SDCC ’25: What you missed at Marvel’s “Next Big Thing”

Marvel pulled out all the stops at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 with its “Next Big Thing” panel, offering fans a thrilling look at the future of the Marvel Universe. Editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski was joined by VP and executive editor Tom Brevoort, Ultimate line editor Wil Moss, and writers Ryan North, Stephanie Phillips, and Benjamin Percy for a packed session full of big reveals and bold new directions.

Percy introduced The Punisher: Red Band, with interior art by Julius Ohta, teasing a gritty new chapter for Frank Castle. “A lot of hairy back representation,” Percy joked, before revealing that this new take begins with the Punisher suffering from amnesia. All his instincts are intact, but he has no idea who he is. The story leans into a Jason Bourne-style approach, focused on identity and instinct.

Next, North took the stage to talk about One World Under Doom. North explained, “Doom at the end of Blood Hunt became Sorcerer Supreme, and there’s no way he can do everything that he’s doing and not have consequences. There is some stuff coming your way that I’m very excited for. It’s a hard story to talk about because there’s so much going on in it.”

A work-in-progress image was revealed, teasing Reed Richards vs. Doom: Sorcerer Supreme vs. Scientist Supreme, followed by a haunting preview titled The Sorcerer Supreme Has Fallen, showing Doom kneeling among the bones of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

With that, there remained an important question: Who will be the new sorcerer supreme? The screen lit up with a preview for the upcoming battle for this important role in the Marvel Universe.

Then came Imperial. A trailer played first, setting the tone for a cosmic epic centered on regicide and an ever-expanding galactic power structure. The major twist was that Imperial is only the beginning. It sets the stage for Imperial War, a five-part sequel event that promises even bigger consequences.

Stephanie Phillips then took over the mic. “I love writing She-Hulk,” she said, before revealing that Jen will go up against the five wives of the new King of Samar in Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk. That announcement led straight into a new ongoing series, Planet She-Hulk, which follows Jen’s adventures on Sakaar.

It’s a world that challenges everything she knows, both as a person and as a lawyer. Phillips is joined by interior artist Aaron Kuder, who is bringing a powerful new energy to the character.

“She’s going to have to find a new way to deal with things, and we wanted to go big. She has a giant sword and Aaron wants her to use it,” Phillips said.

Jen isn’t the only character stepping into the spotlight. Richard Rider returns in Nova: Centurion, written by Jed MacKay with art by Álvaro López and covers by Alessandro Cappuccio.

The final announcements made it clear that Planet She-Hulk is just the beginning. While Planet She-Hulk and Nova: Centurion arrive in November, December will introduce Black Panther: Intergalactic, and winter 2026 brings the return of the Exiles, which will spin directly out of the events in Imperial.

If this panel was about the next big thing, Marvel made it clear that this is not just a new chapter, but the beginning of a whole new era.

Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from SDCC ’25.