The Secrets of Secret Wars: Phase One
The first installment of Marvel's brand new Secret Wars has some extremely large shoes to fill seeing as it is comes after the latest round of Avengers titles that were by and large our favorite thing published by Marvel Comics since 2012. The first issue of Secret Wars is made for people that have invested that time into those comics. You can read this first issue without the context of both those series, but the characters and relationships will be lacking some color. For longtime readers that have spent sometime in the Marvel Universe, this series should by all means feel right at home. Still, I would not hand this to an average joe off the street just for the sheer amount of characters involved here. Without having a full picture of what has led to this story -- key moments could potentially be lost for readers. It was impossible for Marvel to deliver on their promise of making this comic accessible, but Secret Wars strikes the best balance that it probably can with the vast amount of pieces in play on the board.
Let’s talk some Secret Wars #1 spoilers!
The incursion has hit!
After months of speculation, the final incursion hits in this comic. Still, the tale doesn’t even follow-up with the full scope that was announced via the press conference held on the Marvel website. After all, this issue doesn't even show us our first trip to Battleworld, however, it does start to set key pieces in motion that have been built up for years in Avengers lore. Which brings us to the actual issue: City and Ultimate Reed in particular have a massive role to play in this series that has been mapped out well. Author Jonathan Hickman played the cards in his hand well in how he has Richards leading the Cabal. This group of characters is deadly, but having someone to directly answer to Thanos is chilling. Figuring out what the full intentions of the other Cabal characters will be a treat to continue to REED (pun definitely intended.) Even more terrible is that Reed seems to have a plan for everything that's happening past the incursion. Could he possibly have anticipated the Battleworld?
The background players.
Cyclops has a moment in the issue that will make longtime X-readers either cringe with terror, or remorse with delight. He continues his streak of being one of the most interesting characters in the Marvel Universe with his alignment being in assist neutrally gray tone. We're not given an extended amount of context, but the scene is still horrifying. Which brings us to one of the few drawbacks of Secret Wars. Since there are so many different characters roaming around this story, were only given snapshots and brief updates on what happens with this heroes. With some, these brief flashes count. A moment with the Punisher steals the issue in this comic in just one short page -- but some of the different characters like Iron Fist aren't given that same treatment.
What’s up with Rabum Alal?
Doctor Doom's relationship to the rest of the story remains a huge cryptic mystery. New Avengers #33 offers a few clues as to what he's doing here in the issue at the edge of nothingness attempting to soar with the Beyonders. Hickman already revealed in press and interviews that next issue of Secret Wars is going to be the first massive issue where more of the concepts are going to be revealed.
Deja-Vu!
Hickman attempts to shuffle off jokes with statements of sentiment. The artist is able to capture both sides of the coin well in this comic -- as opposed to works that had more difficulty striking a silly tone like Avengers & X-Men: AXIS. It's interesting to note how the other Marvel characters don't realize that this is a Secret Wars. Gauging their various reactions when they learn; "oh this is a part of that weird thing that happened to us a couple decades ago" will be interesting, if only for tangential purposes within the Marvel Universe.
About the art...
Esad Ribic's Art is a little washed out color-wise in this issue. Ive Svorcina's dreamlike palette might just take some getting used to. It's a shame because the artist spends an extreme amount of love and care crafting each page of the comic. As usual, character's facial expressions are vivid and beautiful. It's easy to tell characters apart in this comic as well. Sticking that helmet on Ultimate Reed is brilliant, as it allows him to be easily differentiated from the other members of the cast. This comic will likely hold up very well with subsequent readings and that awesome Alex Ross cover.
Will the full potential of Secret Wars be realized?
While this first issue is strong, it's only able to capture ideas that have already been released in the press for the issue minus a few nice character moments and reveals. It does indeed feel like the Marvel Universe is headed towards one big grand crescendo. However, I would still like to see this comic change in pacing more than it's contemporary event series. Based on this first issue, this comic has more potential than all the previous event series, and will hopefully have a plot that will finally be worthy of the name Secret Wars. The first two series are ideological opposites containing massive issues on both ends. Thankfully with a master storytellers like Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, this story can live up to it's full potential.
