As the Avengers face a threat like nothing they’ve seen before, Marvel has confirmed a new Iron Man Hulkbuster armor will join the fray. However, rather than a sleek, cutting-edge suit, the new armor will be covered in spikes – a brutal, barbarian-esque suit designed to do maximum damage.
Whatever the challenge, Tony Stark has an Iron Man armor designed to do the job, from defeating Asgardian gods to battling kaiju on their own level. Now, as the Avengers face their darkest hour, Tony Stark is piloting a wrecking ball made of iron and malice.
The new suit comes as Marvel enters the Queen in Black event. With two gods at war, Iron Man is leading the Avengers’ last stand with uncharacteristic brutality.
Iron Man Unleashes Spiked Armor for Queen in Black
Marvel recently released new solicit information for Queen in Black #5, the blockbuster event beginning this July. Ryan Stegman’s cover shows the Avengers battling against Knull, with Tony Stark behind the eldritch god, wearing a spiky Hulkbuster with a skull-like mask.
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Queen in Black #5 |
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Release Date: |
September 30, 2026 |
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Writer: |
Al Ewing |
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Artists: |
Iban Coello |
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Cover Artist: |
Ryan Stegman |
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OH, THE HUMANlTY! In the war between Light and Dark, the winner’s taken their prize… but is it Hela or Knull who’s ascended to the Throne of All? Either way, the only thing standing between them and all life on Earth is… the Venomworld! It’s the ultimate symbiote battle – and for Mary Jane Watson, it’s the last stand! |
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In recent issues of Knull, the Asgardian Goddess Hela has stolen Knull’s powers as God of the Void. In response, Knull has become a brutal new god of light, hunting down cosmic power to equal Hela’s stolen gifts. Queen in Black will see the two go to war, with each seeing Earth as a vital tactical base in their conflict.
As Earth’s heroes attempt to repel this war between the gods of light and dark – and two new Defenders rosters are formed to combat each god – it seems Iron Man will fall back on spikes and muscle to make his own contribution. Nothing else is known about this suit as of yet, but while fans might have expected an armor on the themes of light/dark, it seems Tony has instead opted for a suit themed on the primordial violence each antagonist traffics in.
Stegman shows Iron Man wearing spikes similar to Knull’s own pauldrons, suggesting that Tony may be repeating his best trick – taking the energy source that powers his rival and turning it to his own advantage. However, in a packed year, this spiked Hulkbuster isn’t even Tony’s most hardcore redesign.
Iron Man’s Gnarliest Design of the Year Turns Him into a Monster
Earlier this year, Iron Man unleashed his Hellbuster armor. Intended to bring down the demonic Infernal Hulk, this suit wielded the spear of the One Above All himself, Marvel’s supreme being. Sadly, the Infernal Hulk still destroyed Tony’s armor, reducing this godlike suit to spare parts.
Despite this, the Hellbuster seemingly made an impression on the new Hulk, since upcoming event Hulk War will see Tony transformed into a monstrous reflection of the armor, with raw purple skin with slabs of metal bolted to it.
Hulk War is officially coming 2027, but thanks to flashforward art and a prequel story for Comics Giveaway Day 2026, fans have seen that Infernal Hulk will transform the Avengers who stand against him, turning them into his monstrous thralls.
So while Queen in Black will see Iron Man wearing a brutal spiked suit to take on two gods at war, it won’t be long until Tony Stark’s inventiveness is reversed, and his Avengers become monstrous mockeries at the hands of a monster.
Queen in Black #5 is coming September 30 from Marvel Comics.
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