Heroes Must Survive The Wars And Prove Their Worth On An All-New Battleworld
by Jay Cochran
June 17, 2025
The Marvel Universe’s next SECRET WAR erupts this September in BATTLEWORLD, a five-issue limited series by acclaimed writer Christos Gage (Superior Spider-Man) and superstar artist Marcus To (X-Force).
In the tradition of 2015’s visionary Secret Wars event by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic as well as the original classic Secret Wars, BATTLEWORLD will see shattered fragments of infinite worlds unite to form a single planet that will play host to an epic conflict! This time around, the players will be handpicked from across space and time, including some of the most iconic universes in the multiverse. Prepare to see fan favorite characters like the original Starbrand, Days of Future Past’s Storm, Kushala the Spirit Rider, and Maestro alongside exciting new versions of Wasp, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man and more. The battle lines are drawn as a mysterious force sets this awesome assembly of heroes and villains against each other in a war for the ultimate prize!
“SLAY YOUR ENEMIES, PROVE YOUR WORTH AND ALL YOU DESIRE SHALL BE YOURS IN THE WORLD TO COME!”
The Battleworld from Secret Wars returns! Heroes from across the Multiverse are thrown together on a patchwork world to engage in their own Secret Wars for the survival of their timelines! Who or what has created this Battleworld, and for what nefarious purpose? Enter Maestro. Is he friend, or foe?
“I was a rabid consumer of the original Secret Wars when it came out in 1984, so a chance to revisit the Battleworld ‘destroy your enemies’ concept was irresistible. Then they offer me Hank Pym, one of my favorite Marvel characters to write, and the amazing Marcus To on art?!” Gage recalled.
On choosing the cast, Gage said, “When Wil suggested that the fragments of Battleworld could come from different timelines, I jumped at that, because Marvel has so many awesome ones, from Days of Future Past to 2099. Using Hank gave me the idea to build a team of characters with mistakes to atone for or tragedies to overcome, so we added a very young Spider-Man whose guilt over Uncle Ben is as raw as his inexperience; a newly sober Carol Danvers; King Thor, who rules over a dead future Earth; a fugitive Luke Cage, Hero for Hire; Bucky Barnes, fresh from the front lines of WWII; and more. But then, when I thought I was already in nerd heaven, they let me have Star Brand. The ORIGINAL Star Brand, Ken Connell! I still have the entire run of his New Universe comic that I bought personally between 1986 and 1989, so yeah, we're gonna go a little nuts with this one. I haven't even mentioned our Big Bad, Korvac, and Hank Pym's first encounter with Arcade since he kidnapped a bunch of Hank's Avengers Academy students...”
“When Wil approached me about being the artist for Battleworld with Christos Gage, I jumped at the opportunity,” To added. “As a comic fan growing up, my favorite stories were books like Avengers Forever, Onslaught, Heroes Reborn and others. I was always excited to see all these different heroes and villains share the stage with each other, and I couldn't wait to draw all these heroes and villains that I have loved reading.”
Check out the covers, including the full connecting cover by Nick Bradshaw that will run on all five issues of the series, and preorder BATTLEWORLD at your local comic shop today!
BATTLEWORLD #1 (OF 5)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by MARCUS TO
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Virgin Variant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Variant Cover by Greg Land
Star Brand Variant Cover by MARK BAGLEY
Wraparound Connecting Variant Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Promo Variant Cover by ROD REIS
On Sale 9/24
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Comments...
Bring on the Wrecking Crew
@leokearonNeato. I dig it.
On 10/21/2023 at 3:16 AM, Thwippersnapper said:Is that Iceman figure real? That looks better than anything Hasbro has done for character ha.
Iceman did exist as part of the Secret Wars Toyline, he was a European exclusive
Is that Iceman figure real? That looks better than anything Hasbro has done for character ha.
