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Secret Wars (2015) (Single Issues)
Secret Wars #1
The final incursion is happening! The Marvel Universe is colliding with the Ultimate Universe, and neither will survive!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
34 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hickman
1,221 books2,036 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 43 reviews
October 21, 2015
I’ll preface this review by saying I’ve not been reading Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers, New Avengers, Time Runs Out, FF, and whatever else he’s been doing. Why’s that important? Secret Wars is apparently the final chapter in a years-long story he’s been building at Marvel - this is the payoff! I’ve only read the first two books of Avengers and New Avengers and that’s it.
But I have been reading Marvel Event books for a while now and if there’s one pro-tip I can impart, it’s to jump straight in and damn the consequences! Also, hold your nose when you take the plunge because Event comics (Marvel/DC/Valiant/whoever) are pretty stinky!
So let’s do this - it’s Secret Wars time, woooo!
The premise is that universes have been colliding and destroying themselves for some reason. Now only two remain: Earth-616 (the reg Marvel Universe) and Earth-1610 (the Ultimates Universe), which are on a collision course that no-one can stop. What happens when worlds collide? Let’s find out!
The biggest complaint I have of this issue is that it feels like you’re thrown into the final scene of an epic story - this first issue should really be the final chapter of whatever the last book was that Hickman did for this arc, Time Runs Out, Volume Something I think. Because it opens and IMMEDIATELY ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AAARRGHGHGH WHATHEFUCK!!?!1
The Ultimates Universe are preparing a doomsday weapon to destroy Earth-616 (Sam Jackson Nick Fury reasons it’s us or them!) and I think the heroes of 616 are fighting back. Doom is up to something… he’s talking to the incursion (the Beyonder, maybe)? Thanos is Ultimate Reed Richards’ ally? Cyclops is the Phoenix Force again? I mean… wha… ?
Confusing the hell out of the reader isn't the best way to start a story, especially with those final pages. And yes it might’ve helped if I’d read the 20 or so books that have led up to Secret Wars (which was never gonna happen anyway - wasn’t a fan of Hickman’s Avengers!). HOWEVER this is being sold as a standalone event book and to be fair you can grasp the gist of the issue: the end of the world(s) is happening and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes x 2 are doing stuff!
What’s disappointing is that the whole end of the Multiverse/rebooting everything is what DC do - and look at the state of things over there! Crisis after crisis, Flashpoint, The New 52, Convergence, DC You - those clowns are all over the map! Marvel don't need to pull that shit so it’s a shame they saw the madness over at DC, decided to follow them down the rabbit hole and rebooted their 54 year old 616 universe. I just hope, unlike DC, they have a plan!
This is a bonkers first issue with plenty of big-screen drama playing out, some of which is exciting, particularly once heroes start falling, and I love that Doom looks to be a big part of the story - Marvel don’t have a lot of quality villains, but Doom is one of the best. Hopefully now that the chaos is out of the way, a more coherent story will emerge in the aftermath.
Then again it’s a Marvel Event comic so the crapfest could only just be getting started! Put your clothes pegs on your noses (and anywhere else you want) - it's time to visit Battleworld! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble!
But I have been reading Marvel Event books for a while now and if there’s one pro-tip I can impart, it’s to jump straight in and damn the consequences! Also, hold your nose when you take the plunge because Event comics (Marvel/DC/Valiant/whoever) are pretty stinky!
So let’s do this - it’s Secret Wars time, woooo!
The premise is that universes have been colliding and destroying themselves for some reason. Now only two remain: Earth-616 (the reg Marvel Universe) and Earth-1610 (the Ultimates Universe), which are on a collision course that no-one can stop. What happens when worlds collide? Let’s find out!
The biggest complaint I have of this issue is that it feels like you’re thrown into the final scene of an epic story - this first issue should really be the final chapter of whatever the last book was that Hickman did for this arc, Time Runs Out, Volume Something I think. Because it opens and IMMEDIATELY ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AAARRGHGHGH WHATHEFUCK!!?!1
The Ultimates Universe are preparing a doomsday weapon to destroy Earth-616 (Sam Jackson Nick Fury reasons it’s us or them!) and I think the heroes of 616 are fighting back. Doom is up to something… he’s talking to the incursion (the Beyonder, maybe)? Thanos is Ultimate Reed Richards’ ally? Cyclops is the Phoenix Force again? I mean… wha… ?
Confusing the hell out of the reader isn't the best way to start a story, especially with those final pages. And yes it might’ve helped if I’d read the 20 or so books that have led up to Secret Wars (which was never gonna happen anyway - wasn’t a fan of Hickman’s Avengers!). HOWEVER this is being sold as a standalone event book and to be fair you can grasp the gist of the issue: the end of the world(s) is happening and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes x 2 are doing stuff!
