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Secret Wars (2015)
Secret Wars Prelude
Collects New Avengers (2013) #1-3, Secret Wars (1984) #10-12, Fantastic Four #611, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (2011) #1, Ultimate Comics Ultimates #4.
Follow the path to 2015's event to end all events, Secret Wars -- an epic more than 30 years in the making! From the senses-staggering climax of 1984's original SECRET WARS saga, to the origin of Miles Morales, the new Ultimate Spider-Man, it's all been leading up to this. And Marvel's master planner, Jonathan Hickman, has long been planting seeds for the story only he could write. The Ultimates face an enemy more powerful than the gods -- and Reed Richards is its leader! Doctor Doom faces threats from a universe he created! And the Illuminati reunite to face the reality-destroying threat of the Incursions! War is coming -- be ready!
Follow the path to 2015's event to end all events, Secret Wars -- an epic more than 30 years in the making! From the senses-staggering climax of 1984's original SECRET WARS saga, to the origin of Miles Morales, the new Ultimate Spider-Man, it's all been leading up to this. And Marvel's master planner, Jonathan Hickman, has long been planting seeds for the story only he could write. The Ultimates face an enemy more powerful than the gods -- and Reed Richards is its leader! Doctor Doom faces threats from a universe he created! And the Illuminati reunite to face the reality-destroying threat of the Incursions! War is coming -- be ready!
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2015
91 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hickman
1,221 books2,028 followersJonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 20, 2015
All reprint collection. Fine enough to freshen up your memory for the key events leading up to this summer's main event.
September 23, 2025
The ending was a 4 and the beginning was a 2, so I split the difference and put this at a 3.
This volume was such a clear showing of how writing as evolved throughout time. The initial run with Doctor Doom felt so slow paced and panel-contained, while the more modern parts of the Secret Wars Prelude actually felt like they set up a story without being contained to each drawing. There weren't the transitionary panels that were easily skippable or the slower nature of a story meant to be stretched out because it was the only thing on the shelves.
I will say that this hyped me up a lot more for the story that I was reading before and I can't wait to hop back into it with the much added context. 3/5
This volume was such a clear showing of how writing as evolved throughout time. The initial run with Doctor Doom felt so slow paced and panel-contained, while the more modern parts of the Secret Wars Prelude actually felt like they set up a story without being contained to each drawing. There weren't the transitionary panels that were easily skippable or the slower nature of a story meant to be stretched out because it was the only thing on the shelves.
I will say that this hyped me up a lot more for the story that I was reading before and I can't wait to hop back into it with the much added context. 3/5
February 10, 2023
A collection of reprints getting ready for the Secret Wars event. I am rereading this along with Secret Wars because of a rumor flying around about the direction of phase 5 of the Marvel movies (or is it phase 6, who can keep track). Originally I did not care for SWs but I am hoping this time around it’s better. The inclusion of all the issues here made sense except the Mile Morales Spider-Man, not sure how his origin plays into the incursions and all that. I will have to wait and see
April 7, 2022
I'm not really a regular Marvel reader so I had a bit of trouble with some of the continuity, but I generally enjoyed this read. I want to read Hickman's Secret Wars, but I also want to understand it, so I read this first.
April 6, 2025
Good compilation of stories that honestly help a lot with understanding the new secret wars.
June 8, 2015
I was a little disappointed in this Prelude volume. Usually the prelude volumes offer both full issues and important snippets from various other issues to bring readers up to speed and be able to jump into a large crossover event. Collecting New Avengers 1-3, Secret Wars (1984) 10-12, Fantastic Four 611, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 1, Ultimate Comics Ultimates 4, I didn't really see how a lot of these issues had anything to do with the upcoming Secret Wars storyline (such as the Fantastic Four and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man issues); maybe it will become more clear as the story unfolds, but to me, that doesn't really make this volume all that helpful. Unless you really, really like to buy all the graphic novels, there's nothing here that is necessarily all that important to leading up to Secret Wars.
May 10, 2015
Well i want to keep comparing this to the excellent Road to Civil War which in a few short issues gives you all the background you need heading into reading the main book. This feels more long and rambling almost like it doesn't know what is going to be important and trying to cover everything. If i feel i need to I'll amend this and say it was right but at the moment i could have lived without most of the stuff in the middle.
