If you’re a fan of the Marvel Multiverse concept, there are plenty of books to read before you get to Secret Wars. But where do you start?
Hickman’s run on both Avengers and New Avengers intertwines with the concepts of inter-universal incursions. These two series are essential reading for the events of Secret Wars.
1. Secret Wars #1 (1984) by Jim Shooter & Mike Zeck
Marvel has a long history of major crossover events that shake up the status quo and launch new series. These events are a great way to experience the multiverse and give fans new insights into their favorite characters.
This first Secret Wars spanned 12 issues and saw various heroes and villains transported to the planet Battleworld by an entity called the Beyonder. The Beyonder was part of a race of omnipotent beings that were trying to destroy the entire Multiverse. The event introduced the Molecule Man and a God Emperor Doom.
2. Secret Wars: Siege by Kieron Gillen
This story arc introduces the Beyonder, who is trying to understand mortal life. He kidnaps heroes across the universe to do it, but they manage to escape, mainly thanks to Captain America. The arc also explores some interesting mechanical questions about superhero powers, like how Luke Cage’s impenetrable skin makes him sweat, or a grotesque array of tubes that run down his throat.
The sequel to this event came out in 2015, written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Esad Ribic. It’s much bigger and more complex than its predecessor, but still makes somewhere between zero and no sense without the original.
3. Captain Britain & the Mighty Defenders by Tom Ewing
A better fill-in tie-in than Avengers World, this one-shot catches new readers up on all the action leading to Battleworld. It also serves as a primer for Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers series, and the prelude to his run on Fantastic Four (which itself got its own paperback in The Pulse).
This nine issue miniseries is a wild ride that introduces readers to the Beyonders, who will return to battle the heroes of the multiverse. It also features a key character from the upcoming Captain Marvel film.
4. Secret Wars: Last Days by Nick Spencer
The first SECRET WARS was an epic event where a bunch of heroes and villains found themselves transported onto the mysterious Battleworld by the Beyonder. It heavily influenced every major Marvel event that followed it, from Age of Apocalypse to House of M.
It also introduced several key characters, like Doctor Doom and Molecule Man, who absorbed the power of the heroes in Battleworld. Nick Spencer and Rosanas retold the story in this short four issue miniseries. Not essential, but it helps fill in the gaps of what happened on Battleworld.
5. Civil War II by Charles Soule & Lienel Francis Yu
In a field crowded with “What If?” stories, this Charles Soule-Lienel Francis Yu miniseries stands out. While the main characters squabble and fight for control of the universe (Korvac, Bulldozer, Captain Marvel, Cyclops, Kang, Magneto, and more) the series is a surprisingly enjoyable read.
This is a great way to jump into Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimates (next section of this guide) and New Avengers run, which intertwined with multiverse incursions in a big way. The arc also provides some key context for the Beyonder moving forward. Read it!
6. Daredevil by Frank Miller
Marvel’s comic books can be daunting to new readers. This guide covers the essentials, with links to full story arcs and key characters.
Despite being one of the lengthier runs on this list, Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s X-Men are essential reading for any superhero fan. It’s the run that introduced many of the series’ most enduring and iconic characters, including Wolverine, Magneto, and the Phoenix Saga.
Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers series are important to read before Secret Wars because of their connections to multiversal incursions. His modern Fantastic Four run is also essential, and you should start with Time Runs Out.
7. Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin
After a lengthy run on Fantastic Four, Jonathan Hickman took over Avengers and New Avengers in 2013. His stories heavily influenced the upcoming event, particularly his New Avengers story arc “Time Runs Out.”
It introduces the clandestine Illuminati to Marvel?s multiversal incursions and leads directly into the upcoming Infinity War. It also introduces Carol Danvers, who would later become Ms. Marvel.
A fun and light read, this comic delves into the life of Captain Marvel?s Kree heritage and reveals hidden secrets. This is a must for fans and is highly recommended by Kelly Sue DeConnick.
8. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller & Bill Sienciwiecz
This two issue story makes great use of the sliding time scale that exists in the Multiverse, allowing Hank Johnson to have some real fun with Hydra in the middle of suburbia. Squadron Sinister also elevates the event with some strong cross Battleworld domain espionage.
A surprisingly delightful take on the characters and world of Battleworld. Fans of Skottie Young will enjoy a laugh-out-loud rendition of their favorite heroes, while the gamma-infected setting and an excellent re-envisioning of a classic Garth Ennis story make this a worthy entry in the event.
9. Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin & Norrin Radd
The omnipotent heroes of the Marvel multiverse are central to this event, and the stories of how they got there provide essential context. For instance, the Avengers-centric team of heroes called the Illuminati was first created in these comics by Brian Michael Bendis, and they form an integral part of Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers run.
Similarly, the villain Thanos is introduced in these books, and he’s more complex than your average unstoppable cosmic bad guy. Plus, he has a thing for Death. And shit gets crazy.
10. The Wolverine by Kurt Busiek
Marvel Comics is an enormous universe with tens of thousands of stories. It can be overwhelming to new readers. This Comic Book Herald guide will help you jump in and avoid pitfalls.
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills by Chris Claremont – The quintessential X-Men story about morality, prejudice, and the fight for acceptance. Doctor Strange: The Oath by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin – Explore the mystical side of Marvel heroes with this noughties cult classic! This is where Sam Wilson became Captain America. This arc also ties into the 2015 Secret Wars event.