Secret Wars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 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.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 remain a separate unit) and villains have several skirmishes. There are several significant developments both within the miniseries and the regular titles: Magneto is placed among the heroes, rather than the villains, due to his motives - desire to protect and promote mutant rights - being more heroic than villain-like; [2] villainesses Titania and Volcana are created; [3] the second Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter, is introduced; [4] Spider-Man finds and wears a black costume for the first time, initially unaware of the fact that the costume is actually an alien symbiote;[5] Doctor Doom temporarily steals a portion of the Beyonder's power;[6] having fallen in love with the alien healer Zsaji (who sacrificed her life on Battleworld to save the heroes), mutant Colossus ends his romantic relationship with a heartbroken Kitty Pryde;[7] the Thing remains behind on Battleworld and explores the galaxy for a year[8] with heroine She-Hulk temporarily joining the Fantastic Four as his replacement.[8] [9] During the Fantastic Four's absence from Earth, the Thing's longtime girlfriend Alicia Masters is secretly kidnapped by the alien Skrulls. She is replaced by Lyja, a Skrull espionage agent who later marries the Human Torch while impersonating Masters.[10]
[edit] Cast of characters
Heroes
Captain America; Captain Marvel II (Monica Rambeau); Hawkeye; Iron Man II (Jim Rhodes); She-Hulk; Thor; Wasp
Human Torch; Mister Fantastic; Thing
Solo:
Hulk; Spider-Man; Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter)
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
[edit] 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 (March – 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)
- The Thing #10 (Apr. 1984) (Departure)
- Fantastic Four #265 (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)
- Uncanny X-Men #178 – 181 (Feb. – May 1984)
- The Mighty Thor #383 (Sep. 1987) (identified on the cover corner as An Untold Tale From The Secret Wars)
[edit] Sequel
A sequel series, Secret Wars II, was published in 1985.
[edit] Alternate versions
[edit] What If?
There had been some issues that revolved around the Secret Wars:
- In an alternate universe the heroes remain on Battleworld after the Beyonder and Galactus destroy each other, eventually having children with combinations of their powers. [11]
- In another alternate universe, Doctor Doom retains the Beyonder's power and rules the universe.[12]
[edit] Other media
[edit] Television
- An abbreviated form of the storyline features in a three-part story of Spider-Man The Animated Series.
[edit] Mattel toy series
- Mattel released a Secret Wars toyline consisting of two lines of figures (with a series of vehicles and accessories) in 1984 and 1985, as well as a third line released outside of North America.
[edit] References
- ^ Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #1 (May 1984)
- ^ Secret Wars #1 (Mar. 1984)
- ^ Secret Wars #3 (July 1984)
- ^ Secret Wars #6 (Oct. 1984)
- ^ Secret Wars #8 (Dec. 1984)
- ^ Secret Wars #10 (Feb. 1985)
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #183 (July 1984)
- ^ a b Secret Wars #12 (April 1985)
- ^ Avengers #243 (May 1984); Fantastic Four #265 (Apr. 1984)
- ^ As revealed in Fantastic Four #357–358 (Oct. – Nov. 1991)
- ^ What If...? vol. 2, #114 (Nov. 1998)
- ^ What If...? vol. 7 Secret Wars (Feb. 2009)