May 24, 2015
I am new to this and never read something that has comic issues from years years ago. Granted, I am more of a Sandman/Hellblazer kind of girl and never been into your typical superheroes but I loved this. Now excuse as I go to read the first two issues of Secret Wars and A-Force!
May 25, 2015
Quite the mixed bag, from the nostalgically hokey end of the first secret wars in '82 to the pretty awesome more recent stuff. Glad I read it, but wish it was cheaper.
April 2, 2016
A large REPRINT section of this REPRINT-laden REPRINT-Fest was Jim Shooter's horrid original "Secret Wars" from the 1980's.
This is a company (MARVEL) that really has no Shame.
This is a company (MARVEL) that really has no Shame.
February 13, 2018
A prelude serves is supposed to serve, by definition, as an introduction to something that is bigger or more eventful. In comics, it kicks off a series or mini-series. Sometimes it can even launch a new crossover or character. In this case, Secret Wars Prelude was both a look back at the early eighties Secret Wars and a hodgepodge style look ahead to the modern (2015) Secret Wars. I figured before I dove into the series, a prelude would help guide me through the background.
The book started with a look back to the original '80s releases. It was a fun trip down memory lane to the days of when I first started reading comic books as a young boy. The way the characters were drawn and colored is the comic equivalent of watching original super hero films in black and white or early color. Nostalgists will enjoy it. New or younger readers I would hope appreciate the storyline and get to know the evil cosmic force that is "The Beyonder" and see Dr. Doom in a different, more human light. And does anyone really know who Klaw is anymore?
After the trip down memory lane, the book brings us to issue #611 of the Fantastic Four, where Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, is woken up by his futuristic version of his daughter Valeria. Dr. Doom is a God that created his own universe and army of monsters, Richards' dad is back via time travel, and then back around to Dr. Doom again as he faces threats from the very world of monsters he created. Loved it.
In another story the Prelude tells the origin story of new Spidey-like hero, Miles Morales. I was already read and familiar, so I skipped that part. If you haven't read it or don't know who Miles Morales is, do read up. You'll love it. I'm sure he'll be in the movies or a cartoon series soon.
The best part of the book's new comic inserts were the New Avengers inserts. This was probably the reason I wanted to read the Prelude as it was, I feel, a true look at what was to come in the new Secret Wars. An Avengers team that included Captain America, Back Panther, Reed Richards, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, and Black Bolt from the Inhumans come together to keep Earths from colliding using the Infinity Stones from the Infinity Gauntlet. Lots of later, inner-team conflict keep it interesting. Even Beast from X-men plays a role. If I were to speak on this with more details, then I'd spoil it for you.
While I'm sure there are some holes in the story and the book did not include everything I need to know leading up to the actual Secret Wars series, it was enough to spark my interest and keep me excited about what's to come. It cannot be that difficult not to screw up a story ready for plenty of action, betrayal, death, and unbelievable cosmic happenings. I already have ideas for some endings myself.
The book started with a look back to the original '80s releases. It was a fun trip down memory lane to the days of when I first started reading comic books as a young boy. The way the characters were drawn and colored is the comic equivalent of watching original super hero films in black and white or early color. Nostalgists will enjoy it. New or younger readers I would hope appreciate the storyline and get to know the evil cosmic force that is "The Beyonder" and see Dr. Doom in a different, more human light. And does anyone really know who Klaw is anymore?
After the trip down memory lane, the book brings us to issue #611 of the Fantastic Four, where Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, is woken up by his futuristic version of his daughter Valeria. Dr. Doom is a God that created his own universe and army of monsters, Richards' dad is back via time travel, and then back around to Dr. Doom again as he faces threats from the very world of monsters he created. Loved it.
In another story the Prelude tells the origin story of new Spidey-like hero, Miles Morales. I was already read and familiar, so I skipped that part. If you haven't read it or don't know who Miles Morales is, do read up. You'll love it. I'm sure he'll be in the movies or a cartoon series soon.
The best part of the book's new comic inserts were the New Avengers inserts. This was probably the reason I wanted to read the Prelude as it was, I feel, a true look at what was to come in the new Secret Wars. An Avengers team that included Captain America, Back Panther, Reed Richards, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, and Black Bolt from the Inhumans come together to keep Earths from colliding using the Infinity Stones from the Infinity Gauntlet. Lots of later, inner-team conflict keep it interesting. Even Beast from X-men plays a role. If I were to speak on this with more details, then I'd spoil it for you.
