A rogue Marvel timeline threatens the 616 in Timeless #1 (with lots of Kang!)

Timeless #1 excerpt (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Marvel Comics upcoming Timeless #1 one-shot is a big feature story for the enigmatic Kang the Conqueror, but it's also a tour of what's coming in 2022 across the Marvel comic book line - both what's announced, and what hasn't even been teased.

Timeless #1 cover (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

But be warned, Kang can travel into the future, and he doesn't give spoiler warnings.

"Kang the Conqueror always knows what happens next - it's a perk of being from the 31st century. But when chronal chaos throws the future he expects into disarray, the Conqueror finds a new challenge to pit himself against - and he's delighted by it," MacKay explained in the original announcement of Timeless #1. "In his adventure across the timelines, Kang will reveal things that will happen in the coming years, things that could, and things that should never."

Similar to specials like DC Universe Rebirth #1, Marvel Comics #1001, and Incoming #1, Timeless serves to set up the publisher's various 2022 plans through its story of Kang facing an unnamed antagonist described as "a foe both new and old."

In the original announcement, Timeless was framed as a fight between Kang and a "threatening new timeline" that emerges. Could it be the product of one of the numerous Kang variants? That's the kind of force he's fighting in his current Kang the Conqueror limited series.

"Some futures will be revealed, others hinted at, and yet others will be annihilated- but which are which?" MacKay says, teasingly.

According to Marvel, Timeless will touch upon 2022 storylines for the X-Men, Daredevil, Venom, the Avengers, and "all the major players in the Marvel pantheon."

Check out this preview of Timeless #1:

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Timeless #1 preview

Immortal Hulk artist Joe Bennett was originally announced to be the third artist on Timeless along with Kev Walker and Mark Bagley, but Marvel replaced him with Greg Land. Marvel decided to end its working relationship with Bennett in September.

"Our magnificent Marvel fans are sure to be thrilled by the spectacular stories we have planned for 2022," says Marvel editor-in-chief CB Cebulski, "and Timeless serves as its seismic setup, taking our characters to some most unexpected places – and time periods – with plenty of secrets and surprises along the way! A look at Marvel's past, present, and future...it's all connected!"

Kael Ngu has drawn the primary cover to Timeless #1, and his cover will be joined by variant covers by Don Heck (a 'Hidden Gem'), Humberto Ramos, Carmen Carnero, RB Silva, Peach Momoko, Iban Coello, Patrick Gleason, Joshua Cassara, Natacha Bustos, and Juann Cabal. You can view them all here:

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Timeless #1 Stormbreaker variant covers — (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Timeless #1 goes on sale on December 29.

For a journey like Kang's, it'd be best if you were read up on all the best Marvel stories of all time.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)