Cool that they are including the toyline original characters. Might be worth a read
JayC -
2023-10-20 @ 5:53 pm
Next month, Marvel Comics kicks off the 40th anniversary celebration of its original crossover event, Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, and Bob Laytons MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS, with an all-new series that takes place during the original saga: MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD!The series returns to when Marvels greatest heroes and deadliest villains were pit against each other on Battleworld by the unbelievably powerful Beyonder. Industry icon Tom DeFalco, former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief and the editor of the original Secret Wars, teams up with acclaimed artist Pat Olliffe to expose this new Battleworld adventure starring Spider-Man and the Human Torch!Today, fans can check out all the covers plus all-new interior artwork. Fitting seamlessly between the pages of the original series, MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD will take place after Spidey receives his iconic black alien costume that would one day become Venom! This new preview recaptures familiar Secret Wars moments and shows the beginning of Spidey and Human Torchs secret mission.MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD also holds answers to a 40-year old mystery with shocking appearances by characters that you didnt even know fought in Secret Wars! As seen on the cover of MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #2, villains like Baron Zemo, Hobgoblin, Electro, Constrictor, and more found their way onto Battleworld. What do these characters have in common? Fans know that MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS didnt just impact comic book storytelling, it launched a spectacular Marvel Comics toy line! The beloved Secret Wars toy line included various heroes and villains who didnt make into the original eventuntil now! Learn what their roles were and stay tuned to future issues to see what other heroes and villains show up!Pat Olliffe and I were handed a daunting creative challenge, DeFalco said. We were asked to do a sequel/new tale of a classic Marvel story that first saw print 40 years ago and created ripples that are still felt throughout the universe today. Since we share a kinship with a certain web-swinger (and his family), we were also compelled to do a story that ripped to his core and defined his unique place in the Marvel Universe while examining the budding relationship with his new black costume. With the aid of editors Mark Basso and Drew Baumgartner, Pat and I constructed a tale that we believe has repercussions for todays readers and creative ripples that we hope will still be felt 40 years from now.Whether you never read SECRET WARS, or spent the 80s poring over the comics in between fighting with your Secret Wars figures and their Secret Shieldsyoure going to come away from this adventure with a complete story and, if you are a longterm fan, an even greater understanding of the characters and stakes in this greatest of wars! Editor Mark Basso added.MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS set the standard for Marvel Comics events. Dont miss this new in-continuity story, packed with secret connections to the original, when MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1 arrives next month!Retailers, dont forget to order your copies of MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1 by Monday, October 23!MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1 (OF 4) 75960620518900111Written by TOM DEFALCOArt by PAT OLLIFFECover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLIVariant Cover by PAT OLLIFFE 75960620518900141Variant Cover by FRANCESCO MOBILI 75960620518900117Homage Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMAN 75960620518900121Virgin Homage Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMAN 75960620518900116Connecting Variant Cover by TODD NAUCK 75960620518900141Saturday Morning Variant Cover by SEAN GALLOWAY 75960620518900151Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER 75960620518900161On Sale 11/22MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #2 (OF 4) 75960620518900211Written by TOM DEFALCOArt by PAT OLLIFFECover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLIOn Sale 12/27
Not exactly my Saturday morning cartoons -- but then again, those were primarily in the 70s/early 80s -- but they're pretty cute.
That ain't Wasp's SECRET WARS costume, though. Not even a mis-colored take.
But I still give it all a thumbs-up! Now we need a Villains version...
Very colorful yes, but the artwork here looks nothing like Saturday Morning Cartoon work (or ads from the era).
On 8/16/2023 at 5:41 PM, AndyL said:. These are more like the pre-teen comic adaptations that you find at a school book fair or in a coloring book.
Yeah art looks way too much like something you'd buy at the scholastic book fair for a child, also gives off some Steven Universe/Bee and Puppycat vibes, which just don't screen 80's/90's Saturday morning cartoons to me, seems to modern.
anyways they gave it a go.
On 8/16/2023 at 10:41 PM, AndyL said:I know they keep telling us these are Saturday Morning Cartoon stylings but that's not exactly accurate. These are more like the pre-teen comic adaptations that you find at a school book fair or in a coloring book. The art is great and sometimes simplicity beats out that crazy complicated and busy style that's become so prevalent in todays comics but it's just a little bit off the mark.
Yeah, the designs should be loser to the 80's cartoons like Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
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