Marvel’s Secret Wars – Revelations, Reed and Regrets
Secret Wars, an event that began with so much promise, but now as it has come to a close, perhaps it is one of Marvel’s comic events that should have literally just remained a secret.
[This article contains spoilers – read on if that doesn’t bother you!]
In its entirety, Marvel’s Secret Wars had some really good series. Set in a patchwork world where various characters existed in parallel zones, a lot of the side stories really did stellar jobs. Some of my personal standouts being Battleworld’s StarLord and Kitty Pryde for its stunning art work, A-Force for its girl power awesomeness, as well as Giant-size Little Marvel: A vs. X for its sheer chibi hilarity.
As for the main 9 issue Secret Wars series, it had great potential. It started off strong. “The Multiverse is dying. Only two universes remain.Today. Earths collide”. That premise alone shows the epic proportions this story arc was destined to take, as the Universes shatter, and Doom picks up the pieces positioning himself as God of the brand new Battleworld. We should have known, right from the beginning that there was only ever going to be one person that could take Doom down once and for all. But when Reed Richards didn’t show his face in any of the other series, that likelihood dwindled.
Doom’s motives were never quite clear, and where in the Fantastic Four series’ of latter days, there would be Parallels and contrasts between Reed and Doom, one who uses his knowledge and gifts for the betterment of society, and one who uses his brains and gifts for greed, and selfish satisfactions. Without Reed’s counterbalance, this depiction of Doom was far more sinister. Acting as the judge, jury and executioner. Secret Wars let us delve a little into the psyche of the evil genius, in particular when his face is revealed for the first time, we get a glimpse of the man beneath the mask. Using the mask to shelter his own deformities and self-confidence issues. Something that no amount of power can fix.
In a way, Stephen Strange acts as a counter balance to Doom’s stern ways in the earlier issues, where he acts as Doom’s right hand man. As one of the few that remembers the world before, there is an understanding in Strange, and it is clear that he just wants the best for people. However Doom insists he is the ultimate in authority, the one true God, and under his iron fist, Strange is killed.
Even up as far as the penultimate issue, Secret Wars was okay. Issue 8 had some very hard-hitting moments with Franklin Richards killing his Uncle Ben, Doom destroying Thanos with one hand, and of course, Sue finally meeting Reed. These events really went about setting up the last issue as one almighty close. Alas, with issue nine’s release this week. Secret Wars has officially ended in an anticlimactic haze of confusion.
With T’challa, the Black Panther equipped with the Infinity Gauntlet, and Namor by his side, the duo square up to Doom. Which is exciting. It transpires however that T’Challa is just the distraction, and he knows he is no match for Doom, even equipped with an infinity gauntlet. As Doom and Panther scuffle like kids on a playground, Reed and his Ultimate Universe counterpart The Maker are in the heart of Battleworld, with Owen Reece, the Molecule Man, the guy with enough power to sustain Battleworld.
As Doom is about to deal the killer blow to T’Challa, he is teleported away to where Reed is located, and having a brief interaction with Sue, he descends to deal with his life long rival, Reed Richards. The two quickly come to blows, with a lot of rolling, and a lot of talking. Until Reed finally tricks Doom into agreeing that Reed would have done better if he had been the one to wield the power. The Molecule Man, waiting for this moment, “Okay then. If you both agree…” destroys Battleworld, transferring all Doom’s power to Reed.
A new universe is born, and life continues as it had before Secret Wars. Characters like the Squadron Supreme and Miles Morales now find themselves inhabiting the main universe while Reed, Sue, Valeria and Franklin all reside in a Limbo existence where they are gradually recreating the universes, confirming they will not be superheroing for a while.
All in all. Secret Wars was just an extravagant way to remove the Fantastic Four from the world for a while. With Johnny Storm now with the Inhumans, and Ben Grimm with the Guardians, the others have hung up their superhero duties altogether. While Doom, has returned, mask-less and handsome.
I had no expectations for this series as a whole anyway, but once I read the final issue, and saw that Reed, Sue and the family weren’t coming back, my reaction was more so one of disappointment. I’m not even a fan of Reed as a character, but the fact that this whole series was dragged out and delayed for so long, just to get rid of them. It was all to anticlimactic!
Did you make it to the end of Secret Wars? Are you left with a bitter taste of Doom in your mouth? Did you really want T’Challa to kick some as… Anyway, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
