Hickman is one of Marvel’s leading creators, and there’s no telling what exactly he’s going to put these three legendary characters through this time.
Hulk, Punisher, And Spider-Man Are On A Collision Course In New Miniseries From A-List Marvel Creators
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1, Written By Jonathan Hickman & Adam Kubert; Art By Kubert; Available June 17, 2026 From Marvel Comics
"Absolutely no one is going to see this one coming," says Jonathan Hickman, of what he and co-creator Adam Kubert have in store for Spider-Man: Long Way Home. Marvel's advanced synopsis for the series only adds to the mystery. It reads:
It’s a world before the Punisher. A world where the existence of the Hulk is but a whisper of a rumor. A world where A.I.M. has just developed a Cosmic Cube in the jungles of South America. Frank Castle, Bruce Banner and Peter Parker are all on a mission to keep the Cube out of the wrong hands – including each other’s. In this three-way free-for-all for the power of the cosmos, who will come out on top?
If you have questions after reading that, you're not alone.
It seems Long Way Home might be a more grounded, "realistic" Marvel story, featuring very different versions of its three iconic protagonists than we're used to. "A world before the Punisher" suggests Frank Castle's family hasn't been murdered yet. But what does it mean for the Hulk to be "a whisper of a rumor?" And what does this mean for Spider-Man?
Along with the series announcement, Marvel released several black-and-white preview pages for Long Way Home, but they don't reveal much. The pages focus on Frank Castle, the Punisher skull painted on his face, as he leads a commando squad into a jungle. Beyond that, fans will have to check back for more intel as Marvel reveals it.
Ahead Of "Brand New Day," Marvel Is Giving Fans A Very Different Look At The Spider-Man/Hulk/Punisher Dynamic
Long Way Home Already Has Marvel Fans Asking Questions
Both Punisher and Hulk are confirmed to appear in July's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth MCU Spider-Man movie. The specifics of their respective roles in the film remain tightly under wraps, just like the details of the comic series Long Way Home, which debuts a month ahead of Brand New Day.
One thing about the new comic Marvel fans immediately clocked is that it evokes the naming convention of the first MCU Spider-Man trilogy, which Brand New Day breaks. Long Way Home fits right in with Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home. So, what might that tell us about the limited series?
The synopsis for the comic suggests its characters will confront one another "in the jungles of South America," meaning they will literally be a long way from home. On a thematic level, if the book delivers an alternate origin story for Hulk, Punisher, and Spidey, Long Way Home could refer to how far removed the characters are from their recognizable incarnations.
Jonathan Hickman Continues His Streak Of Alternate Continuity Dominance With "Long Way Home"
For The Author, A Great Story Is More Priority Than Continuity
Author Jonathan Hickman is coming off the ending of his multi-year Ultimate Spider-Man run. He's known for revitalizing and revolutionizing Marvel heroes, and especially over the past few years, he has become the master of alternate continuity stories. Spider-Man: Long Way Home is the latest example of the author's preference for working outside the confines of "canon."
Marvel describes No Way Home as being "in the same spirit as 2024’s Wolverine: Revenge," another non-canon story. That's a great book for readers to check out to hold themselves over until Long Way Home starts in June, which will kick off a huge summer for Hulk, Punisher, and Spider-Man as a heroic trifecta.
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1 will be available June 17, 2026 from Marvel Comics.
What do you think, MCU fans? Will you check out the Long Way Home comic ahead of Brand New Day?
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
Producers
Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O'Connor, Avi Arad, Louis D'Esposito
English (US) ·