‘Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Armageddon/X-Men’ #1 review

May 3, 2026

Marvel Comics is back with a whole batch of new free comics to get you jazzed for what’s to come, and Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Armageddon / X-Men is likely on most people’s must-pickup lists. Found only in local comic shops, Armageddon/X-Men gives readers a taste of Marvel’s big summer event, and X-Men’s next event, DNX. 

Three stories in total, Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Armageddon/X-Men is very good at piquing your interest. There may not be a full teaser or story setup to understand the upcoming stories, but I was certainly a touch more informed and understood what each story was going for in terms of vibe.

Kicking things off is “The Long View” by Chip Zdarsky and artists Frank Alpizar and Delio Diaz. Armageddon is an event that still feels a bit vague, although after reading this comic, it’s far clearer what the meaning of it all is. At its core, Red Hulk appears to have some way of knowing the future, or at least anticipating it so as to take full control. That control is in the name of democracy, to the point where he wants to turn Earth into Planet America.

Over a series of quick scenes, we see him beat big-time heroes, with the story culminating in a conversation with Captain America. Not only does it appear the heroes have lost big time, but Red Hulk has full control and can’t be stopped. Throw in little hints like a new Krakoa, and fans entrenched in the current continuity should find this very compelling. Add in what real-life America has done in the name of freedom, now and over the last hundred years, the story hits close to home, and many will see how it echoes reality.

An unlettered page from the free comic. Credit: Marvel

The art in this story is super sharp, with a good sense of gloom and doom via its use of shadow. It’s about as primo as art can get these days, with a slickness Marvel Comics is always good at.

Next up, X-Men fans get fed an action scene from Jed MacKay and Federico Vicentini. MacKay does a great job with the team aspect, as he does in the solo series, getting each character’s personality to shine through in the action. The story is pretty simple, involving A.I.M. and the looming threat of 3K. More of a fun action scene than a full-on preview of what’s to come, the general threat is made clear, and the character’s worry surrounding that threat is clear.

Finally, Ryan North writes an excellent short tale with art by Francesco Mobili, teasing Doomquest. This story is totally absorbing, putting us into the perspective of a Doombot. Its total and absolute devotion to the real Doctor Doom is somewhat sad, but it lives only to please its master. The humanity of it, or lack thereof, is tragic, drawing you into its experience. At the same time, North sets up the time travel narrative through this Doombot well, complete with a final few seconds that could have meant Doomquest wouldn’t even begin.

Mobili’s art in this story is quite good, with good detail and solid storytelling structure. Throw in all the heroes that pop up, and even though it’s short, it feels lengthy.

Comics Giveaway Day 2026: Armageddon/X-Men does what a good sampler should, giving readers a clear sense of tone, stakes, and direction across multiple upcoming stories. The Red Hulk segment sets up a chilling premise with real-world echoes, the X-Men piece delivers fast-paced team action, and the Doom story stands out with a clever and surprisingly emotional hook. Not every story has room to fully develop, but each one leaves behind enough intrigue to make the next chapter feel worth following.

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