What’s disappointing is that the whole end of the Multiverse/rebooting everything is what DC do - and look at the state of things over there! Crisis after crisis, Flashpoint, The New 52, Convergence, DC You - those clowns are all over the map! Marvel don't need to pull that shit so it’s a shame they saw the madness over at DC, decided to follow them down the rabbit hole and rebooted their 54 year old 616 universe. I just hope, unlike DC, they have a plan!
This is a bonkers first issue with plenty of big-screen drama playing out, some of which is exciting, particularly once heroes start falling, and I love that Doom looks to be a big part of the story - Marvel don’t have a lot of quality villains, but Doom is one of the best. Hopefully now that the chaos is out of the way, a more coherent story will emerge in the aftermath.
Then again it’s a Marvel Event comic so the crapfest could only just be getting started! Put your clothes pegs on your noses (and anywhere else you want) - it's time to visit Battleworld! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble!
November 4, 2015
"The final incursion is happening! The Marvel Universe is colliding with the Ultimate Universe, and neither will survive!"
The phrase everything dies has been used constantly in the New Avengers as the incursions have been taking place. Now the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe are facing off against one another as many heroes are hoping to prevent the end of everything.
While that's happening two Reed Richards knowing the end is inevitable prepare other plans to save themselves and the human race.
I have to say the setup for the Secret Wars hasn't been all that interesting. Forcing Marvel's mulitverses to be destroyed mainly by heroes has been somewhat depressing. It's clearly too early to say if it was worth the effort, but if this was all about getting Miles Morales in the main Marvel Universe there were undoubtedly easier ways to do it.
As the Illuminati has been saying since the start of the incursions, everything dies
February 3, 2019
I have no idea what I read, a bunch of heroes fighting each other, huh spoiler someone died I think. The artwork is okay but the story is confusing, did I miss something?
May 11, 2015
I have no love for this comic. This was basically a cluster of characters with too many nearly blank pages with a few words scrawled across it. "Oh, DC is doing Convergence, well we'll do this instead!" Don't care. FCD's #0 was an awful setup for it, and the "setup" is wiped out in one issue making it nearly obsolete and just what it was, an "explanation" of what's happening. I'll buy the next one to see if it gets better, but this one didn't sell me on 8 comics of this.
June 25, 2015
Good! So I just finished reading DC's Convergence and now i decided to see what Marvel's Secret wars was about! So This starts with two Marvel earths, the main earth and the Ultimate Earth converging on one another, both sides are fighting each other, i think were trying to take the other earth for themselves? (Sorry I haven't really read any Marvel Comics other the Spider-Gwen recently so my knowledge of whats going on in marvel comics right now is rusty!) The only real complaint about this i had, that me for me a guy who is not up to date fully of whats going on in marvel (Other then highlights i read on the internet) i was bit confused! But overall i really enjoyed this!
May 11, 2015
The idea is interesting but it felt rushed while at the same time dedicating a lot of time to what was essentially empty space. It was jarring.
May 11, 2015
Very great storyline about between the Marvel and Ultimate universes. One of the greatest Marvel comics I've ever read. Looking forward to #2.
May 20, 2015
What the hell happened? I'm interested but confused at the same time.
May 13, 2015
Secret Wars starts off with a bang. A very action packed start to the end of the universe.
May 16, 2015
Crowded, dramatic, dense. And every bit as epic as I'd expect from Jonathan Hickman. I'll be sticking with this series.
July 25, 2018
I...yeah, um, what...
Okey dokey I get what's going on here, earth collides with other earth, bad Reed Richards from 1610 declares war on 616. Good Reed Richards is trying to escape earth with the boffins and brains on a space life raft.
But I spent a lot of time trying to work out who was 616 and who was 1610. And people died and then everything went, well, white.
None of it really inspired me to read the next issue.
So I read the wiki (just to ensure there was no impact on my next series I've lined up) and now I'm really confused.
Okey dokey I get what's going on here, earth collides with other earth, bad Reed Richards from 1610 declares war on 616. Good Reed Richards is trying to escape earth with the boffins and brains on a space life raft.
But I spent a lot of time trying to work out who was 616 and who was 1610. And people died and then everything went, well, white.
None of it really inspired me to read the next issue.
So I read the wiki (just to ensure there was no impact on my next series I've lined up) and now I'm really confused.
October 7, 2021
Apa yang akan terjadi ketika dua jagat yang tersisa bertabrakan? Di nomor pertama serial utama Secret Wars ini kita melihat saat-saat ketika Bumi-1610 (Jagat Ultimate Marvel) dan Bumi-616 (Jagat Marvel) bertabrakan. Masing-masing jagat memiliki superheronya dan teknologinya sendiri. Untuk nomor pertama ini, sudut pandang didominasi oleh Bumi-616 yang terlebih dulu "diserang" oleh Jagat Ultimate.
