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Marvel looks back at Secret Wars from years past (and forward to Avengers movies in the future) with two September comic titles
Both the new Avengers storyline and a new Battleworld series launch in September, showing that Marvel Comics has the future of the MCU and Avengers: Doomsday in mind
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It’s the 10th anniversary of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars — one of the inspirations behind the next two Avengers movies — and also the 40th anniversary of the ending of Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars, the original comic book series that created the core storyline and branding for Marvel Studios’ 2027 Avengers outing. Marvel Comics is well aware of both anniversaries… and this September, they’re celebrating them in a couple of unexpected ways.
To be fair, one is almost expected: Battleworld, a new five-issue comic book series by Christos Gage and Marcus To, was announced earlier this week. A purposeful tribute to the original 1980s Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars series, it sees characters from across the multiverse — including some familiar to longterm Marvel readers, such as heroes from the alternate future of Spider-Man 2099, or Star Brand from Marvel’s abortive 1986 ‘New Universe’ line — fight for the survival of their timeline. A hint of things to come in the MCU…? We’ve got a year and a half before we find out, but it’s not impossible…!
Perhaps more surprising is what Marvel has announced for September’s Avengers #30. Newly revealed as part of the publisher’s solicitations for all releases that month, the issue is described with the following text (emphasis Marvel’s): “MARVEL ZOMBIES ATTACK IN THE RUINS OF SECRET WARS! The AVENGERS’ hunt for the ‘Missing Moment’ takes them to the last place anyone expected – the ruins of Hickman’s SECRET WARS! Where Marvel Zombies await! And while Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are away, someone needs to protect the world in their absence. Luckily, they know just the group of misunderstood mutants… Featuring: THE X-MEN!”
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That’s right: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are literally returning to the comic book inspiration for the next MCU epic, just as production gets underway…. And they’re bringing the X-Men and the Marvel Zombies with them, a month ahead of the debut of Marvel Zombies on Disney+. Can you feel the synergy? (The creators of the issue are Jed Mackay and Farid Karami, who clearly have their eye on what’s going on elsewhere.)
Does this mean Marvel readers should expect more pointers towards Secret Wars — either the MCU version or the comic book inspirations — over the next year as the release of Avengers: Doomsday nears? There’s only one answer to that, and that’s “keep reading to find out.” That’s just how superhero comics work, after all…
Battleworld #1 will be released September 24. Avengers #30 will be released September 3.
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