Secret Wars #2

Secret Wars (2015) (Single Issues)

by Jonathan Hickman, Alex Ross (Cover Art), Esad Ribić (Artist)

WHEN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IS GONE, ALL THAT REMAINS IS BATTLEWORLD! LEARN THE SECRETS OF THIS BRAVE NEW REALM!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Superheroes

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2015

About the author

Jonathan 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

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whatever my expectations of Secret Wars were, I honestly wasn’t expecting a Marvel version of Game of Thrones, but that’s what we’ve got!

So whoever Doom was talking with in the first issue (a genie?), they somehow created a new patchwork planet of feudal states called Battleworld populated with Marvel Universe characters and installed Doom as ruler. The universes are blowed up but Battleworld survived – I guess we'll find out in a later issue wha' happen?

Like the cover shows, we’re introduced to the Thors – there are now scores of them – who are the police force of Battleworld. Then after a couple of Frank Herbert puns (Doom Messiah and God Emperor Doom) we’re into the story of this issue: Baron Sinister is in a border dispute with Baron Braddock (Betsy/Psylocke’s brother?). Elsewhere, the life-raft the FF put together has survived and crash-landed on Battleworld along with the ship carrying Ultimate Reed Richards and Thanos…

Why the Game of Thrones comparison? Like the Night’s Watch guarding The Wall in the North against the White Walkers, the Thors have a massive wall called The Shield protecting Doomgard against hordes of Marvel Zombies. Like Westeros, Battleworld is concerned with court intrigues and warring fiefdoms while the Sheriff of Agamotto (Doctor Strange) looks identical to Petyr Baelish! It’s gotta be deliberate but I’m not sure why Jonathan Hickman’s chosen this tack besides the obvious popularity of Game of Thrones - or maybe popularity is all the reason Marvel need?

Hickman does a decent job introducing the audience to this strange new world – it needs to have all of the exposition it does for readers to get a handle on what’s happening even if it’s a slog to get through. The centrepiece of this issue though, the fight between Sinister and Braddock, is hella boring. Border disputes, internal politics, speech after tedious speech on rules and conduct? What is this, a Star Wars prequel?!

Secret Wars #2 is an ok issue. Besides being weirdly derivative and pretty dull in places, there’s a lot of potential with what’s been set up. Battleworld looks to be an interesting place with tons of fun realms to explore (a world map is included at the end) and I’m looking forward to seeing how the FF and Thanos will react to Doom’s empire – Thanos and the Cull Obsidian have to square off against Doom and the Thors at some point, right? Their egos wouldn’t allow them to share Battleworld!

I wonder if the next issue will introduce us to a story and the main characters we’re supposed to be rooting for… Also, I thought Mile Morales was supposed to survive as well as a few characters from the 616 universe - mayhap we'll see them in the next ish? At any rate, the event is still sort of on the tracks for the moment – onto the next episode of A Game of Secret Wars!

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever listened to Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield? Rick starts singing about his friend Jessie and says he's always been a good friend of his. Then seconds later he sings "Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine." So is Jessie really your friend Rick if you're thinking about making his girl yours. I think not. I always wonder if there is a real Jessie out there and if he beat Rick Springfield up for this song especially since the chorus goes "I wish that I had Jessie's girl" over and over again. Well Victor Von Doom's version of this song is a little different.

Reed is a pest
Yeah he's always been a nuisance to me
Lately something's changed, the world is Doom's to define
Reed Richards had a family and now I've made it mine.

Because I am the God
Of this quilt like world of mine
Thank God Reed is now gone
Because Sue is oh so fine

So after the big collision between the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe, a new world has been created with Doom as it's God. There are many Thors who all have mjornir type hammers and they appear to be the police of this land. A bunch of characters like Apocalypse and Mr. Sinister are Barons of their own section of the world. It's all a bit peculiar. And as I already mentioned it appears as Doom has taken Reed Richards' family as his own.

I honestly don't know what Marvel is trying to accomplish with this medieval setting with Doom as it's God Emperor. It appears as though they may be trying to cash in on the popularity of a particular HBO show with it's own giant wall that keeps the dead away.

[Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depsite how bizarre and crazy this issue is, I still found myself really enjoying it.

Having just jumped in with #0, I have no idea how we got to where we are with the God-Emperor and the Thor Corps.

Despite that, the trial and its consequences followed by the arrival of The Cabal made it a very fun a full issue.

Even though I'm still confused about a number of things that are going on, this felt much more like a #1 issue than the previous one did.

[Tomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dungeon Master Doom.

[Mikey Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

the new place is revealed. after the incursion, all that is left is the place emperor god doom has created. thanos arrives to doom’s battleworld.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one.Its like exploring a whole new world.Cant wait to see where this goes.All kneel before god Doom.

[Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

No puedo describir lo extraño que ha sido esto. Lo sentí demasiado eterno y pesado pero se que fueron cosas mías así que todo esta bien.

Me gusta la forma en la que construyeron todo aunque puede ser realmente confuso si no se le presta la atención necesaria. Bastante acción y movimiento en esta parte.

Creo que el detalle más grande de este número fue la cantidad de cosas que se tuvieron que relatar para poder mostrar Battleworld .
Fueron demasiadas cosas innecesarias contadas de forma muy angustiante y con muchos rodeos pero admito que de alguna forma extraña fue de mi agrado.

[Solace Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering I gave the last Secret Wars only 2 stars for being a convoluted mess this surprises me. I was flat out dreading reading this story and I somehow fell in love with it. I would love a story just completely set in this world, without the whole Secret Wars agenda. This is an amazingly dark timeline and world that has its appeal for a reader. If they can all be like this it would be superb.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a newcomer to Hickman, this installment is where his story seem to finally come together. Yes, there were moments of obvious exposition, but since I complained about the first issue being confusing--and because I found this second issue on whole well-paced and hella fun--I can't fault that minor flaw.

[Eric Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought it was better than #1. There are still somethings that seem all over the place (God Doom and the Thor corps) as well as it's connections to issue #1. In the end though I found myself like this issue much more that the first.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was genius. It was creative, focused, and dark. I'm impressed.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Game of Thrones: Marvel style.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be confused about what's exactly happening here, but I'm definitely enjoying it still. Take me away on your wild ride, Mr. Hickman!

[Delanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THE MOST WONDERFUL WAY

[Scott Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Love this second series, big in scope, lots of fun and introspection. Always great to see the biggest of the big dogs strutting his stuff.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun worldbuilding.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so confused but I’m having a great time

[Jelke Lenaerts]

Huh?

[Cooper Hillier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This issue was pretty good but much like the first issue, so much is happening that it’s easy to get confused. Still, it’s very interesting!

[Lucas Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now we’re talking.

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKAAAYYY!!!!!

[F.C. Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most readers, I found SECRET WARS #2 to be a big improvement over issue #1, even though I liked the first issue. This second installment puts us squarely on Battleworld, where fragments of the Marvel universe exist as kingdoms under the thrall of Doctor Doom, who is worshiped as a God, his ultimate ambition achieved at long last. We meet many Marvel characters, some of whom are quite different on this new world-Susan Storm, Jamie Braddock, Dr. Strange- while others, such as Apocalypse, Sebastian Shaw, Madeline Pryor make only cameo appearances. There is a lot going on and a lot of detail to absorb; again, even hardcore Marvel fans may have trouble keeping everyone straight at times. The hall of Thors at the beginning gets things off to a great start, and the duel between Baron Sinister and Jamie Braddock is a real high point. But nothing tops the twist at the end, when the Life Raft, last seen in the first issue, opens on Battleworld and Reed Richards emerges, only it's not the Reed we expected and it's definitely not the FF with him; this development alone, assures my interest in the rest of the series. All praise to Jonathan Hickman for setting up a story where we have no idea what will happen next-the one sure way to hook readers. A lot of fans have compared SECRET WARS to GAME OF THRONES, and I can see the resemblance, but to me, it evokes comparisons to AGE OF APOCALYPSE, one of the best Marvel "Big Events" from 20 years ago.

[Michael Barenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the game changer opening issue. Things slow down just a little to set up battle world. What's that a world comprised of pieces of multiple realities formed in to a world ruled by Doctor Doom who made everyone think he is God. As complex as that may sound. IT's a well developed second issue that's only the tip of the iceberg of the epic things that happen. I would say up there with lord of the rings.

[Rasheem Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Marvel Comic that has more story than mindless explosions?! Sign me up! Marvel finally gives us some much needed substance not seen since the House of M storyline. We're given characters we care about, an intriguing story, and a mystery not easily solved within the first two panels. This is a great series, and I'll definitely be looking forward to the next issues.

[Gilbert Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star rating because a lot of this issue went over my head. Doom is god now in this world? There’s a Thor Corps I guess that act as the law enforcers, and we see Susan and Doom are pretty close.. Brian Braddock ends up replacing his brother, as he is sent to his death for “guiding” a resurrection in his territory.

Issue ends with the Cabal and the Maker showing up to this world

[Raiyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the Battleworlds and their characters&conflicts.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Bad! So this issue shows us Battleworld, a new earth which has emerged! I don't want to spoil anything for you guys so i'll leave at that, but this world seems quite interesting!

[Jeights Tungupon · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOD DOOM!!!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um, what?

[Taylor Cayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series finally gets a chance to pick up some steam and Hickman does a great job showing us what's happened through the eyes of the Thors.