Last year, a major crossover of the Marvel Comics universe totally changed the foundations of The House of Ideas. Jonathan Hickman on the script and Esac Ribic on the drawings signed Secret Wars, which mixes the Ultimate universe and the classic continuity of the Marvel universe, Earth 616.
An unprecedented upheaval
Fifteen years ago, the Ultimate universe was created by Joe Quesada and Bill Jemas, which notably resulted in the black Nick Fury adapted to the cinema in the guise of Samuel L Jackson, as well as Miles Morales, the second Spider-Man.It consists of updating some superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four or the Avengers (originally born in the 1960s), but in our time (2000s). Classic heroes and ultimate heroes don't live in the same universe. Some fans identify the Ultimate universe as being called Earth-1610 while the classic universe would be Earth-616 but Marvel editors reject these names. Until 2012 and the mini-series Spider-Men (where Miles Morales from the Ultimate universe meets Peter Parker from the classic universe), there was no crossover between the classic universe and the Ultimate universe. In contrast, a group of supervillains traveling between different universes have previously appeared in both universes.
Secret Wars confronts the two universes and unifies them. The denouement leads to the creation of a unique world where the characters of both universes will evolve together in a single reality. It all begins when Doom destroys the Beyonder and appropriates all his powers and abilities. He becomes a living and omniscient God, leader of the new world, Battleword, created from the remnants of both worlds. Doom, to keep his hegemony over the world, erased the memory of his subjects, no hero remembers the previous reality except for a few exceptions. Notably Doctor Strange who is the second of Doom. Similarly, The Molecule Man is locked up by Doom, since the latter also knows reality. Battleword is divided into different territories dominated by warlords, including Mr. Sinister, Maestro (the Hulk of the future) and Apocalypse, while the Thors are the police of Doom. The world also has a lost land, where all the waste piles up (zombies, symbiotes, robots, etc.).
Some renegades, supervillains and heroes, whose memory is intact, are catapulted into this amazing world. On one side, Thanos and some of his henchmen, on the other the two Spider-Man, Mr. Fantastic, Black Panther, Star-Lord and Cyclops who now possesses the power of the phoenix. They will try to stop Fatalis and put the world back in a single logic. The infinity glove is also in the game, as is a totally lost Old Man Logan .
Bravery, action and murder galore
Secret Wars has some great moments of bravery in store. In addition to this exciting scenario that confronts the realities, and the characters of different universes, the complexity of the story is the first quality of this comic. Power relations are established, personal ends appear, while resistance is formed. A few big strikes, including Thanos and Cyclops in phoenix mode, will attack Doom without knowing the extent of his power.
Doom also stole Mr. Fantastic's life. He took his place with his wife The Invisible Woman, and became the father of her children. He also possesses Galactus and The Tree of Life, immemorial celestial powers. Doom became a God to the point of controlling Galactus. With big fights, Jonathan Hickman advances his story. Between those who confront the God head-on, and those who investigate in the shadows, Fatalis has something to worry about. He will try to stem this rebellion to keep his throne. But there are many who want to impeach him even with his henchmen.
Black Panther will get the Infinity Gauntlet to bring down Doom, Spider-Man investigates in the shadows to find The Molecule Man, while Groot merges with The Tree of Life to fight Galactus. The universes panic, the characters fall like flies, to end up with the new Marvel universe. The one that currently governs classical continuity. The two Spider-Man rub shoulders, there are also two Steve Rogers, an old and one from the past, Old Man Logan is back in the present and looking for answers, Thor has become a woman (whose identity will be hidden here), the black Nick Fury has replaced the old one, etc …
Secret Wars is the latest big event pending the Civil War II between Iron Man and Captain Marvel. It has made it possible to clean up the characters and allows you to start from a new base.
