Indiana Jones Goes Hunting for Marvel’s Most Dangerous Artifacts

Indiana Jones has spent his life chasing artifacts that turn out to be considerably more dangerous than the museums he wants to put them in. The Ark of the Covenant melts Nazis, the Holy Grail comes with some fairly strict rules, and even the Sankara Stones were probably something Indy should have left sitting exactly where he found them. Now Marvel has decided to take that particular talent for finding trouble and point it directly at some of the most dangerous objects in its universe.

To celebrate Indiana Jones’ return to Marvel Comics, the publisher has revealed five new Indiana Jones Marvel Artifacts variant covers, each pairing Indy with one of Marvel’s most recognizable relics. I have to make it clear that these are not crossover stories with Spider-Man, Thor, Venom, the X-Men or the Fantastic Four. They are variant covers arriving across several Marvel titles in November, but the idea works so naturally with the character that it is easy to imagine an actual crossover built around the same concept.

Sara Pichelli’s Amazing Spider-Man #1004 cover puts Indy face-to-face with the Infinity Gauntlet, buried beneath the ground with all six Infinity Stones in place. This is where the entire “it belongs in a museum” philosophy needs a little reconsideration. There are valuable artifacts, there are dangerous artifacts, and then there is the device Thanos used to erase half the universe with a thought. The cover goes on sale November 25.

Mahmud Asrar’s Thor #803 variant puts Indy directly in front of Mjolnir as lightning crashes around him. It is a perfect setup for Indiana Jones because his entire career has been built around finding something impossible, studying it for about five seconds and then realizing he's in considerably more trouble than he expected. Mjolnir also comes with its own built-in security system. Indy can dig it up, examine it and probably give a pretty good lecture about it, but actually moving it is a very different problem. Would Indy be worthy? That cover also arrives November 25.

Marco Checchetto’s Fantastic Four #19 cover may be the best of the group simply because Indy has Doctor Doom’s mask sitting in his satchel like he just pulled it out of an ancient tomb. Of all five artifacts, this one feels especially appropriate for Indiana Jones. Doom’s mask has the history, intrigue and danger that would make it exactly the sort of object Indy would chase across the world, although its owner would probably be considerably less willing to let a museum keep it. The Fantastic Four #19 variant goes on sale November 18.

Iban Coello’s Venom #2 cover has Indy reaching toward the Necrosword, the ancient symbiote weapon tied to Knull. This is the sort of discovery where even Indiana Jones might want to consider closing the tomb, putting everything back where he found it and walking away. The cover makes the weapon look less like treasure and more like something waiting for the next person foolish enough to reach for it, which feels exactly right for both characters. Venom #2 arrives November 25.

Carmen Carnero’s X-Men #41 variant rounds out the set with the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, the mystical stone that transformed Cain Marko into the Juggernaut. Indy stands surrounded by skulls while the gem glows in front of him, providing nearly every possible visual warning that this is not something anyone should touch. Indiana Jones has also spent decades ignoring exactly those kinds of warnings, so what can you do? X-Men #41 is the first of the five variants to arrive, going on sale November 11.

The covers are fun on their own, but the more important part of the story is why Marvel is doing them now. Indiana Jones is returning to the publisher for new adventures in Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium, a five-issue series written by Jason Aaron with art by Aaron Kuder and covers by Bryan Hitch. The story is set after Raiders of the Lost Ark and is currently scheduled to launch in February 2027.

Aaron has described this as the Raiders version of Indiana Jones, immediately following his experience at Geheimhaven. Marion Ravenwood will be part of the adventure as Indy becomes caught up in another story involving archaeology, enemies, globe-trotting danger and the kind of situations that seem to end with somebody running from something enormous.

Marvel is also returning to its Indiana Jones history with two hardcover collections, Indiana Jones: The Further Adventures Book I and Book II, both scheduled for September 30. The collections bring together Marvel’s earlier Indiana Jones material, including movie adaptations and The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, giving readers a chance to revisit the character’s earlier Marvel years before the new series begins.

So no, Indiana Jones is not joining the Avengers, and Doctor Doom has not canonically misplaced his mask inside some forgotten temple. These covers are Marvel having fun with the return of one of pop culture’s greatest artifact hunters, and the pairing works fantastically, pun intended. Indy has always been at his best when he is standing in front of something ancient, powerful and incredibly dangerous while deciding whether he should touch it.

Looking at these covers, it is hard not to wish Marvel would take the idea one step further and actually tell the story. Indiana Jones chasing the Infinity Gauntlet across the world sounds like something I would absolutely read.

Some things belong in a museum. The Infinity Gauntlet, not so much.