WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Incoming #1 by Al Ewing, Saladin Ahmed, Ed Brisson, Donny Cates, Al Ewing, Eve Ewing, Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Greg Pak, Matt Rosenberg, Dan Slott, Kelly Thompson, Chip Zdarsky, Joe Bennett, Carmen Carnero, Jim Cheung, Mattia de Iulis, Jorge Fornes, Javier Garron, Kim Jacinto, Aaron Kuder, Francesco Manna, Carlos Pacheco, Humberto Ramos, R. B. Silva, Andrea Sorrentino, Luciano Vecchio and Annie Wu, on sale Wednesday, Dec. 25.
As 2019 comes to an end, Marvel Comics is preparing for what is shaping up as an eventful 2020. It all begins with the release of Incoming, a one-shot based around a murder mystery that will bring together the heroes of the Marvel Universe. The victim and the killer's identities are unknown, but Marvel has revealed the investigation will bring in the likes of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Champions and Masked Raider.
This last name on the list is a deep dive into Marvel lore. Debuting in 1939's Marvel Comics #1, the Masked Raider and his Eternity Mask reappeared in the celebrated Marvel Comics #1000, which recapped the publisher's last 80 years while passing the Eternity Mask and Masked Raider identity to a new hero. A preview of Incoming #1 is split into five separate stories, with the first beginning with the Mask Raider.
Who Is That Masked Man?
The first page reintroduces the Masked Raider and briefly runs down the powers of the Eternity Mask -- it makes him the equal to anyone he's up against and shows him the connective tissues that bind the world. Okay, that's pretty self-explanatory. However, the next page puts those skills to the test against the trained assassin, Elektra.
The Eternity Mask allows the Masked Raider to best Elektra in a one-on-one fight. Waiting for him after his victory is Daredevil, who wants no piece of the mysterious figure. "If you beat her, you'd beat me," he says. It would appear we're heading towards a Masked Raider-Daredevil partnership to solve this murder mystery.
Pre-Outlawed
Next, we take a look at the Champions, one of Marvel's newest -- and youngest -- superhero teams. Founded by Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man (Miles Morales) and Nova (Sam Alexander), the recent volume of Champions recently came to a close, but it appears to be in preparation for a new status quo for Marvel's teenage heroes.
The Outlawed one-shot will borrow themes from the first Civil War event after the government takes action against Marvel's super teen community following a devastating tragedy. Again, we're not aware of what the specific tragedy is, but members of the Champions gather together to discuss someone on TV who is hyping safety over reckless, wannabe heroes. Ms. Marvel admits to seeing his point of view, but the page ends with Bruce Banner's name being brought up.
Welcome To Bar Sinister
Mister Sinister is a longtime X-Men villain, but he became an unexpected fan-favorite character during Jonathan Hickman's House of X and Powers of X. The flamboyant version of Mister Sinister made a brief cameo appearance in the X-Men miniseries, but was quickly replaced by the one starring in the Dawn of X relaunch of the X-Men line.
Mister Sinister will headline a new title called Hellions, which sees him put in charge of Krakoa's most rambunctious residents. The members of the Hellions includes Scalphunter, Wild Child, Empath, Nanny, Orphanmaker, Psylocke and Havok. In our Incoming preview, Sinister is watching Senator Patrick's anti-Krakoa comments at Bar Sinister, his home locale on Krakoa. He more than likely has something up his sleeve (or cape), which could spell bad news for the X-Men in 2020.
What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas
Last, but certainly not least, is Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider. He is currently the King of Hell, supplanting Mephisto for the hellish title back in the Damnation miniseries. Being put in charge of hell has done a number on Johnny's psyche, causing him to kidnap Robbie Reyes for a Challenge of the Ghost Rider's race. Johnny is also co-starring in a new Ghost Rider series with Danny Ketch.
Marvel will continue to emphasize the Ghost Riders in 2020 as Johnny returns to Las Vegas, where Doctor Strange resurrected Las Vegas in Damnation. The preview page reveals Ghost Rider is back to demand some answers, but will Mephisto provide them or someone else?
There will be plenty more snapshots at what Marvel has cooking in 2020 when Incoming goes on sale next week. Fans will have a bird's eye view of how the comic will help shape the events that will transpire throughout the new year.