‘Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1’ Review — Kevin Smith’s 30-Year Marvel Dream Is Finally Here

“Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past” has landed, and it’s exactly the kind of joyful, unhinged comic book crossover that only Kevin Smith could pull off. The one-shot dropped June 10th from Marvel Comics, and if you’ve ever watched “Mallrats” and thought, “man, Jay and Silent Bob should really hang out with the Avengers,” — well, congratulations, your prayers have been answered.

This isn’t some random cash-grab collab either. Smith has been pitching this exact idea since 1995, when he straight-up walked up to Stan Lee on the set of “Mallrats” and asked him about it. Three decades, a few Kevin Smith health scares, and one Clerks III later, the stars finally aligned. That backstory alone gives this issue an emotional weight that most superhero one-shots don’t even try for.

What Is Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past?

Published by Marvel Comics on June 10, 2026, “Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1” is a 48-page one-shot written by Kevin Smith with pencils by Giuseppe Camuncoli, inks by Cam Smith and Roberto Poggi, colors by Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega, and a cover by Marco Checchetto.

The setup is beautifully dumb in the best way possible: Doctor Doom decides that Jay and Silent Bob — the lovable, foul-mouthed duo from New Jersey who have somehow wandered into Earth-616 — must die. Standing between Doom and the dim-witted duo is basically every major Marvel hero you can think of: the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Doctor Strange, and more. It’s a superhero parade, and Smith uses every single float.

Kevin Smith Lets Loose in the Marvel Universe

The story kicks off in proper View Askewniverse fashion: Jay is outside the Quick Stop, unveiling a statue of Dante Hicks (R.I.P., Clerks III viewers) and delivering a rambling speech that goes on way longer than it should. Classic Jay. Before things can settle into a nice, comfortable slice-of-life weird, a Doombot blast nearly kills them both, and the Fantastic Four swoop in to save the day.

From there it’s a full-on comedy domino effect. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants show up at the Baxter Building. Doctor Strange drags everyone into the Sanctum Sanctorum. Every scene change brings a new Marvel hero into the mix, and Smith juggles them all without breaking a sweat. The book never loses momentum — it moves fast and keeps the jokes flying.

There’s also a surprisingly clever explanation for why Doom wants them dead, told via a flash-forward to a possible future. It’s the kind of bit that fans of Smith’s Pluribus series will immediately clock, and it’s a genuinely fun payoff. The humor ranges from groan-worthy dad puns on hero names and powers to one very adult Mallrats-style conversation about superpowers and sex that feels right at home in the View Askewniverse. Not every joke lands — but enough of them do that you’ll be grinning through most of the issue.

The Art Brings Marvel Energy to a Jersey Story

Here’s what’s genuinely surprising about this one-shot: the art is legitimately great. Giuseppe Camuncoli — who has spent most of the last few years over at DC — brings serious blockbuster energy to every page. Full-page splashes, iconic Spider-Man swing homages, kinetic action sequences — he handles all of it with the kind of craft that makes you forget you’re reading a book about Jay and Silent Bob accidentally hanging out with the Avengers.

Inkers Cam Smith and Roberto Poggi add real depth and texture to Camuncoli’s pencils, and the color work from Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega gives the whole thing the warm, punchy feel of a proper Marvel book rather than something trying too hard to mimic it. Given how dialogue-heavy Kevin Smith scripts tend to run, it’s worth noting that Camuncoli never feels crowded out. The visuals and the words coexist really well here.

Every Marvel Hero You Love Makes an Appearance

Part of the fun of a book like this is the roster, and Jays of Future Past does not disappoint. On the hero side, you’ve got Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, Deadpool, Wolverine, the X-Men (including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Magneto, Emma Frost, and Iceman), Ms. Marvel, and Silver Sable. On the villain side, Doctor Doom is obviously the main antagonist, but Kang the Conqueror and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants make appearances too.

Smith doesn’t just use these characters as backdrop, either. He writes them with a real feel for their voices. You can tell this is someone who grew up on Marvel comics and genuinely loves these characters, not someone just dropping names for SEO value.

Why “Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past” Matters Beyond the Jokes

There’s a closing letter from Kevin Smith at the end of the issue that hits harder than you’d expect. He talks about walking up to Stan Lee on the “Mallrats” set back in 1995, pitching this crossover, and Lee telling him it could happen if the movie was a hit. “Mallrats” flopped at the box office. The crossover never came. And now, 30 years later, it finally did.

That’s not just a fun trivia fact. That’s the whole emotional core of this book. “Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past” is Kevin Smith getting to fulfill a promise he made to himself as a kid who loved comics — and that affection bleeds into every panel. It’s not a perfect book. Some jokes don’t land. Not everyone will care about the View Askewniverse lore. But for Smith fans and longtime Marvel readers, there’s something genuinely moving about a 55-year-old filmmaker finally getting his childhood dream on the page.

Should You Read “Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future” Past?

If you have any affection at all for Jay and Silent Bob, the answer is yes. If you’re a Marvel fan who’s even mildly curious about seeing how Doctor Doom handles two idiots from Jersey, also yes. This is a one-shot that knows exactly what it is — a love letter dressed up as a comedy — and it delivers on that premise with enough heart and energy to make you happy you spent the $5.99.

The League of Comic Geeks community is already rating it 4.3 out of 5 with nearly 400 ratings, which, for a one-shot crossover, is honestly impressive. This one has clearly connected with readers.

“Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1” continues to make waves as fans and critics alike respond warmly to Kevin Smith’s long-overdue Marvel debut. Whether you’re a lifelong View Askewniverse devotee or just someone who wants to watch Doctor Doom lose his mind over two guys from New Jersey, this is one of the more purely fun comics Marvel has put out this year. As more readers discover the issue, it’s only going to keep finding its audience.