- Spider-Man, Spider-Man: The Animated Series
In 1984, Marvel Comics's then Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, had a bit of a conundrum on his hands. You see, the toy company Kenner had some success with a toyline they had based on DC's superheroes. Mattel wanted in on that superhero toy action, in case the cape-and-cowl type became the next big fad. As such, they came to Marvel.
Thing was, they wanted a hook. They wanted something to build the toyline around. DC had the long-running Superfriends series that was still going in various incarnations. Shooter had been aware of fan demand, especially among younger fans, for a big story featuring Marvel's heroes and villains all together. He proposed that to Mattel, and was given the okay.
The story was originally intended to be called Cosmic Champions. So, how did Secret Wars get its name? Focus groups. Yeah. No joke. Mattel found that kids liked the words "secret" and "wars". Shooter himself ended up writing the story as he felt he was the only one who could do the job. According to Shooter himself, Marvel's writers were rather...possessive of characters they were writing, which could lead to troubles over guest appearances an crossovers. As Editor-in-Chief, he could do whatever he wanted. He did work with the other editors and writers, to maintain continuity. Man, I wish current Marvel was like this with continuity. As such, Secret Wars does have some continuity stuff to consider. More on that later.
Secret Wars would leave behind quite a legacy in its wake. It was regarded as one of the first "event comics", including tie-in issues...of sorts. You see, in the ending of certain issues of some of Marvel's ongoing books at the time, an unusual construct appeared in Central Park. The device would then lure various heroes into it. The next issue of those books, they would return, having undergone change, and you'd have to read the mini-series to find out how they changed.
So, which books did the heroes get summoned in? Well, Spider-Man got summoned in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #89, Captain America and the Avengers in Captain America #292 and Avengers #242, the Fantastic Four were taken in Thing #10 (Yes, Ben Grimm had his own solo series at the time), the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #180, Iron Man in Iron Man #181, and the Incredible Hulk in Incredible Hulk #294. All these comics are cover-dated April 1984, by the way.
It led to major changes for many characters, some of which still had effects on the Marvel Universe to this day. It would get a sequel in 1985: Secret Wars II. It tied into almost every book Marvel was publishing at the time. Writer Steve Englehart and artist Keith Pollard would produce a second sequel: Secret Wars III, in the pages of Fantastic Four #318-#319 (September-October 1988). In 2015, Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic would write a nine-issue spiritual successor called simply Secret Wars.
With that out of the way, let's take a look at the first issue of Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars!
The cover is really awesome! Yeah, it's just a bunch of heroes all charging towards an unknown threat, but it's become iconic. It gives the idea that there's this great threat, so great that it requires all these heroes to join together to stop it. It's a cover that promises excitement.
"The War Begins"
Writer: Jim Shooter
Penciler: Mike Zeck
Inker: John Beatty
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
The story begins out in an unknown region of space. Near an uninhabited galaxy, a strange construct appears.
Man, every sports team on the planet would kill to have a stadium like that. But this construct is hardly empty. It does have occupants. But who are these occupants?
Some of the Marvel Universe's mightiest heroes! Spider-Man (Peter Benjamin Parker), three of the Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch (Johnny Storm), The Thing (Benjamin Grimm)], the Incredible Hulk (Bruce Banner), the Avengers [Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (James Rhodes), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Thor (Thor Odinson), the Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau)], and the X-Men [Cyclops, Professor X, Storm, Wolverine (James "Logan" Howlett), Rogue, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Lockheed the Dragon]. Surprisingly, the X-Men's old nemesis Magneto is with them as well.
Yeah, as I said, there is some continuity stuff to consider. Sue Richards isn't here because of her pregnancy with her and Reed's daughter Valeria at the time. James Rhodes was using the Iron Man suit at the time because Tony Stark had been dealing with his alcohol troubles since Iron Man #169 (April 1983). Most of the Avengers are unaware of this change as they didn't know Tony and Iron Man were the same guy. In Avengers #168 (February 1978), Stark had left active duty as an Avenger.