February 26, 2017
A whole lot going on at one time and sometimes a little hard to follow but one helluva cast of characters.Im certainly interested to see where this goes.
May 10, 2017
Review to come soon.
September 2, 2018
As a tourist in Marvel, I’m not totally sure what’s happening here, but I trust Hickman to take me on a great story.
July 30, 2019
Well then... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ..... ...... ...... ..... ..... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....... ....... ...... ... ... ... .. . ....... ...
September 11, 2019
Art is very well done Story is very well done and very thought out. Highly recommended
August 8, 2022
Przy czytaniu byłam jak "nie rozumiem nic ale buja"
August 14, 2022
The artwork is fantastic. It picks up 2/3 through. Parts were sectioned well but I got lost at times. I plan to read all the Secret Wars graphic novel collection. If you're a Marvel fan, it's a must.
April 2, 2025
I won’t lie, I was slightly confused at times, everything was happening at once, but wow, the ending is very heavy. I’m excited and nervous to see what happens next
May 18, 2025
the 616 and 1610 universes collide. in the end there is nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2025
I know it gets better, but the general chaos, and the panel to panel difficulty in seeing what’s actually happening as well as continuity errors made it tough to love.
November 3, 2025
Muito boa fi
April 20, 2023
The amount of jumping around that you get in the first issues of Secret Wars can be disconcerting. I definitely needed a second read.
July 2, 2015
The main Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Marvel Universe come crashing together in the fist issue of the latest Marvel "Big Event." Coming right on the heels of DC's Convergence, I was interested to to see how well Marvel upped the ante, which turns out to be considerably since Marvel effectively wipes out their entire continuity in order to begin again, whereas Convergence didn't seem to mount to much once it was all said and done. Anyone who says Secret Wars is too rushed, too dense, and with too characters, has a point, but I am a fan of this kind of over the top story telling and give Jonathan Hickman credit for swinging for the fences. The artwork by Esid Ribic is very good, doing justice to the very many heroes and villains who appear in its pages. Let it be said that even hard core Marvel readers will have trouble making sense of everything happening and I defy anyone not to have to resort to Wikipedia. The most impressive parts for me are the opening pages with Doctor Doom, Dr, Strange, and the Molecule Man-we clearly not meant to totally understand all that is happening, only that the truth will be revealed in time. The Punisher has a great cameo with one of the finest exit lines of all time. The finale with Reed Richards is heartbreaking with his final words truly haunting. Definitely a series worth sticking with as long as I'm willing to accept being utterly confused as to what is going on and who is doing the talking at least once during each issue.
February 5, 2016
First off, this was an awesome Alex Ross cover.
The story itself was pretty fun with some good fights and a nice plot with Reed Richards trying to save as many as possible in the end.
However, I wasn't sure what exactly they were trying to do with Doom, and they seemed to take up allot of page space, not doing much. I was also not a big fan of including the Inhumans preview as another way to add bulk to the book and make it seem worth the extra dollar.
Overall, though, a fun issue, although it felt more like the end of an arc than the beginning of one.
Revised: On rereading this issue, I felt much the same as I did the first time. It was decent, hectic, felt more like a finale than a beginning and wasted a ton of space at the end.
The story itself was pretty fun with some good fights and a nice plot with Reed Richards trying to save as many as possible in the end.
However, I wasn't sure what exactly they were trying to do with Doom, and they seemed to take up allot of page space, not doing much. I was also not a big fan of including the Inhumans preview as another way to add bulk to the book and make it seem worth the extra dollar.
Overall, though, a fun issue, although it felt more like the end of an arc than the beginning of one.
Revised: On rereading this issue, I felt much the same as I did the first time. It was decent, hectic, felt more like a finale than a beginning and wasted a ton of space at the end.
January 19, 2016
After two years of set up the end happens, an it's sets up an amazing incredible beginning to the best mini series in years. The artwork is jaw dropping great. The plot hits you fast an loose and every character get a moment to shine before the end of everything. An if this seems like a cryptic review of issue 1 it's because this was not just a great comic book story. But something that will be timeless worth the read.
May 14, 2015
I'm told this is more the climax of several stories Hickman was previously writing (in the Avengers and New Avengers) that merge in the Secret Wars plot line. The result seems like a calculated mess, but one that's freed by the end to go anywhere it wants. The story has the potential to be interesting, but doesn't in this issue give many indications that it will be.
May 18, 2015
If you haven't read any of the other Hickman comics leading up to this, you'll probably be really lost. At least I am, and many others were to. The art is nice, but not really my thing. I like the progression, though some things are a little confusing, which doesn't help when I have no idea whatsoever is going on in the first place, but that's sort of my own fault I guess.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews