Home Comics & Toys Marvel is revisiting the Secret Wars

Marvel is revisiting the Secret Wars

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Secret Wars

Much like the summer tentpole movies of the film industry or Q4 in gaming, comics also have a blockbuster up their sleeves with annual event comics. From Infinite Crisis to Age Of Ultron, these events have been built up over years before exploding with a limited series and a bazillion tie-in comics. You can trace all of this back to 1984 and Secret Wars, the first such event comic. And now, Marvel is rebooting that series. Along with a few more as well for good measure.

Quick history lesson: Secret Wars was a 12 issue tale written by Jim Shooter and backed up with smooth artwork by Mike Zeck. It pitted various heroes such as the Avengers, the X-Men, Spider-Man and many more against a team of equal but more villainous might in the form of Ultron, Doctor Doom, the Wrecking Crew, the Molecule Man and a ton more.

secret-wars-heroes

What made it great, was that the story was simple enough, as it was needed to sell some toys. The heroes and villains were transported to Battleworld by a being of godlike power known only as the Beyonder, and forced to battle one another in order to find a way home. It’s also a fantastic series, because it had genuine ramifications, such as Spidey getting his trademark back in black suit that was actually the Venom symbiote and Doctor Doom proving why he might be the most dangerous being alive when he successfully managed to steal the power of the Beyonder.

Secret Wars is essentially the Jaws of comic book events. The genesis that set the stage for future events across not only Marvel, but all the other big publishers in comic books today. And 30 years later, it’s making a comeback. Announced at the New York Comic Con, the new Secret Wars will have Jonathan Hickman on writing duties, with the superb art of Esad Ribic backing up the prose. “This worked out for us pretty well a long time ago,” Marvel’s President and Publisher of print, TV and digital Dan Buckley said at the event via CBR, explaining how Hickman’s current run on Avengers and New Avengers from 2012 had set the tale up.

We’ve been sitting on this for a very long time. When Jonathan brought this to us, we had an opportunity to just not celebrate this in publishing, so we’re going to be extending this in a year-long program into 2016 with our merchandising partners, digital partners and other partners.

It’s not the only classic comic book tale that’s getting revisited. Prepare for a lot more time trips:

And all of this, tying into Secret Wars which is tripping its way through various dimensions and timelines. I haven’t been bowled over by an event comic for quite a while now. In fact, the last one that really made sit up and take notice was most likely Civil War itself. But Secret Wars sounds massive. Like Crisis on Infinite Earths massive. It’s out next year.

Last Updated: October 28, 2014

15 Comments

  1. Holy Dark Knight, Batman!

    Reply

  2. phroZac

    October 29, 2014 at 06:13

    I’m pretty sure Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden weren’t a part of the original Secret wars. I think it was written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Mick Zeck.

    Reply

    • The D

      October 29, 2014 at 07:09

      Yeah well I think that you’re…100% right. Be right back, hanging myself.

      Reply

      • phroZac

        October 29, 2014 at 07:20

        Lol. Affecting change, however I can!

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief 0

        October 29, 2014 at 08:21

        Don’t do it man! WE NEED YOUR MANKINI!

        Reply

      • Ranting Raptor Llew

        October 29, 2014 at 08:36

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 29, 2014 at 08:41

        YOUR CANON IS LOOSE, BONTHUYS! YOU’RE ON SUSPENSION. TURN IN YOUR DOOM MASK & GUN.

        Reply

        • Ranting Raptor Llew

          October 29, 2014 at 08:49

          No… He should turn over his…. BATMAN COWL!!!!

          Reply

      • Viking Of Divinity

        October 29, 2014 at 10:02

        Also, You have to take these crossover events back further, Secret Wars was by no means the first. Why, the Kree-Skrull War event from 1971. predates it by over a decade!

        Reply

        • The D

          October 29, 2014 at 11:34

          Good point, but I don’t consider it to be epic on the same scale. Despite it being cosmic, it still played out in Avengers comics, instead of its own mini-series.

          But a great blueprint for what was to come.

          Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    October 29, 2014 at 07:47

    It’s so secret most people didn’t know about it 😛

    Reply

  4. Mark Vincer

    October 29, 2014 at 08:00

    Never mind this! PHASE THREE MOVIES ANNOUNCED! *runs off to fanboy cave*

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 29, 2014 at 08:20

      I saw the video….DAAAAAAAAAYUM

      Reply

      • Mark Vincer

        October 29, 2014 at 08:23

        It’s a great time to be a comic book fan. DC have TV waxed, Marvel have movies waxed.

        Reply

  5. elNielio

    October 29, 2014 at 11:05

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