Everything MCU Fans Need to Know About the Secret Wars Comics

Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars film is shaping into one of MCU‘s biggest and most transformative moments. With the recent shocking reveal that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, speculations are running wild about how such a change could occur. Questions such as whether Secret Wars will be a soft or total reboot of the MCU, how it will affect more recent titles like The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and more have fueled the rumor mills online. For comic fans who have read the original Secret Wars comics, though, there are certain possibilities that only they know.

Marvel’s Secret Wars events are two of the biggest stories in the Marvel Universe. The first Secret Wars event pit Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains against one another on a distant alien planet. The second Secret Wars revealed the true omnipotence of The Beyonder, the supreme being behind the event. 2015’s Secret Wars was a continuation of the events and themes from the previous stories, culminating in Doctor Doom gaining a multiversal level of power, thus declaring himself God Emperor Doom. If the new Secret Wars film is to have anything to do with these stories, fans are in for a massive treat.

Marvel’s First Secret Wars Event Was a Total Game Changer

In 1984, then Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter teased a brand-new mega event set to shake the entire Marvel Universe. One year later, Secret Wars was released. A twelve-issue miniseries, the event saw a potent collection of Earth’s heroes and villains transported to a bizarre alien planet known as Battleworld. The heroes’ roster comprised the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and the X-Men. The villains included were Magneto, Doctor Doom, Absorbing Man, Doctor Octopus, Enchantress, Kang the Conqueror, the Lizard, Klaw, Titania, the Wrecking Crew, Ultron, Volcana, and Molecule Man. Even the cosmic force of Galactus was brought to Battleworld against his will.

What made Secret Wars such a hit was the quality in which it was written. Having twelve straight issues of punches, explosions, and energy beams would have grown old incredibly fast. Not only was every character present fighting their hardest to survive, but they were also trying to learn the nature of who warped them to Battleworld and why. The mystery of who The Beyonder was saw further exploration in 1986’s Secret Wars II, a story that brought The Beyonder to Earth.

Secret Wars was Marvel’s biggest and most impressive cross-over event, surpassing even 1983’s Contest of Champions in scope and impact. One of the event’s long-reaching effects was the induction of Spider-Man’s iconic black suit, an event in and of itself that would have immeasurable and permanent impacts on the Marvel Universe.

2015’s Secret Wars Brought the Terrifying Power of Doctor Doom to Its Ultimate Peak

In 2015, Secret Wars returned in a frightening new way. When the full power of the multiverse’s Molecule Men is unleashed, total annihilation seems imminent for Earth-616. Ever the opportunist, Doctor Doom absorbed the power of the Molecule Men and gained the powers of a multiversal god. Using his new powers, God Emperor Doom creates a massive plane known as Battleworld. By fusing the remnants of multiple alternate Earths into a single world, Doom created an amalgamation of every iteration, What If, and alternate existence of the Marvel Universe. Marvel zombies roamed a wasteland next to a domain ruled by Ultrons; in one zone, the Age of Apocalypse never ended, while in another, the entire 2099 universe exists within its own pocket.

The new Secret Wars was meant to act as a means of clearing the slate for the Marvel Universe. Not only was the Ultimate Universe officially ended, but the Fantastic Four left Earth-616 for a time, tasked with rebuilding the Multiverse one reality at a time. Ultimately, when the dust settled, life became as it always was on Earth. Heroes performed deeds of heroism and villains were fittingly villainous. Much of Marvel’s history remained unchanged and the Fantastic Four eventually made a triumphant return a few years later. Still, though, the conglomeration of all of Marvel’s most iconic storylines and alternate timelines all converging together was an event of the ages.

Marvel’s Secret Wars Matter Because They Have Consistently Been Marvel’s Biggest Events

Each Secret Wars event expanded the scope of the Marvel Universe by gargantuan levels. While it was always known that far more existed in the furthest reaches of space, thanks to the tales of the Silver Surfer, Eternals, and Inhumans, much of what was known about the Marvel Universe was still a mystery. Introducing The Beyonder proved not only was there a true Maker at the top of all existence, but there was a massive multiverse just waiting outside the perception of reality. 2015’s Secret Wars took the infinite expanses of the Multiverse and crushed it into a single world, bringing decades’ worth of storytelling into a single entity.

For Marvel to title one of the films “Secret Wars” implies something large is on the horizon. This won’t be another cross-over film like Captain America: Civil War or Avengers: Endgame. Secret Wars is the biggest of the biggest. The name alone implies a major change. What this could mean for the MCU is anyone’s guess. While Endgame could have been the perfect swan song for the MCU, having wrapped up eleven years of storytelling, comic book fans know that just when one catastrophe is prevented, another rises to take its place.

