Marvel announces the next Stephen...

By Tim Stevens

Who would be delighted with the end of the world?

Normally, that would be a short list starting with genocidal aliens and ending with straight up mad men. These days, however, Stephen King and Marvel fans can be included in that count. Why? Because THE STAND comes to Marvel Comics.

With one hugely successful DARK TOWER series in the books and another in progress, a second titanic team-up between the House of Ideas and the modern master of horror, Stephen King—through a licensing agreement with The Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.,—seemed inevitable. But it took one nasty virus nicknamed Captain Trip to make it a reality.

As fans of the insta-classic know, "The Stand" has gone through a few incarnations in the years since King first released it in 1978. While the story remained the same—two groups of survivors face off against one another in a mythical battle of good versus evil following a devastating pandemic—the 1990 "Complete and Uncut Edition" fleshed out the action significantly.

This version, according to THE STAND editor Bill Rosemann, will come to life in the Marvel Comics adaptation. "From the very first cough to the sinister showdown with the Walkin' Dude himself, this is the official and authentic translation of Stephen King's sprawling saga—taken from the "Complete & Uncut Edition"—only as Mighty Marvel can!"

Rosemann brings with him an impressive pool of talent to produce this top notch adaptation. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN) handles scripting duties while Mike Perkins (CAPTAIN AMERICA) draws, inks and provides variant covers. Colorist Laura Martin, letterer Chris Eliopolus and cover artist Lee Berjemo (DAREDEVIL) round out this creative juggernaut.

Of course, as with the Gunslinger's series', the project would not be complete with out a stamp of approval from the author himself. Rosemann reassures fans, "each and every issue of THE STAND will be scrutinized, digested and blessed by the incredibly helpful and wise King Krew…and by King himself!"

Stay glued to Marvel.com for more on Stephen King's THE STAND and head to Marvel.com's Wizard World Philadelphia hub for more buzz from the City of Brotherly Love!