Professor X is shown in a wheelchair...despite regaining his ability to walk in Uncanny X-Men #167 (March 1963). Next issue explains that. Cyclops had left the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #176 (December 1983) after marrying Madelyne Pryor in the previous issue. You may know of her from my X-Factor #1 (February 1986) review. And finally, starting in Incredible Hulk #272 (June 1982), the Hulk had Bruce Banner's mind. It's a lot, I know. And I LOVE IT.
The heroes are confused, but they decide to take a roll call just to get an idea of who they are. This scene is kind of funny to me as you'd think all these heroes would know each other at this point, considering the many team-ups they had, especially Spider-Man. They spot another such construct nearby, but this one contains villains.
Much like the Marvel Universe's greatest heroes got gathered together, so did its vilest villains! Ultron. the Enchantress, Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius), Doctor Doom, the Molecule Man, the Lizard, the Absorbing Man, the Wrecking Crew (Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver, and Bulldozer), Kang the Conqueror...and Galactus. Galactus just ignores everybody. Doom theorizes that they're being gathered to fight a war. Well, the storyline is called "Secret Wars", after all.
Much like for the heroes, there are some continuity notes for the villains, too. Ultron's clearly been rebuilt, as he was destroyed fighting the Thing, Machine Man, and Jocasta in Marvel Two-In-One #93 (November 1982). Curt Conners had last been seen in Amazing Spider-Man #243 (August 1983), cured of his transformations into the Lizard. And as for Doctor Doom...that's a bit more complicated. Like, X-Men complicated so bear with me here. At the time, Doom was believed to have been dead thanks to the events of Fantastic Four #260 (November 1983). In Fantastic Four #288 (March 1986), which was a tie-in to Secret Wars II (I warned you), Doom used an alien mind trick to occupy another man's body. Then, the Beyonder (I'm going ahead a bit here) restored Doom to normal and sent him back in time to participate in this story with no memory of the future. Yeah. It's complicated.
The heroes then notice that Magneto is with them...and they are none too happy about it. Captain Marvel calls him a "murderer" in reference of the events of Uncanny X-Men #150 (October 1981), in which Magneto explains that he is hardly a villain, as everything he has done was in defense of his fellow mutants. He has no idea how he ended up in the construct, nor why he was among the "good guys". Professor Xavier senses something is about to happen, and the occupants of the constructs witness not a wall of white, but a wall of black consuming a galaxy. They then witness a new planet being formed from pieces of various worlds.
While this awe-inspiring event is going down, Absorbing Man and Doctor Octopus are more interested in picking a fight with each other. Ultron, the homicidal robot, finally realizes that he's among humans. And since he likes killing humans, he attacks his fellow villains. Doom realizes that Ultron is a big threat, as he as an indestructible adamantium body and a powerful fusion reactor inside of him. Luckily, one of the villains there can help with that: Owen Reece, the Molecule Man.
You see, Reese has the power to manipulate molecules, which is not far away from full-on reality warping. He could literally turn Ultron into water if he wanted to. However, he refuses. See, since the events of Avengers #216 (February 1982), the Molecule Man has been going to therapy to work out his mental issues. As such, he wants to be a normal man, live a normal life. You know, get a house, work a regular job, that kind of thing. He doesn't want to hurt anyone...even if that "anyone" was a homicidal robot who would try to kill him.
Doom convinces him to just simply use his power to toss him onto Galactus's leg. He does so, and the World-Eater notices the mad mechanoid. Using his own power, he brings up Ultron (who is trying to blast him), and absorbs his energy. The cybernetic murderer's lifeless body falls to the ground.
A big rift opens in the starless void, and a voice announces he is from "beyond". He wants the heroes and villains to fight each other. And to the victors? He will grant their fondest desire. Nothing is beyond his power.
Galactus demands that the "Beyonder" take away his endless hunger for planetary life-energy. He flies off towards the rift, Dr. Doom in pursuit. No doubt the Latverian tyrant wants to study the Beyonder's power...and to figure out how to obtain it for himself. The Beyonder puts up a barrier, and it knocks Doom back.
Galactus seemingly powers through, but even the Eater of Worlds is no match for the Beyonder.