Key Moments From Both Events Have Impacted Marvel Comics And Could Also Influence the MCU

The original 1985 Secret Wars event and the 2015 Secret Wars arc have had major impacts on the Marvel Universe. While much of each story consists of bare-knuckle, drag-out fights on the biggest scale imaginable, certain plot points have persisted long after the dust has settled. These are just a few ground-breaking moments that may hint at what’s in store for the MCU.

Spider-Man Discarded His Classic Red and Blue Outfit for the Stylish Black Symbiote Suit

Easily the most definitive moment not just of Secret Wars but of the ’80s for Spider-Man, Secret Wars #8 introduced fans to the most radical change the Wall-Crawler had ever experienced. When his original outfit was damaged in battle, Spider-Man sought out a machine to repair it; instead, he discovered a strange, alien substance that latched onto his body.

It would later turn out the suit wasn’t a suit but a parasitic alien known as a symbiote. This single moment altered Spider-Man’s entire career and introduced one of his greatest foes, Venom. This could be the perfect way for the MCU to finally fold in the slimy aliens from Spider-Man’s cinematic universe.

Doctor Doom Proved Himself to be the Ultimate Supervillain

When Doctor Doom landed on Battleworld, he instantly began choreographing a means to gain as much power as quickly as possible. This put him at odds (and eventually in charge) of nearly every other villain teleported with him. It was no surprise then that Doom became the event’s biggest threat.

With Robert Downey Jr’s reveal as playing the next Doctor Doom, this could be the ideal means of explaining his presence. Doom has always been an opportunist in every regard, even at the cost of his safety, and he has to appear in Secret Wars. He was an integral and focal force in both events, so it would only make sense for him to reprise his role as the power-hungry despot.

Doctor Strange Flipped Sides and Became God Emperor Doom’s Sheriff

In a move that shocked both heroes and fans alike, Doctor Strange revealed his true colors when he decided to become God Emperor Doom’s Sheriff in the 2015 Secret Wars event. Strange, Doom’s personal right hand, took his role seriously. It was heartbreaking to see the classically good superhero turn such a dark turn, but the Battleworld that Doom created put every hero in the most horrible of positions.

It’s highly unlikely that the MCU Doctor Strange would make such a decision, but as Multiverse of Madness proved, there’s a world for everything. We haven’t seen the MCU Doctor Strange since he entered a portal with Clea, but Secret Wars could change everything for the Sorcerer Supreme. If this version of Strange appears, he’ll make Baron Mordo look tame.

Miles Morales Took the Leap From the Ultimate Universe to Earth-616

One of the biggest and most long-lasting effects of the 2015 Secret Wars event was the transition of Miles Morales from his home of the Ultimate Universe to the mainline Earth-616 Universe. The battles and reality-shaking events eventually destroyed Miles’ home universe, with him finding refuge on Earth-616. It was a terrible and traumatic experience for him to know that everything he had ever known was gone without a trace.

As Miles never officially appeared in any of the live-action Sony Spider-Man movies, it’s possible that Secret Wars could be the way to introduce him into the MCU. While it would only beg the question of what would happen with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man post No Way Home, having Miles join the ranks of the MCU would be fantastic. Even if he does appear alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, having more than one Web-Head has never been a problem.

Secret Wars Has to be the MCU’s Turning Point If It Wishes to Continue to Succeed

For some, the fate of the MCU is a done deal. Nothing will ever be able to top the finale that was Endgame. The latest phase of MCU films has been met with a surprisingly lackluster reception, with some films outright panned by longtime fans. Whether through too much experimentation, too heavy a reliance on genre tropes, or a distinct lack of direction for the films, the MCU’s latest offerings have been troubling for longtime fans. Many new characters and stories have been hinted at over the past five years, but few of these teases have borne fruit. Even the Disney+ shows have begun to shake at the knees, with Secret Invasion failing to impress critics or fans.

Secret Wars must be the film to reignite the MCU, plain and simple. For longtime Marvel Comic fans, the Secret Wars name imparts immense intrigue, action, and suspense. Consider it Marvel’s ace up their sleeve. If Secret Wars as a film can’t work, the MCU will be in truly dire straits. If The Beyonder is revealed, whether Robert Downey Jr.’s iteration of Doctor Doom is a foreshadowing of the 2015 God Emperor Doom and how the X-Men and the Fantastic Four will finally make their debuts in the MCU will all be revealed in the days to come.

For those who still have yet to read the comics, doing so will likely be necessary to fully appreciate what Marvel has in store for the MCU. Not only will Secret Wars set the stage for the movies to come, but the original comics are legitimately some of the biggest and most exciting stories Marvel has ever released.