Secret Wars is the title of Marvel's first ever company-wide crossover event. It was the first crossover event to include all company properties in the history of comics. Secret Wars was developed at the request of the toy manufacturer Mattel, who wanted to capitalize on the resurgence in popularity of action figure toys in the early 1980's and create a new line of toys for popular Marvel characters. The company asked for an editorial concept to be published that tied-in with the new toy line and brought all of the characters together.[1]
The toy line that inspired the Secret Wars event did not sell exceptionally well. However, the limited-edition line of comics that it produced became the best-selling comic book series in 25 years. This inspired the idea of having all of Marvel's characters appear in an annual crossover event, and has been a tradition that Marvel Comics has continued to this day.[1]
A sequel, Secret Wars II was published the next year in 1986, tying-in almost every Marvel comic book written at the time and featuring a plot involving the original Secret Wars architect, Beyonder, visiting Earth. In 2015, Marvel released another large event under the name Secret Wars.
Official Name Aliases Universe Creators | Villains |
|---|
| Absorbing Man, Doctor Doom, Doctor Octopus, Enchantress, Kang the Conqueror, Klaw, Lizard, Molecule Man, Titania, Ultron, Volcana, The Wrecking Crew |
Event Synopsis
The Secret Wars event began in each individual hero's respective magazines, with all of the chosen heroes feeling "called" to a massive mechanical ring that mysteriously appeared in Central Park and that instantly transports them to a location called Battleworld when they step inside. The events of each character being transported from Earth to Battleworld were depicted in:
- Amazing Spider-Man #251
- Uncanny X-Men #180
- Iron Man #181
- Incredible Hulk #294
- Thing #10
- Thor #341
- Avengers #242
- Captain America #292
- Fantastic Four #265
It is soon revealed that a cosmic entity known as the Beyonder had gathered this large assortment of superheroes and super-villains on Battleworld to see who would win in a fight of good against evil. [4]
| Part 1: "The War Begins" |
|---|
| After having entered a mysterious construct that appeared in Central Park in their own respective magazines (see Amazing Spider-Man #251, ..more.. |
| Part 2: "Prisoners of War!" |
|---|
| On the surface of Battleworld, a planet created by Beyonder in the previous issue, the heroes gathered by the Beyonder are attacked by the villains th..more.. |
| Part 3: "Tempest Without, Crisis Within!" |
|---|
| A powerful storm rages across Battleworld and Magneto watches it from his hideout before releasing his prisoner the Wasp. When the Wasp threatens to b..more.. |
| Part 4: "Situation: Hopeless!" |
|---|
| The forces of Doctor Doom have forced the gathered heroes to flee and destroyed their headquarters, a victory for Doom and his minions in Beyonder's o..more.. |
| Part 5: "The Battle of the Four Armies!" |
|---|
| Mister Fantastic's worse fears have been realized: trapped on Battleworld by the Beyonder, Galactus has summoned his worldship so that he can consume ..more.. |
| Part 6: "A Little Death..." |
|---|
| After trying to escape the X-Men, the Wasp finds herself trying to get her escape ship under control. Unable to figure out the strange controls, the W..more.. |
| Part 7: "Berserker!" |
|---|
| The heroes gathered on Battleworld by the Beyonder have discovered someone spying on them at their camp. When the Torch corners her, the mystery woman..more.. |
| Part 8: "Invasion!" |
|---|
| With She-Hulk in danger at Doombase, the heroes gathered on Battleworld rush to her aid. Their attack attract the attention of the Enchantress who has..more.. |
| Part 9: "Assault on Galactus!" |
|---|
| The battle-wounded Colossus exits the rustic building he is healing inside to see Galactus starting up his machine to devour the planet. He re-enters ..more.. |
| Part 10: "Death to the Beyonder!" |
|---|
| With the heroes of Battleworld preventing Galactus from trying to consume the planet, Galactus has no choice but to consume his own worldship for sust..more.. |
| Part 11: "...And Dust To Dust!" |
|---|
| Doctor Doom has stolen the power of the Beyonder and appeared before the heroes gathered on Battleworld. Removing his mask, Doom reveals that his face..more.. |
| Part 12: "...Nothing to Fear" |
|---|
| For daring to unite against the omnipotent power of Doctor Doom the heroes on Battleworld have been annihilated for their defiance. Seeing the smolder..more.. |
Notes
- Though they were allied with Captain America's faction, the X-Men chose to act as a "third force" in the conflict.
- As revealed in 2015's Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars, Deadpool originally took part in this event, though after a failed romance with Wasp, she wished to forget him so strongly, everyone present did as well. However, he in turn wished for Zsaji's revival, and sent her back to her homeworld.[5]
Trivia
- No trivia.
See Also
- Pages referring to "Secret Wars (1984 Event)"
- Minor Appearances of "Secret Wars (1984 Event)"
- Media "Secret Wars (1984 Event)" was Mentioned in
- Images showing "Secret Wars (1984 Event)"
- Event Gallery: Secret Wars (1984 Event)
Links and References
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (collected edition)
- ↑ Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #1; recap page
- ↑ Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars #1
- ↑ Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
- ↑ Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars #4
