Marvel Comics: Secret Wars The end of the Universe?

[Perpetual Man]

At the time of writing Secret Wars is well under way and although it is undoubtedly true that it is an event comic, it does have the feel of being something different, probably because it has taken the normal summer event and taken the format to an absolute extreme.

Unlike the normal crossovers most Marvel titles have stopped and have been replaced by limited series, all linking in with the core Secret Wars series, with only hints and slight trickles of information coming through about what is going to happen after.

As stated before the Marvel Universe/Multiverse has gone, destroyed in a cataclysmic event and all that remains is one world. A world put together by Dr Doom who somehow managed to extract powers of unimaginable proportions. Here he is worshipped as a god. The world is made up of countless different areas, each one a unique world in it's own right. Doom has drawn on countless versions, parallel Earth's based on classic story-lines from Marvel's past.

Of course there area few survivors who know the truth...

The limited series could have gone either way, been excellent or awful, but as a whole I've been enjoying most of them, as the writers constrained from the restraints of normal continuity are having a whale of a time. It also creates something fresh for the reader, because even though they have used old titles - like Civil War or Armor Wars they have been given a fresh spin.

I'll try and get around to writing up some of them in the coming days.

 

[Perpetual Man]

The first that sticks out is Weirdworld.

Named after an older Marvel title, but one that has not been seen for a long time this draws on a few elements from that series - namely a fantasy style realm, but with many floating islands rather than the one in the original series.

It seems to have been used to draw together a number of the more... weird... elements of the old Marvel Universe and put them in one place. Other fantasy series from the past appear here including the barbarian ruler Arkon and the remains of the Krystal warriors.

Morgan LeFey seems to have found her place as ruler, and there is a dragon - a hangover from the original series. We also get to see that there are a number of Man-Things wandering loose that make things interesting.

It is the mismatched parts that make the series work, and work well, giving a totally different feel to the normal Marvel comic fare.

 

[Perpetual Man]

I've missed a few months here which is kind of ironic as that seems to be the case with Marvel as well.

Although it is safe to say that their Secret Wars has been infinitely superior to DC's Convergence, it has not been as well organised. Most of the tie in series have been magnificent, fun and unburdened by continuity. The overarcing main title has been a treat to look at and the story is one of the stronger crossovers in recent years but...

It has been falling further and further behind, so we have reached the point where the All New, All Different Marvel Universe was meant to begin and Secret Wars, the series which was meant to show how it all came about still has not finished.

On the other hand Marvel, aware that they can't hold back titles and not publish anything have gone ahead with the restyled Universe...

What we know is that eight months have passed since the end of Secret Wars.

The Universe has been reborn. (How, why in what form we don't know.)

And things are much the same as they were. Almost.

I've read three titles so far, and they range from bold re-interpretation through to simple advancement of previous ideas.

Iron Man - sees Tony Stark recreating the Iron Man armour.

The X-Men - There was a lot of talk of Marvel phasing this title out, much in the way they have done with the Fantastic 4 (To do with Fox's use of the characters in the movies). But something seems to have changed their minds and well written but familiar look at the characters. At some point in the last 8 months Cyclops did something that has turned humanities dislike of the mutants into outright loathing. Worse still the terrigen mists that were released into the atmosphere creating Inhumans all over the place, have had the side-effect of sterilising mutants. There can be no more.

and finally,

Spider-man - probably the most bold reinvention so far, see Spider-man transformed from The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man to international and adored superhero. Parker Industries has grown to the level of Tony Stark success, and Spidey has high tech adaptations of all his old toys, including cars. and rather nifty multi-cartridge web-shooters.

A lot of fun so far, but it will be interesting to see how long it lasts!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Was Thor's transformation into a woman part of this, or is that some form of alternative universe to the main comic anyway?

 

[Perpetual Man]

The female Thor happened before all of this, and is a change to the main Marvel Universe old and new.

During the last 'epic' crossover event, 'Original Sin' Thor (male) was told a secret about himself, we still don't really know what it was, but it was enough for him to feel unworthy. The second that happened he was unable to lift the hammer, which effectively meant he could no longer be Thor.

A bit after that a mysterious female lifted the hammer and gained the power and name of Thor.

The original Thor - Odinson is still around and active in the Marvel universe, but the name (now referred to as a title) Thor belongs to the woman. (We now know who it is and considering the circumstances I can't see it ending well.)

 

[logan_run]

I don't keep up with comics much anymore.