Imagine a Marvel Universe turned upside down by a devastating war that erases heroes and reshapes legacies forever—welcome to the shocking reality of The World To Come!
Hey there, fellow comic enthusiasts! It's Brian Cronin, your go-to CBR senior staff writer who's been dishing out comic book insights for over fifteen years. I've poured my heart into columns like “Comics Should Be Good” and its spin-off, Comic Book Legends Revealed. Plus, I've authored two Penguin-Random House books: Was Superman a Spy? And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! There's also 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die from Triumph Books. My work has popped up on major sites like ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post, Vulture, and Gizmodo. For more fun facts, check out my websites: Legends Revealed at https://www.legendsrevealed.com/entertainment for entertainment and sports legends, and Pop Culture References at https://popculturereferences.com/ for all things pop culture. Hit me up on Twitter at @Brian_Cronin or shoot suggestions my way at brianc@cbr.com—I'd love to hear what comic stories you'd want me to dive into!
Back in the day, when Joe Quesada served as Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics, he oversaw some truly epic, internet-shattering events in comics. And guess what? He's channeling that same magic into his latest project, Marvel Knights: The World to Come, teamed up with the brilliant writer Christopher Priest and his longtime partner, colorist Richard Isanove. The first issue already stirred up a storm online with its bombshell revelation: T'Challa, the Black Panther, will eventually pass the mantle to his adopted white son in the distant future. (You can read my full review of that mind-blowing opener right here.)
Now, get ready for this exclusive CBR sneak peek at next week's Marvel Knights: The World to Come #4—it's unraveling the terrifying details of the "Race War," a conflict that's been hinted at but never fully exposed until now.
MARVEL KNIGHTS: THE WORLD TO COME #4 (OF 6)
STORY BY JOE QUESADA & CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
CHRISTOPHER PRIEST (W) • JOE QUESADA (A)
WRAPAROUND COVER BY JOE QUESADA
VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO MOBILI
VARIANT COVER BY TBA • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY TBA
RETRO HALLOWEEN MASK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• The full scope of this vision comes into focus as the whole of the Marvel Universe faces THE WORLD TO COME.
• Do not underestimate Ketema.
• The world is all tied up in a knot and the only solution may be blowing the whole damned thing up.
32 PGS./RATED T+ …$4.99
In these preview pages, we're plunged deeper into the heart of the "Race War," which we've learned earlier is the root cause behind several heartbreaking events: Storm's untimely death before she and Black Panther could have kids, the passing of Everett Ross's spouse, Ross faking his own death and going into seclusion, his child being adopted by T'Challa, and T'Challa tying the knot again with his ex, Monica Lynne. For newcomers to Marvel, let's break this down a bit—Storm and Black Panther are iconic X-Men and Avengers members, with Storm being a powerful mutant leader and Black Panther the king of Wakanda with his own brand of heroism. Everett Ross is a human ally often caught up in superhero dramas. This war's ripples have redefined their lives in profound ways.
The series cleverly bounces between timelines, giving us layer upon layer of insight into the future clashes following T'Challa's demise decades ahead. And this is the part most people miss—it's not just action; it's a deep dive into how past decisions echo into tomorrow. Here, we uncover that the "Race War" was a brutal, no-holds-barred showdown between the Inhumans and the world's mutants. (Quick primer: Inhumans are a race of enhanced humans from ancient experiments, like super-powered royals, while mutants are born with genetic mutations granting abilities, often facing discrimination—that's a whole other can of worms in Marvel lore.) Tragically, this is how Storm met her end.
But here's where it gets controversial... Black Panther, along with non-mutant and non-Inhuman heroes such as Captain America, Invisible Woman, Spider-Man, Hulk, and Daredevil, gather amid the ruins of this final clash. They sift through the carnage, grappling with tough questions: Was the superhuman community ultimately to blame for sparking this war? And how can we prevent such disasters from repeating? Critics might argue this mirrors real-world debates on power imbalances and prejudice—imagine if superheroes had to confront their own roles in societal divides. Is this Priest and Quesada's way of calling out Marvel's history of mutant vs. non-mutant tensions, or are they predicting a darker future for diversity in heroics? Some fans love the boldness, while others see it as too divisive. Knowing T'Challa's thoughtful nature, these aren't just empty musings—they're calls to action. To witness the fallout from this intense discussion, you'll definitely want to grab Marvel Knights: The World to Come #4 when it drops next week!
What do you think? Does this series push boundaries too far, or is it a necessary shake-up for Marvel? Is the idea of a "Race War" among mutants and Inhumans a clever commentary on real-life issues, or does it risk oversimplifying them? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with the heroes' soul-searching, or disagree? I'd love to hear your takes!
Source: Marvel