While I'm sure there are some holes in the story and the book did not include everything I need to know leading up to the actual Secret Wars series, it was enough to spark my interest and keep me excited about what's to come. It cannot be that difficult not to screw up a story ready for plenty of action, betrayal, death, and unbelievable cosmic happenings. I already have ideas for some endings myself.
September 13, 2020
This collection was a bad idea.
First there's the final three issues of the original Secret Wars. For all it's datedness, the original was actually better thought out than the newer one. The old one has a plot which escalates, there's genuine questions about how different characters will deal with each other, and Doom steals the power of the Beyonder but then struggles to maintain it. All of which are missing in Hickman's series.
Then comes an issue if Hickman's Fantastic Four run in which Doom gains a different form of ultimate power and struggles to maintain it. Doesn't this undermine the core concept of Secret Wars?
Then we have a couple of issues from the Ultimate universe, introducing Reed Richards and Miles Morales. I'm not sure what these add.
Then there's the three issues of New Avengers which introduced the incursions, in which it clearly states that destroying one Earth saves both universes. Which means there should be more than two universes in the end.
So, for me, this just seems to emphasize the weak points in Secret Wars.
First there's the final three issues of the original Secret Wars. For all it's datedness, the original was actually better thought out than the newer one. The old one has a plot which escalates, there's genuine questions about how different characters will deal with each other, and Doom steals the power of the Beyonder but then struggles to maintain it. All of which are missing in Hickman's series.
Then comes an issue if Hickman's Fantastic Four run in which Doom gains a different form of ultimate power and struggles to maintain it. Doesn't this undermine the core concept of Secret Wars?
Then we have a couple of issues from the Ultimate universe, introducing Reed Richards and Miles Morales. I'm not sure what these add.
Then there's the three issues of New Avengers which introduced the incursions, in which it clearly states that destroying one Earth saves both universes. Which means there should be more than two universes in the end.
So, for me, this just seems to emphasize the weak points in Secret Wars.
April 4, 2022
This is a interesting grouping of comics for a prelude to an event, the third Secret Wars event.
It has the last three issues of the First Secret War, The Final Fantastic Four of Volume one (661), Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and Ultimate Comic's Ultimates, Along with New Avengers (2013) first three issues.
I haven't read Secret Wars 2015 - so I am now very curious as to how these comics will lead into that event.
Good stories, although I think that since the first Secret Wars, writing, storytelling, and art has made a huge difference in the enjoyment of comics. Even though I LOVE the old look and writing from the sixties through the early eighties, the newer comics are just slicker and bit cooler than the older ones that tended to tell you what you were already looking at. It kind of gets repetitively boring sometimes.
Like "Oh look there is a monster." when in fact we see the monster in the image.
Anyway. I look forward to reading Secret Wars (2015).
It has the last three issues of the First Secret War, The Final Fantastic Four of Volume one (661), Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and Ultimate Comic's Ultimates, Along with New Avengers (2013) first three issues.
I haven't read Secret Wars 2015 - so I am now very curious as to how these comics will lead into that event.
Good stories, although I think that since the first Secret Wars, writing, storytelling, and art has made a huge difference in the enjoyment of comics. Even though I LOVE the old look and writing from the sixties through the early eighties, the newer comics are just slicker and bit cooler than the older ones that tended to tell you what you were already looking at. It kind of gets repetitively boring sometimes.
Like "Oh look there is a monster." when in fact we see the monster in the image.
Anyway. I look forward to reading Secret Wars (2015).
September 17, 2018
Ketika Captain America dipercaya Illuminati untuk menggunakan infinity gauntlet dan inifinity stones, infinity stones hancur berkeping-keping.
Ketika Iron Man mengenakan infinity gauntlet dan infinity stones, ia mampu menggunakannya tanpa menghancurkannya plus tanpa tergoda hasrat pribadi.
Sebenarnya apa sih persyaratan khusus untuk dapat menggunakan infinity gauntlet/stones dengan sempurna? Kekuatan superhuman? Ternyata bukan. Kecerdasan? Reed Richards yang konon paling pintar sejagad Marvel Comics juga tidak sanggup.
