s also been 3,106 days since Citizen Tilby, a clever nod to classic X-Men journalist Trish Tilby, started her broadcast. Either a vampire or empyre is trying to sneak something into the city and she’s asking anyone who can decode her codex to investigate the matter. It really highlights how desperate the human population is in this grim world.
Beneath the streets of NYC, a group of nervous human operatives sneak into a hidden Toriac bunker underneath the Watchtower. One rookie named Hope tags along after cracking a digital prime codex and found the decryption key to get in. The group is hunting down a strange anomaly. What they find instead are high-tech strongholds (coffins) housing dormant cybernetic-enhanced V-Class Reavers.
The lights cut out briefly but when they’re back on, the Reavers wake up and slaughter every human save Hope. Unknown to the group, Quicksilver was watching them and left to inform the House of X. Polaris and Scarlet Witch don’t want their team to get involved as they’re bound by the compact that’s keeping the peace. “Then send someone who isn’t,” Magneto suggests.
Before the Reavers can devour Hope, an empyre strike team consisting of Gambit, Psylocke, Glob and Empath steps in. As they tear through the Reavers, Gambit makes it clear to Hope that his team isn’t here to save her. She’s just meat caught in the crossfire of a decades-long cold war between vampires and empyres.
When the last Reaver falls, Empath can sense that Hope is a mutant due to the unique scent of their kind, though her powers haven’t manifested yet. Before he can turn her or can act on his lust, Cyclops (Scott Summers) has his optic blasts bounce off of Glob so it will knock out Psylocke and slice Empath’s legs off.
Gambit is excited at the thought of taking out the last remaining X-Men, but Cyclops is calm and slightly smug. “It’s currently 1:27 p.m., and true north is…right there.”
“What the fuck does that matter?” Gambit asks.
As soon as the words are out of the Cajun’s mouth, an explosion blows a hole in the underground chamber, filling it with blinding afternoon sunlight.
The sunlight incinerates Empath, while Gambit is left screaming in agony. Cyclops grabs Hope and escapes to the surface. He orders her to pack her bags and leave the city now that the empyres recognize her scent. Hope offers to help but Cyclops tells her to go home because she has no place here. It’s cruel but it’s only to protect her. Gambit had hinted earlier that the last time Cyclops tried to save someone did not end well, and he clearly doesn’t want a repeat of that.
Kurt Speaks with the Vampire Queen
As night falls around the church garden. Kurt Wagner receives a visit from Storm (Ororo Munroe), who is now a powerful vampire queen.
Kurt warns Ororo that the church has sent men to kill all empyres, but she’s not worried. She fears no man and no longer cares about their desires. Kurt practically begs Ororo to take his warning seriously. Ororo would rather turn Kurt into an empyre instead. She reminds him that no empyre will touch him while he’s under her protective hand. Kurt wants her to stay alive when Stryker’s Purifiers come for her because he’s been looking for a cure for her vampirism. It’s hard to gauge what exactly is going on between these two but it’s clear Kurt still loves Ororo in some capacity. Even if he’s not willing to admit it himself.
When Kurt presses her about what could happen if war breaks out again and she can no longer hide, Ororo reminds him of the truce. Everyone has signed a compact in blood.
Odds are the peace won’t hold for much longer.
Midnight X-Men #2 will hit shelves on November 18, 2026.
