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The Secret Wars are back, and we mean that in the strictest sense, as Marvel Comics is revisiting the original event-series.
No secret
Travel back into comics history for a moment, all the way to the year 1984. Aside from the usual ongoings of the industry, fans had a fresh event from Marvel Comics to check out, and it was a doozy. Not only did the mini-series bring together disparate characters that didn’t associate regularly, but it also produced Spider-Man’s black costume. And as fans know, that’s a set of duds that would eventually become one of his greatest nemesis’.
Aside from the actual story though, there was something else behind Secret Wars. Most fans probably know all about that by now as well, as the series was specifically created to sell toys. Also titled “Secret Wars”, it played off of a line of Mattel action figures that would bring the Marvel brand back to toy shops.
While the figures only saw a few waves, they’re still a fan-favorite today, and fondly remembered by most superhero-loving 80s kids. As it turns out, Marvel remembers that toy line pretty well too, and it especially remembers its final wave. That series of figures never saw release in the US, and had started to expand beyond the pages of Secret Wars itself. That’s to mean that it was packed with characters who never appeared in the actual comic book storyline. Well… not til now anyway.
Bringing it back
Yes, Marvel is set to retcon the icon, starting next month in a special mini-series called Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld. But don’t cringe just yet, because as you’ll see, this is maybe one of the more interesting retcons ever done by the publisher. Why? Because this is no side-story, and attempts to weave a brand new Spider-Man and Human Torch story into the pages that original. Marvel says that it takes place after the symbiote has bonded to Peter Parker, and promises that it will fit in “seamlessly between the pages of the original series”.
Here’s an unlettered preview:
MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD also holds answers to a 40-year old mystery with shocking appearances by characters that you didn’t even know fought in Secret Wars! As seen on the cover of MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #2, villains like Baron Zemo, Hobgoblin, Electro, Constrictor, and more found their way onto Battleworld. What do these characters have in common? Fans know that MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS didn’t just impact comic book storytelling, it launched a spectacular Marvel Comics toy line! The beloved Secret Wars toy line included various heroes and villains who didn’t make into the original event—until now! Learn what their roles were and stay tuned to future issues to see what other heroes and villains show up!
“Pat Olliffe and I were handed a daunting creative challenge,” DeFalco said. “We were asked to do a sequel/new tale of a classic Marvel story that first saw print 40 years ago and created ripples that are still felt throughout the universe today. Since we share a kinship with a certain web-swinger (and his family), we were also compelled to do a story that ripped to his core and defined his unique place in the Marvel Universe while examining the budding relationship with his new black costume. With the aid of editors Mark Basso and Drew Baumgartner, Pat and I constructed a tale that we believe has repercussions for today’s readers and creative ripples that we hope will still be felt 40 years from now.”
“Whether you never read SECRET WARS, or spent the 80s poring over the comics in between fighting with your Secret Wars figures and their Secret Shields…you’re going to come away from this adventure with a complete story and, if you are a longterm fan, an even greater understanding of the characters and stakes in this greatest of wars!” Editor Mark Basso added.
Marvel Comics press release
Kinda tough not to get at least a little excited about that, huh? If you’re up for a trip through time, then you’ll be happy to know that Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld #1 will hit stores on November 22nd. After that get set for issue #2, which you can see the cover for last in the gallery above, whcih’ll land on the racks on December 27th.
