Secret Wars
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Secret_Wars".

This article refers to the 1984 Secret Wars comic book series. For the 2004 series, see Secret War (comics). For other uses see Secret Wars (disambiguation).

Secret Wars
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #1 (May 1984). Cover art by Mike Zeck.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	limited series
Publication date	May 1984 - April 1985
Number of issues	12
Main character(s)	Cast of characters
Creative team
Writer(s)	Jim Shooter
Penciller(s)	Mike Zeck, Bob Layton

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars is a twelve-issue comic book limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The series was conceived by Marvel Comics' Editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and primarily pencilled by Mike Zeck. The series was supported by a toy line produced by the company Mattel.

Plot

A godlike cosmic entity called the Beyonder has been observing the Earth-616 universe - the mainstream Marvel universe. Fascinated by the presence of superheroes on Earth and their potential, this entity chooses a group of both superheroes and supervillains and teleports them (against their will) to "Battleworld", a planet created by the Beyonder in a distant galaxy, and stocked with alien weapons and technology. The Beyonder then issued the following decree: "I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!" ¹

The heroes (the X-Men choose to stay as a separate unit) and villains have several skirmishes, and there are several significant developments both within the series:

• The villainesses Titania and Volcana are created. ²

• The second Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter, was introduced. ³

• Spider-Man finds and wears a black costume for the first time. He is initially unaware of the fact that the costume is in fact an alien symbiote. ⁴

• Doctor Doom temporarily steals a portion of the Beyonder's power. ⁵

• The Thing remains behind on Battleworld and explores the galaxy for a year. ⁶

• She-Hulk temporarily joins the Fantastic Four to replace the Thing at his request.^{6 7}

Cast of Characters

Heroes

Avengers:

Captain America; Captain Marvel II; Hawkeye; Iron Man II (Jim Rhodes); She-Hulk; Thor; Wasp

Fantastic Four:

Human Torch; Mister Fantastic; Thing

Solo:

Hulk; Spider-Man; Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter)

X-Men:

Colossus; Cyclops; Magneto; Nightcrawler; Professor X; Rogue; Storm; Wolverine; Lockheed the Dragon (Mascot)

Villains

Absorbing Man; Doctor Doom; Doctor Octopus; Enchantress; Kang the Conqueror; Klaw; Lizard; Molecule Man; Titania; Ultron; Volcana; Wrecking Crew

Non-aligned

Galactus

Tie-in issues

Unlike later crossovers, none of the following issues were bannered or promoted as being part of Secret Wars, but do feature characters leaving/returning from 'Battleworld'. The first issue for each entry denotes departure; the second return.

• Amazing Spider-Man #249 - 252 (Feb. - May 1984)

Note: Spider-Man returns to Earth in a new black costume, with Dr. Curt Connors (the Lizard).

• Avengers #242 - 243 (Mar. - Apr. 1984)

Note: The Avengers return without She-Hulk.

• Captain America #292 (Apr. 1984) (Departure)

• Incredible Hulk #294 - 295 (Apr. - May 1984)

• Iron Man #181 - 182 (Apr. - May 1984)

• Fantastic Four #264-265 (Mar - Apr. 1984) (Return)

Note: Mr. Fantastic and Human Torch return with She-Hulk as part of the team. The Thing remains on Battleworld.

• Marvel Team-Up #140 - 141 (May 1984)

• The Thing #10 (Apr. 1984) (Departure)

• Uncanny X-Men #178 - 181 (Feb. - May 1984)

• The Mighty Thor #383 (Sept. 1987) (Identified on the cover corner An Untold Tale From The Secret Wars)

Sequel

A sequel, Secret Wars II, was published in 1985.

Alternate Versions

What If?

The story "Brave New World" by Jay Faerber and Gregg Schigiel explored what happened to Earth if the heroes had stayed on Battleworld after Beyonder and Galactus destroy each other.⁸

Other Media

Television

An abbreviated form of the storyline is featured in a three-part story of Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Mattel Toy Series

Mattel released two lines of figures (with a series of vehicles and accessories) in 1984 and 1985 and a third outside of North America.

Notes

References

External links

• The Ultimate Guide to Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars Action Figure Index
• The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators