Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark (2026 series) #2

Hela, Asgardian ruler of Hel, has usurped the power of Knull to become the Queen In Black, but he has in turn become an evil god of light and now they fight over Earth. Hela's dark Klyntar Symbiotes have already invaded while Knull is on the outskirts of the Solar System. While other heroes defend Earth, Iron Man and Cable have assembled 2 teams to take the fight to the main villains in space. Team Light (Beta Ray Bill, Dagger, Photon and Sunfire) attack Hela in orbit while Team Dark (Agent Anti-Venom, Cable, Cloak, Darkstar and IM) tackle Knull. But the bad guy has stabbed Cloak with his All-Light spear.

But this issue begins with a flashback to Cable recruiting Cloak & Dagger after they've taken down some small-time crooks. They recall working together in Captain America's Secret Avengers (during the Civil War event, not in the various SAv series). Cable tells them the Avengers (and Fantastic Four) need them again, this time to defend the planet. Tony Stark's computer analysis suggests their special talents are needed for Plan A, and there's a Plan B that's built specifically around Cloak and other Darkforce users, but he hasn't got time to explain it. Then he bodyslides them to Avengers Mansion.

Now at the edge of the Solar System Knull laughs as the All-Light spear corrupts Tyrone Johnson. Darkstar and Iron Man in his black KnullBuster armour blast the villain and spear away from Cloak. Knull blasts back but Cable takes it on his shield. Anti-Venom (Flash Thompson)'s Symbiote assumes its black dragon form but he's attacked by a Light Dragon. Cable and IM continue to battle Knull while Laynia Petrovna tries to tend to Ty, who calls out for Tandy.

Closer to Earth Dagger (Tandy Bowen) has Darkforce leaking out of her chest, and Photon (Monica Rambeau) and Sunfire (Shiro Yashida) are powerless to help her. Meanwhile Beta Ray Bill faces off with Hela's warlord Tyr of Asgard. Tyr's sword clashes with Bill's Twilight Sword and his hammer Stormbreaker.

Tandy and Ty's spirits meet at the Taiji Threshold and are greeted by the In-Betweener who explains that this place is the source of dualities like their Lightforce and Darkforce. He himself was created by Lord Chaos and Master Order to maintain the balance between such dualities. Now the All-Light spear has infused Cloak with Lightforce energy, forcing some of his Darkforce energy through their connection to Dagger and compromising their duality. So now the In-Betweener must witness the Threshold testing them.

Back in 'reality' the black and white dragons are still fighting each other, as are Knull and KnullBuster while Cable shatters other Light Dragons. While Darkstar urges Cloak to hold on she remembers Cloak recruiting her. Laynia was enjoying the sun and rum in Havana, Cuba after the fall of Krakoa. That event caused her to accept the role of hated mutant and respond by forming a mercenary terrorist group called X-Term (in the 2024 X-Factor series). But Cable called her to redeem herself by helping save the world. Now Nathan Summers tells her to stop nursemaiding Cloak and get back in the fight. However she responds that *this* is what she's really here for as she gives some of her Darkforce to Tyrone.

Elsewhere BRB and Tyr continue their fight while Sunfire protects Photon from black Synbiotes as she tries to help Dagger. Shiro remembers his recruiting by Cable in Hokkaido, Japan. He told Nathan of his very mixed past swinging between misusing his powers for personal gain and using them to help others, but this time he would choose to defend the Earth. Photon also recalls *her* recruitment in her family's home in New Orleans, Louisiana. Monica was a willing soldier in the war. And now she follows the code of 'no soldier left behind' as she gives some of *her* Lightforce to Tandy.

In the Taiji Threshold Tandy and Ty are disorientated as the In-Betweener taunts them that they've never been in balance. Their careers have been chaotic. But Ty calls out to Tandy that he's wrong. The pain he felt when Knull stabbed him wasn't physical it was the thought that he might never see *her* again. She's the only light he needs in the darkness. Tandy responds that he's the only shadow that makes her feel safe. She adds that their balance isn't stillness, it's a perpetual dance. In-Betweener concedes that their very instability makes them unstoppable, so he releases them and their chaos back into the real world ...

... where they arise changed. Cloak's darkness projects sharp spikes which impale black (should be white!) Symbiotes. Dagger's costume now includes white spikes some of which coalesce into a jagged sword with which to carve up black Symbiotes. Their respective teammates look on in admiration, while Hela and Knull each declare that they will end all this.