The two constructs land on the artificial planet. The heroes disembark from theirs and Captain America naturally takes charge, ordering the heroes to keep their eyes peeled for any of the gathered villains. They don't see any, but Wasp points out Magneto is right here. She brings up the events of Uncanny X-Men #150 again, but Magneto counters that the sub fired on him first, and as far as he was concerned, it was an act of war.
Professor Xavier tries to calm everyone down, as the heroes may need Magneto's power to aid them against the villains. Cyclops agrees, pointing out the X-Men are not exactly fans of Magneto themselves. However, Hawkeye gets into Scott Summers's face, thinking that the X-Men are siding with Magneto because, in his own words, "You mutants stick together, huh?" Uh, Clint? Where have you been? Scott and Xavier are being practical right now.
The Human Torch decides to take on the Master of Magnetism. You know, using a pyrokinetic against Magneto is actually a clever idea. Heat can weaken magnets. Magneto responds by conjuring a metal rock from the ground and giving some of the heroes a faceful of it. Cyclops tries to stop the fight, but the non-mutant heroes are not in the mood to hear it. Magneto has no desire to see mutant blood spilled on his behalf, so he pulls a "screw you guys, I'm going home", and flies away with help from the artificial world's magnetic field.
With him gone, the heroes need to pick a leader. Reed Richards is suggested, but he thinks he's not up to it, as his thoughts are on Sue and her pregnancy with Valeria right now. He suggests the Hulk, but he's not interested. Ol' Jade Jaws suggests Cap do it, as he likes giving orders. Wasp agrees. She may be the leader of the Avengers right now, but they need a leader that has no doubts about it. Okay. Professor Xavier agrees, as he can sense that Cap has the courage they need. Amusingly, Wolverine grumbles that he won't follow Cap, as he "can't do anything". This is hilarious, because it would be eventually retconned that he and Cap met and fought together during World War II. Thor also vouches for Cap to lead.
Meanwhile, Doom had woken up.
Man, I bet Galactus really regrets eating that tequila planet right now. Doom finds a strange complex, where he thinks the other villains have ended up. True to Doom's deduction, the other villains are there, and they're checking out some of the tech and weapons inside. They have discussed things, and have decided that Doom should lead them. After all, with him in charge, there's no way they cannot get the prize. Doom is shocked by this. They have the potential power of gods at their hands, and Doom believes many of these villains want petty things like riches. The other villains don't take very kindly to that, and challenge Doom, but he blasts them.
He flies off in an aircraft, planning to converse with his most hated enemy: Reed Richards. Kang spots this, and blasts him out of the sky with an alien cannon. The heroes discover the explosion and go check it out.
They find Doom, possibly injured, but alive. Cap offers his hand to the mad Latverian, but Doctor Doom angrily refuses and blasts them. However, the heroes also have another problem.
The story ends with the villains charging towards the heroes. Kang is packing some futuristic heat, and the Wrecking Crew found themselves a mech. I'm guessing they were meant to be accessories for the toyline.
This was pretty enjoyable. It does a good job setting up the basic situation, including some other agendas. Magneto being brought among the heroes is an interesting twist, as he certainly does see himself as one, despite his actions more often than not being seen as villainous to people. Same with Galactus. It's easy to see him as a villain because...he eats planets. Planets that can have life on them. It gives a hint as to the "Beyonder"'s true reason for this whole thing.
I kind of found the way the other heroes interacting with the X-Men a bit...off-putting. I get what Shooter was going for. He was clearly going for the whole 'X-Men are outcasts, they're feared and hated', but it's hard to pull off in a gathering of heroes like this, in my opinion. Especially if they had met each other in the past. I liked the cliffhanger at the end. Very exciting.
Mike Zeck's art is rather interesting. His faces are very expressive, especially in close-up. Although I did notice something. Now I think this might be something from the reprinting process (Most of my scans come from the 2005 Secret Wars trade), but a lot of the details in the art seem to be lost. I have no idea.
All in all, I like this issue. Thanks for reading this, and if you want to give this blog a little more support, please share it around and drop a little tip in my Digital Tip Jar! Next time, in honor of the Punisher returning to Netflix for his show's second season, we'll take a look at when he first stepped in the Circle of Blood...
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