Mungkin tidak ada persyaratan yang jelas, cuma suka-sukanya penulis komik saja. Jelas supaya para pembaca punya bahan untuk sibuk bikin teori sendiri.
Yo wis.
Ketika Iron Man mengenakan infinity gauntlet dan infinity stones, ia mampu menggunakannya tanpa menghancurkannya plus tanpa tergoda hasrat pribadi.
Sebenarnya apa sih persyaratan khusus untuk dapat menggunakan infinity gauntlet/stones dengan sempurna? Kekuatan superhuman? Ternyata bukan. Kecerdasan? Reed Richards yang konon paling pintar sejagad Marvel Comics juga tidak sanggup.
Mungkin tidak ada persyaratan yang jelas, cuma suka-sukanya penulis komik saja. Jelas supaya para pembaca punya bahan untuk sibuk bikin teori sendiri.
Yo wis.
August 19, 2017
Tries to do it's job admirably, but it was impossible for one volume to cover all the rich history that went into the 2015 Secret Wars event. If you had to pick one book to get ready for SW, The Avengers "Time Runs Out" storyline should be read in it's entirety as it is one of the best I've read in Marvel history.
March 6, 2018
The threads of everything coming together is well done, everything flows nicely into the company-wide storyline, and it was really nice to get drawn into a larger plot. I may have enjoyed some of the stories more than others, but such is the lot of collecting issues from varying titles. The art was also generally solid.
January 7, 2022
An interesting collection of stories that does help prepare people for the Secret Wars event, It helps explain what the Incursions were, the ultimate universe and some other stuff that would leave some readers confused who have not been keeping up with Marven around the time of the Secret Wars event.
March 7, 2022
Not Worth The Read
I found the story disjointed and confusing. Maybe I just haven't read enough back story, but they really old comics never seemed to really tie in. The Ultimate Spider-man didn't seem to fit at all. He never even showed up again.
Only the last couple of comics seemed to fit with part 1. IMO they were the only part worth reading.
I found the story disjointed and confusing. Maybe I just haven't read enough back story, but they really old comics never seemed to really tie in. The Ultimate Spider-man didn't seem to fit at all. He never even showed up again.
Only the last couple of comics seemed to fit with part 1. IMO they were the only part worth reading.
August 14, 2022
The comics present here are not necessarily bad but I find myself questioning why particular material, like the ending of the original Secret Wars, is included. While the events definitely can influence Hickman’s Secret Wars, I felt it was out of place from the more contemporary moments that pertained to the Illuminati and incursions.
June 24, 2019
It was nice to get the 1984 'Secret Wars' alongside the more recent, but the way the more recent was collected was slightly confusing. This prelude is needed so that the series proper makes more sense, yet the prelude also required a good understanding of what had come previously as well!
August 16, 2020
An interesting prelude, covering several characters across several storylines. I enjoyed the second half more than the first half, but I always struggle with anything written before the 90s. Loved seeing the Illuminati again, and very excited to see where Secret Wars itself goes!
August 17, 2022
It’s great to read the original story. The image of Doom with TWO Infinity Gauntlets being worshipped by lobotomized versions of himself from across the multiverse is priceless (and how they end up helping him). Excellent piece of the puzzle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2018
Solid
Great intro to what comes. I wish it included the ride Captain America took with Nathaniel Richards and the time gem.
Great intro to what comes. I wish it included the ride Captain America took with Nathaniel Richards and the time gem.
April 27, 2021
Maybe a couple of paragraphs' worth of summary might have been enough. The early stuff was particularly clunky and tough to wade through.
February 14, 2022
Very Serious but also very Oblique.
June 24, 2022
A fun recap plus a few issues I’d never read! Excited to get this Secret Wars adventure underway!
July 4, 2022
I read this to better understand the Secret Wars run, but honestly it was kind of confusing. Hopefully it’ll make more sense reading Secret Wars.
September 16, 2022
Usually when I get collections, there is some sense of cohesiveness, but this is all over the place, and no one comes off very well.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
September 27, 2022
Hopefully helpful preparatory reading for reading the 2015/2016 Secret Wars. We'll see.
November 7, 2024
Did not care for all the secret wars 1 coverage as it is almost completely irrelevant
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews