2015 Secret Wars Annotated Reading List

Find a copy of Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1!

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2

It’s no secret that the Original Secret Wars is kind of a hoot, and Deadpool is the perfect modern insertion (teehee) to convey the 80’s-ness of it all. Cullen Bunn sticks to his gags here in issue #2, paying off with Deadpool’s extreme case of shield-envy.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? Negative 10 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #3

Maybe it’s because I just watched the Deadpool trailer for the trailer, but a non R-rated Deadpool is a really tough trick to pull, and it’s just not working that well here. Flat jokes throughout, and brutal pacing. Starting to think this should have been a one-shot.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? Negative 10 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.4 out of 5

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #4

If you enjoy yourself some Deadpool minis (Night of the Living Deadpool, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe), there’s a fair chance this “What if Deadpool were in the original Secret Wars” is up your alley. That said, there’s a whole lot less gruesome death and glorification of certainly reproachable violence.

I lost interest in Deadpool’s making fun of the original Secret Wars after a couple issues, and the final issue does nothing to save it. To its credit, Secret Secret Wars do tug on the heartstrings that Deadpool occasionally lets slip when he isn’t making Cabbage Patch kids jokes.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? Negative 10 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Read Howard the Duck on Marvel Unlimited!

Howard the Duck #4

Literally described as “NOT a Secret Wars tie-in” on the cover, so don’t go in expecting too much. Nonetheless, it’s sort of an original Secret Wars tie-in (for, like, 3 pages), and Chip Zdarsky’s Howard the Duck has been very funny and enjoyable to date.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? Negative 10 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

The Last Days

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #8

I was prepared to pass on this series, but Cap and The Mighty Avengers works as a surprisingly effective prologue and synopsis of the events before Secret Wars hits. It’s particularly enjoyable to see Steve Rogers explain his involvement in New Avengers #1 through #3 to a group of outsiders. If you’re already following this series, or a little fuzzy on the details of Secret Wars, I recommend giving Cap and the Mighty Avengers a look.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers on Marvel Unlimited!

Find a copy of Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #8!

Spider-Woman #10

It boggles the mind why this needed to be included as part of the Secret Wars ‘Last Days’ tie-ins, but a sales a sale. Basically, if you’ve been reading Spider-Woman as a series, more hijinx in her local crusades continue. If you haven’t, this adds nothing to Secret Wars, and is very passable as a standalone issue.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 0.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.6 out of 5

Read Spider-Woman on Marvel Unlimited!

Black Widow #19

Very light tie-in, as this issue occurs prior to any incursions and references Black Widow’s involvement helping Reed Richards and the Avengers. For the most part, Black Widow #19 is a flashback to one of Natasha’s Red Room missions in Cuba. If you like Cold War espionage, this is a solid series.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Black Widow on Marvel Unlimited!

Black Widow #20

Not my cup of tea, and all flashback to Natasha’s time as a Red Room assassin, but I have to admire the way series writer Nathan Edmondson stuck to his vision for Black Widow without any compromise. These two last day issues play out like a familiar redemption arc, but that just isn’t the reality of Black Widow’s past.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Black Widow on Marvel Unlimited!

The Main Event

Secret Wars #0

If you’ve been reading Avengers: Time Runs Out, this Free Comic Book Day issue probably didn’t help much, but for everyone else, it sets the stage. Universes colliding, no time to talk, everyone fight! And hey, it’s always nice to see Valeria Richards and the Future Foundation.

Find a copy of Secret Wars #0!

Secret Wars #1

The Multiverse is dying. Only two universes remain. Today, Earths collide.

And with that we’re off to 2015’s Secret Wars!

I enjoyed this issue quite a bit, bursting with payoff building up from Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers. Speaking of: There’s been a lot of talk that you can read Secret Wars without having read the build-up. Marvel’s even put together a Secret Wars: Prelude trade to suggest you can prep in fewer than 10 issues!

This is a bit of malarkey. (Cap: “Language!”)

While Hickman uses some impressively economical expository dialogue in this first issue, I strongly, strongly, Hulk-strongly recommend you read at least “Time Runs Out” before diving in to Secret Wars. The event will be a lot more satisfying, and a lot less confusing. Here’s the Comic Book Herald Secret Wars reading order if you’re so inclined.

Otherwise, this is a great start, Esad Ribic is going to be a blessing on art in this series, and I’m excited to see where we head next.

Universes Encountered: Ultimate Universe, Earth-616

The Last Days

Loki: Agent of Asgard #14

The second to last issue in Tom Ewing’s solo Loki series definitely works best if you’ve been following Loki for the soon to be 15 issue series. We get a glimpse into how Asgard and the non-Midguard realms are dealing with the collapse of the multiverse, although there’s significantly more focus on Odin than Loki here.

By the end of the issue there are some memorable moments that could only occur in the wake of Secret Wars, but as a whole everything is riding on issue #15. It’s possible Future Loki and present day Loki will come up with some scheme or story that will impact Secret Wars at large.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.3 out of 5

Find a copy of Loki: Agent of Asgard #14!

Loki: Agent of Asgard #15

All out Asgard war, and although Secret Wars is hanging over the issue, it isn’t very directly involved with the plot. Again, worth reading if you’re a huge Thor / Loki fan or have been keeping up with this series for the full run. Purely for the Secret Wars ride, you don’t need much of this so far.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #9

The final moments of the Mighty Avengers during the incursion taking place in Secret Wars #1.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Ms. Marvel #16

Even in the final moments of Earth-616, you have a heart-broken Kamala getting cut off from hot dogs by a vendor like a drunkard on the final legs of a bender. Just like that I’m reminded how funny, charming, and enjoyable Ms. Marvel can be which makes the end of this series by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona all the more impactful.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Ms. Marvel #17

Ms. Marvel meets her hero (Captain Marvel!) in this treatise on heroism in the face of inevitable mortality. Kamala remains the most likable Marvel character in the entire universe.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Ms. Marvel #18

Kamala gets back to her family, which is frequently where this series is at its strongest. This wonderful run on Ms. Marvel has certainly seen higher highs, but it continues to chart on a fitting conclusion.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Ms. Marvel #19

Good final issue to the end of Marvel’s great new comic.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Magneto #18

Another great issue in Cullen Bunn’s run on Magneto, and if this is the end, it’s a worthy penultimate issue. There’s a line from Magneto describing homo sapiens watching him use his powers as the world ends: “They don’t want to see me save anything. They want to see me extinguish an entire planet.” As the ultimate universe barrels down on Earth-616 this is a fitting bit of meta-commentary for the Secret Wars fan. I am hoping against hope that Magneto can exhibit one last power surge to save us all.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Find a copy of Magneto #18!

Magneto #19

Bunn’s take on Magneto’s Last Days is so strong I’m finding myself legitimately wondering if Magneto can prevent the collapse of the multiverse, knowing full that I’m through Secret Wars #3 at the time of publication. We know how this ends, and yet it’s fascinating to watch Magneto to sacrifice himself (and others) by any means necessary to achieve his goals.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.8 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Magneto #20

The opening page with Earth-616 Magneto wondering about his counterpart from the Ultimate Universe is an internet’s worth of comic book blog columns by itself (For my money, Ultimate Magneto was the most non-compromising possible version of the character, so sorry Earth-616 Erik!).

Otherwise, I have enough good will towards Bunn’s Magneto that I enjoyed this, but the narrative hits a real drag here. Magneto’s been hovering in “god-like near bursting power mode” for 3 straight issues. Again, at this point, I’m really curious if there’s actually something he can impact in how the final Secret Wars #1 incursion takes place.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Magneto #21

Magneto’s greatest terrorist hits flashback as he makes his final stand. It’s an interesting reflection on one of Marvel’s most conflicted villains, and a fitting end to a very strong 21 issue solo run from Cullen Bunn and team.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Punisher on Marvel Unlimited!

Punisher #19

Disappointing “Last Days” entry from the Punisher team. Given Frank Castle’s scene stealing cameo in Secret Wars #1, I had very high hopes, but Punisher #19 skips past that appearance and dives into… an overseas adventure? It’s mildly interesting to see the world outside of Manhattan during the incursion, but this issue is really just a by-the-numbers Punisher without much acknowledgment of the world-at-large.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 2.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.9 out of 5

Punisher #20

I wrote initially I was disappointed this Last Days tie-in wouldn’t play more with the most entertaining two panels in Secret Wars #1 (Punisher’s party crasher scene at the home of the Kingpin). There’s no point in belaboring that missed opportunity, and like many stories, it’s possible that filling in the gaps would only convolute the party in my mind. So what do we actually have here?

First and foremost, we have a master class in shoot-em up action from Mitch Gerads. There are so many inventive, art-only action sequences in this issue alone that I lost count. It’s very difficult to pull off a single hero lurking the shadows, sneaking up and taking out an entire base of vaguely terrorist terrorists in comics. Obviously we know the Punisher is coming, there should be no surprise. Nonetheless, Gerads pulls off the henchmen’s perspective fantastically, as Punisher’s one man rampage stops for nothing.

As a final Punisher story, this may feel slightly underwhelming. There’s no Jigsaw, or cathartic release for Frank. Instead, it’s Frank Castle walking into a stream of bullets, telling the bad guy, “I came here… for punishment.” Yes you did Punisher. Yes. You. Did.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Punisher on Marvel Unlimited!

Last Days of Ant-Man #1

Scott Lang’s start-up in Miami leads him to spend a lot of time at an old folks home (with a pretty fun secret) and an eventual one night stand with one of writer Nick Spencer’s favorite characters. It doesn’t quite measure up to the fun and humor of the ongoing, but it’s an otherwise entertaining Last Days book. Far from essential, but worth a look if you’ve been following Ant-Man.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 2.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

Ant-Man: Last Days on Marvel Unlimited!

Silk #7

Cindy Moon, aka Silk, does the Last Days end of the world marathon, while simultaneously hunting down a lead on her family from the one and only J. Jonah Jameson. Really nice work from Tana Ford as Silk’s first ever series comes to a Secret Warsian close.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Loki: Agent of Asgard #16

Credit where it’s due, Loki #16 is a giant love-letter to Asgardian history in the Marvel Universe. It’s all a bit silly and tongue-in-cheek, and this definitely isn’t that pertinent to Secret Wars as a whole. That said, issue #16 raises some interesting questions about how one might escape the incursion, and what that might mean for the Marvel Universe (or lack thereof) moving forward.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Loki: Agent of Asgard #17

The final issue in Al Ewing and Lee Garbett’s Loki: Agent of Asgard is tremendously ambitious, all within the blank white space beyond the multiverse. The first half of the issue is a treatise on the nature of myth, story, and if we’re being real, religion. It’s a powerful message about the power of story, and fans of American Gods or Kieron Gillen’s work on Journey Into Mystery are sure to enjoy.

From there, it’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek that of course Secret Wars isn’t the end of Marvel stories (even if everything does, in fact, die) and may well be the first Last Days tie-in to walk straight out of the issue into All-New All-Different Marvel of October 2015.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Silver Surfer on Marvel Unlimited!

Silver Surfer #13

Silver Surfer provides the most interesting outsider perspective on the incursions of Secret Wars, showing the conclusion of Secret Wars #1 from the Surfer and Dawn racing through space.

The issue begins with a highlight reel of the series to date (it’s a great series, with the most charming story and art from Dan Slott and Mike Allred), but quickly becomes one of the most intriguing Last Days tie-ins. Could the Silver Surfer and Dawn actually find a way to save the universe?

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Silver Surfer #14

There’s an off chance that based on the events of the (as yet released) Silver Surfer #15, the sentinel of the spaceway’s solo series will move later in the reading order. As it stands, Norrin and Dawn deal with the aftermath of the end of everything in touching and potentially questionable ways!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Silver Surfer on Marvel Unlimited!

The Main Event

Secret Wars #2

The opening three pages of the second issue in the event are so fantastic I ran 3 miles down the block yelling “Rabum Alal!” before I even remembered I had the rest of the issue left.

Secret Wars #2 does not disappoint. Nobody in comics does Dr. Doom justice like Jonathan Hickman, and Esad Ribic continues working on another level.

I truly could not be more excited about this issue and the direction it means for Secret Wars. I didn’t know I needed a Game of Thrones / Marvel Universe mash-up, but seven hells is it sweet.

Universes Encountered: Doomgard, High Avalon, Utopolis, Bar Sinister, The SHIELD

Battleworlds

Battleworld: Ultimate End #1

Our first look at what happened to the Marvel Ultimate Universe and Earth-616 after the end of Secret Wars #1. The heroes of both universes (well, some of them) meet to discuss what they should do about the new world of Doom.

This series appropriately reads like an Ultimate Universe event book, which is no surprise coming from Ultimate Spider-Man creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. There’s a lot to potentially get excited about with this series (the Marvel U we’ve known and the Ultimate U mashing up Spider-Men style!) but holy hannah do I have a lot of questions.

The single biggest one: Last we saw, in Secret Wars #1, the Ultimate Universe was unleashing a genocidal attack Earth-616 to try and prevent the collapse of the multiverse and stow the incursion. And now the two universes are having relatively peaceful meetings in nice towers? Wha… Huh?

Hopefully all this is cleared up more as the series proceeds. For now, this is clearly one of the more closely tied-in books of Secret Wars.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Find a copy of Battleworld: Ultimate End #1!

Secret Wars: Battleworld #1

Two stories showcasing life inside Doom’s newly created Battleworld, and the first story is a blast. We encounter a Frank Castle Punisher who has had a Dr. Strange’s astral form graft to his presence. While sneaking through Marvel 2099, Dr. Punisher encounters 4 emissaries of Inferno: Hulk, Ghost-Rider, Wolverine, and Spider-Man. Highly entertaining, creative battle, with a glimpse into Dr. Strange (Earth-616) and his management of Doom’s realms.

The second story is more overtly comical, with every MODOK ever gathering to take over Battleworld. The end result is predictably violent and dysfunctional, if largely juvenile (I’m such a snoot).

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Battleworld #1!

Secret Wars Battleworld #2

The Battleworld short stories continue to offer some of the most pure Marvel fun around, with an opening story about Blade the Vampire-Hunter hunting the Drakula of Quack City, and brawling with Howard the Duck in a bar. You may not write your literary dissertation on this one, but it’s pure comics joy.

The second story takes a darker turn as we get to know a General Ross who has turned himself into a Terminator-style War Machine for Arcade’s Killiseum. Due to Captain America’s involvement, we know this issue must be before Planet Hulk, despite publication after Secret Wars #3

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.8 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars Battleworld #2!

Battleworld: Master of Kung Fu #1

I was pleasantly surprised with this entire issue, with Haden Blackman and Dalibor Talajic crafting some convincing kung fu myth-making over a very short period of time. I didn’t know I needed a Shang-Chi and the Morlocks team-up (I saw Shang-Chi and the Morlocks for the first time at CBGB), but everything here works brilliantly, from the ten rings to K’un L’un.

As we make our way through the first wave of tie-ins, I’d not here that I’m entirely clear what makes Master of Kung Fu a “Battleworld” and not a Warzone. The first two series made sense since they’re mashing universes, but Master of Kung Fu seems to just be the region of K’un L’un. I suppose we’ll see.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Find a copy of Battleworld: Master of Kung Fu #1!

Warzones

A-Force #1

She-Hulk is Baroness of an island nation full of women warriors. America Chavez punches a Megalodon over The SHIELD. I really shouldn’t need to keep going at this point with incentives.

A-Force showcases some tie-ins to both Sheriff Strange and the Thors, as well as highlighting the rule that there is no crossing borders in Doom’s Battleworld. Potentially big implications for A-Force’s impact on Secret Wars at large in the surprise ending!

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.8 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Find a copy of A-Force #1!

Planet Hulk #1

My favorite of the Warzone reads. Again, there isn’t a lot I can say that Matt didn’t capture in his review (see the link above!), but God Emperor Doom sends Captain America / Devil Dinosaur on a mission into the Greenlands to take out a Hulk. 12 year-old me is still high-fiving strangers in a past timeline, and he has no idea why.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Planet Hulk #1!

Spider-Verse #1

The final read from the batch of 5/20 books introduces some very odd elements. The reality of Spider-Verse is exceedingly muddled, and can potentially offer the clearest glimpse into where this series is heading. Within Spider-Verse #1, we see that Spider-Gwen and other assorted spiders are aware that things are not quite right, but can’t really remember what exactly is missing or off. As a result, we have Spider-Gwen in a world where she’s aware Gwen Stacy was killed by Norman Osborne, and yet she’s alive, well, and working at an Ozcorp facility owned by Mayor Norman Osborne.

This could actually help explain why Ultimate End #1 feels so out of whack with what we know from Secret Wars, but it’s a bit jarring. As we proceed, though, I’m concerned that this selective memory angle is going to take precedent as heroes start “waking up.” This feels inevitable, and is far too reminiscent of the ending of House of M. Nonetheless, Hickman hasn’t had a misstep with the primary series yet, so until that time, In Hickman I Trust.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Spider-Verse #1!

Battleworlds (Wave 2)

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #1

Charles Soule has been doing excellent work for Marvel over the last year-plus (Death of Wolverine, Inhumans), and Attilan Rising is no exception. Well-paced issue that adds to the scope of Battleworld. We learn about the resistance to God Emperor Doom, as a band of rebels led by a Ghost Rider embark on a mission in the Hulk-ridden Greenlands. Doom entrusts Baron Medusa and her New Attilan of Manhattan to quell this resistance, meaning an appearance of non other than God Emperor Doom himself! This series appears on pace to play a significant role in the world of Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.8 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Find a copy of Inhumans: Attilan Rising #1!

Warzones (Wave 2)

MODOK Assassin #1

I was hesitant after the half-cocked M.O.D.O.K. throwaway story in the back half of Battleworld #1, but MODOK Assassin is really, really fun! I didn’t realize until I saw the title font that this series would be playfully alluding to Elektra: Assassin (you know, the most ambitiously psychotic graphic novel Marvel ever released), and it’s a great fit. MODOK lives in Killville (perfect). Yost and the creative team do the best job of any issue so far establishing the regions of Battleworld, with MODOK explaining the neighboring countries, including House of M and a region composed entirely of Sentinels.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Find a copy of MODOK Assassin #1!

Infinity Gauntlet #1

The Walking Dead meets Annihilation wave bugs.

It’s a blast.

I had no idea what an Infinity Gauntlet warzone would look like (Thanos has killed everyone?) but the creative team made the right decision. It’s an Earth ravaged by Annihilation, and now the Thanos Quest for the infinity stones begins!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Infinity Gauntlet #1!

Old Man Logan #1

Another continuation within the continuity of the source material, Old Man Logan is very much artist Andrea Sorrentino’s show. This issue is beyond packed with kinetic action scenes, frequently wordless and visceral. All in all, I found it an enjoyable reintroduction to the Old Man Logan universe, and fits in well with the Secret Wars universe as a whole as Logan goes searching for answers.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Old Man Logan #1!

Inferno #1

Inferno is very much confined to the realm of sassy demons. The first issue is a what-if story where the X-Men don’t save Illyana Rasputin from demons, and Colossus and a band of X-Men embark on a mission every year to save her. One of the weaker tie-ins so far unless you’re either super into Inferno or writer Dennis Hopeless’s Marvel NOW X-Force.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.1 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: Inferno #1!

Secret Wars: 2099 #1

Disappointingly predictable 2099 entry, in a story that could be titled Avengers 2099 and have nothing to do with Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.8 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars: 2099#1!

Secret Wars Journal #1

One part Young Avengers in 1602, one part X-Men in Egyptia (one of Secret Wars weirdest regions… entirely Moon Knight based?), both parts tepid. Journal is just an excuse to showcase more Battleworld regions, which I have zero problem with. Unfortunately the stories just aren’t very interesting. That said, the Young Avengers story sets up Siege #1, giving this a higher necessary tie-in factor.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.6 out of 5

Find a copy of Secret Wars Journal #1!

Where Monsters Dwell #1

While this is undoubtedly a Garth Ennis comic (there’s a character named ‘No-Balls’), it’s a pretty restrained Ennis delivering a fun intro to Secret World’s Monster Island.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Find a copy of Where Monsters Dwell #1!

X-Men ‘92 #1

Ending on a positive this week with the X-Men ’92 digital infinite comic. It’s a fun return to the TV series that is a huge reason why I even love comics in the first place. Writers Chris Sims and Chad Bowers take the television series to its logical conclusion (horrible war with Magneto, resulting in his death) and a post-Sentinel mutant/human society! Well… at least that’s the way it seems.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

The Main Event

Secret Wars #3

Captivating conversation to open the issue in which it is confirmed that Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange both remember what the world was like before the incursions. Not surprising for Doom, but slightly more interesting for Strange. I also love that Hickman continues to draw from Game of Thrones in his myth-making, informing us that there was a time in which Battleworld had to round up the Marvel Zombies and Ultrons and keep them behind the SHIELD. Doom didn’t merely create things that way, and we now know Secret Wars takes place 8 years into the existence of Battleworld.

Note: This read creates some continuity confusion with Ultimate End #1. It was my understanding that Ultimate End #1 was supposed to included Earth-616 Peter Parker Spider-Man, and yet here he is in Secret Wars #3. Making a note of this now, and will update as we have more information.

Universes Encountered: Doomgard, The Hidden Isle of Agamatto, Utopolis

Battleworlds (Wave 3)

Secret Wars Battleworld #2

Placed in the reading order above, included here for those following along with publication date!

Master of Kung Fu #2

The greatest Kung Fu story in Secret Wars continues with an excellent second issue. I’ve praised Hickman’s core Secret Wars for its depth of world, but Master of Kung Fu is doing just as brilliant a job on a micro scale. We get complete histories of this K’un L’un and the order of the Ten Rings, alongside Shang Chi’s inevitable journey to fight the evil emperor otherwise known as his father.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Find a copy of Master of Kung Fu #2!

Warzones (Wave 3)

Years of Future Past #1

Very strong continuation of the classic Days of Future Past X-Men story arc. A lot of nice Marvel Universe easter egg touches, including a Doom-centric one to close the issue!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Find a copy of Years of Future Past #1!

X-Tinction Agenda #1

Definitely one of the deep cuts for Secret Wars worlds, X-Tinction Agenda #1 features the domain of X-Topia, led by Baron Grey (Rachel Grey as the Phoenix). More importantly, the issue focuses on Genosha and an island of mutates threatened by a plague that could wipe out all mutants.

Definite uphill climb for the issue to make me care much about a team led by Havok and Wolfsbane, but the story does a surprisingly effective job.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.4 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Find a copy of X-Tinction Agenda #1!

Giant-Size Little Marvel: A vs X #1

If you like Skottie Young’s art, and a mini Blob walking down a street saying “I could eat” is about the most adorable thing you’ve ever heard, then you’re going to love Giant-Size Little Marvels. All your favorite Marvel characters reimagined as cute little kids. It could be disastrous, but instead it’s Calvin and Hobbes meet the Marvel U. Now officially the highest rated comic on this list.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 1.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.8 out of 5

Find a copy of Giant-Size Little Marvel #1!

Future Imperfect #1

Peter David back writing the Future Imperfect world he created in the early 90’s, although it’s a shame George Perez isn’t on hand to draw the evil Hulk, Maestro, Baron of Dystopia. Much like X-Tinction Agenda, I’d argue that this is a more enjoyable tie-in if you’re familiar with the source material, although I suspect both twists are fun surprises either way.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Read Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows on Marvel Unlimited!

Find a copy of Future Imperfect #1!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1

Near perfect early 90’s throwdown between Spider-Man and Venom, with plenty of Avengers and only-in-Secret-Wars action thrown in. Dan Slott never fails to create intriguing new concepts for Peter Parker, and we have a doozy on our hands here. What trumps great power?

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.6 out of 5

Find a copy of Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows#1!

Armor Wars #1/2

Only available at Toys ‘R Us as part of a promotion. If you happened to pick up this issue, let me know what you think in the comments and I’ll add it here on Comic Book Herald.

Armor Wars #1

What if everyone not only had an Iron Man suit, but had to wear the armor to survive? That’s the world of Technopolis, led by Baron Tony Stark, seemingly trying to do the right thing. Intriguing start to the series.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.3 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Find a copy of Armor Wars#1!

Battleworlds (Wave 4)

Battleworld: Ultimate End #2

You know that feeling when you’re reading a comic and you feel like you’re missing huge chunks of the story? That feeling that Comic Book Herald is like 90% dedicated to erasing from new comic book readers?

That’s how Ultimate End makes me feel.

I seriously do not understand what is happening in this book, or how it can possibly work alongside Secret Wars as a whole. It is the biggest continuity question of the entire event, by far.

Thing is, I want to enjoy this series. I really love the Ultimate Universe, and mashing it with Earth-616 has some potential for greatness. Sadly, right now this is not that book.

So essential to continuity? Yeah, it seems like it has to be. A good comic? Oh boy, no. Hopefully we’ll get a better sense of how this is supposed to fit next round.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 1.4 out of 5

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #2

The Voice Unheard resistance against Doom continues with some fun, cross Battleworld domain espionage, and a special Inhuman: Attilan Rising version of a fan favorite.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.8 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Secret Wars Journal #2

Misty Knight being completely bad-ass in a casino brawl in Killville. That’s the first story. It’s mostly fun but nothing special.

And then the second story hits and it’s the best short story I’ve read in Marvel Comics since Jason Aaron’s “The Man in the Pit” on Wolverine. In “Hell’s Kitchen,” Simon Spurrier and Jonathan Marks take all the compelling villainy of Mr. Sinister and blend it with the Daredevil & Elektra doomed love. Somehow it works better than I could have imagined. A perfect story, worth the price of admission.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.6 out of 5

Battleworld: Marvel Zombies #1

Beautiful. Weird. Beautifully weird.

If you weren’t in love with Elsa Bloodstone before Marvel Zombies #1, you will be by the end of the issue. Simon Spurrier and Kev Walker deliver the best Game of Thrones “Wall” episode since “Hardhome.” Zombie Doc Ock, Zombie Juggernaut, and our first inside look at the SHIELD of Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Battleworld: Ghost Racers #1

Fun concept, as we get to spend an entire issue inside the Killiseum (just outside the capital state of Battleworld, Doomstadt). Arcade’s assaulting arena features “Ghost Races” in which all the Ghost Rider characters, well… they race. That’s it.

Ultimately it’s a rather disappoint read, with equally disappointing art from Juan Gedeon. Again, this is a fun concept, but I can’t help but think it would translate a lot better in HBO’s inevitable adaptation of Secret Wars. On the plus side, I’m all in for more Arcade / Killiseum plots.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.5 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 4)

X-Men ‘92 #2

Another strong entry in the digital only 90’s animated cartoon nostalgia party. Issue felt very by the numbers until the creative team took a Grant Morrison concept and twisted it beautifully within the confines of X-Men the Animated Series. Definitely recommend if you were a fan of the show as the character work and relationships are spot on with how I remember them.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Inferno #2

If Inferno was your jam, then by all means carry on with this tie-in. As is, it’s an oddball Colossus / X-Force alternate reality story that I never wanted. Not poorly done, but certainly not necessary.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.1 out of 5

Inferno #3 (Wave 8 release date)

I’ve been generally non-plussed with Inferno, but issue #3 starts to win me over more than I expected. The expanded X-Universe, complete with Dr. Strange led Magic Divisions working hand in hand with Hank McCoy led Science Divisions, is great, and the third man reveal at the end of this issue works beautifully. Meanwhile, demon nightcrawler is horrifying, and Colossus works better as a main character than I ever gave him credit for. Excited to see how this series concludes now.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Inferno #4 (Wave 14 release date)

Inferno talks up its threat level by bringing Sheriff Strange and a couple Thors to the party. The cameo offers some great Battleworld insight, as Doom offers Darkchylde the title of Baron of Inferno since Baron Summers has let the domain fall into chaos.

In other news, Cyclops gives an “I’m done running” speech that includes the sentence “We convinced ourselves a war with hell didn’t make sense.” And Mr. Sinister is dastardly. It’s hard not to smile throughout.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Inferno #5 (Wave 20 release date)

Certainly the most I’ve liked Colossus in a good while.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

Weirdworld #1

Beautiful. Weird. Beautifully weird.

Jason Aaron and Mike Del Mundo go all out on Weirdworld, the illogical planet of magic and fantasy where phrases like “Next issue: Apelantis” make a surprising amount of sense. Loved this intro.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.8 out of 5

Spider-Verse #2

A new Spider enters the scene as the Spider-Verse heroes meet their very own collection of Spider villains. Issue doesn’t much deal with the cognitive dissonance of Gwen somehow living in the reality in which she was murdered by Norman Osborone, but presumably that will come.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Secret Wars: 2099 #2

If you love the 2099 Universe, then this is really a functional new ongoing series starring the 2099 Avengers. If you’re just here for the Secret Wars, I don’t have a lot to love here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

MODOK Assassin #2 (Wave 6 release date)

MODOK falls in love in the most charming Secret Wars tie-in this side of Giant-Size Little Marvel. One of my favorites so far.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

MODOK Assassin #3 (Wave 11 release date)

I appreciated that MODOK: Assassin #3 actually calls out that the issue takes place before Secret Wars #4.

We can also determine that this issue has to occur prior to Thors #1.

Undoubtedly the finest combination of playful and extraordinarily murderous in the entire Marvel Battleworld. Yost and Pinna really go all out with the limitless Marvel roster of Killville.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

MODOK Assassin #4 (Wave 15 release date)

One of my dark horse favorites continues to impress, particularly with the first “8 years ago” flashback I can remember within the entirety of Secret Wars. There’s a huge untapped story for how Battleworld came to be settled, and MODOK #4 plays with the territory wisely.

Otherwise, this is simply going to go down as the greatest MODOK story of all time. No big deal.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

MODOK Assassin #5 (Wave 20 release date)

Few series made me smile as widely or as frequently as MODOK. Great from start to finish.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.7 out of 5

1602: Witch Hunter Angela #1

I’ve never been that into the Marvel 1602 Universe, and I’m still vaguely unfamiliar with Angela, so this is a tough sell of a book. Fun if you like old-timey English and witch hunting (who doesn’t?!), and I have to admit I’m excited for the team teased in issue #2.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Read Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #1

Deconnick and company find a nice way to tie in Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps to the Secret Wars narrative at large. Many of the tie-ins have been perfectly content to exist within their own realm – frequently in enjoyable ways – but Carol Danvers and her fighter pilots seek answers beyond Battleworld. What’s in the sky? Where are the stars? It will be interesting to see how these questions fit with the narrative of Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.7 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #1

Better than I expected, although if you consider this is a comic with Dracula commanding a team of monsters called the Howling Commandos, there’s a lot in its favor. A better read if you’re familiar with Gerry Duggan’s run on Deadpool during Marvel Now! (there’s always the Comic Book Herald guide for that!).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 5)

Thors #1

A police procedural with interdimensional Thors. A police procedural with interdimensional Thors.

Oh and there’s a Groot-Thor that says “I am Thor!” I can’t endorse this enough.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 5.0 out of 5

Runaways #1

Not at all what I expected, in the best way. For starters, there’s only really one Runaway here from the classic lineup (welcome back, Molly!). Otherwise, Runaways is Marvel’s “Morning Glories” or “Deadly Class” set in Doom’s Battleworld. If not wholly original, it’s an extremely fun concept, and combines an oddball hodgepodge of Secret Wars realms in one comic in a way that most books do not. This gives Runaways added importance to the overall narrative (students are training for Doom’s honor guard), and the headmaster’s revealed identity only adds to the tie-in relevance!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 5)

Old Man Logan #2

Bendis and Sorrentino take an interesting route with Old Man Logan in which Wolverine apparently has no knowledge of Battleworld or Doom. This appears to be common knowledge in any other region, but Wolverine climbs into the Age of Apocalypse region (our first glimpse) and both sets of players are completely baffled. Fun merger of X-Universes, but the absence of Doom is strange.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Armor Wars #2

I continue to appreciate the unique world James Robinson and the creative team have established here in Armor Wars. It’s a truly Iron Man centric Marvel Universe in a way the comics have never really been able to pursue before. I still need a bit more detail on this overarching mystery, but so far it’s worth pursuing for Stark fanatics.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Squadron Sinister #1

Particularly interesting entry in the Secret Wars canon, simply because DC told their version of this story during Convergence with Crime Syndicate. As a result Squadron Sinister felt occasionally predictable, but was reasonably strong throughout. If you’re a fan of the Squadron Supreme universe, this is undoubtedly worth a look, although you may not like what you see.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Read Age of Ultron vs. Zombies on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworlds (Wave 6)

Battleworld: Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #1

Less of the knockdown dragout brawl I expected (although Steve Pugh gets plenty of chances to show off brawling zombies and Ultron variants), and this series is better for it. James Robinson finds the story in a child’s toyset, giving us an old-timey Hank Pym dropped outside of the SHIELD. The SHIELD still harbors some of the most intriguing mystery and potential in the Secret Wars universe, and much Game of Thrones, there’s an indication it’s only a matter of time before the forces beyond the wall impact the world at large.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 6)

Infinity Gauntlet #2

Extremely cinematic and continuously satisfying take on an Infinity Gauntlet story. This is a great bizarro Nova movie from an alternate universe.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Planet Hulk #2

I’ve voiced this occasionally throughout this guide, but the way that Secret Wars opens up the possibilities of the Marvel Universe we’ve come to know is absolutely splendid. Restrictions are completely wiped away, and there is only the imagination of the creators and their stories.

In the case of Planet Hulk, this means a Steve Rogers, Devil Dinosaur, and Doc Green traversing a dangerous gamma-infected world. Gamma-plants, Gamma-bulls, and a world of green and angry options. Issue #2 is a bit more by the numbers than the exciting opener, but it’s still a story worth pursuing.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Where Monsters Dwell #2

While this is undoubtedly a Garth Ennis comic (there’s a character named ‘No-Balls’), it’s a pretty restrained Ennis delivering a fun intro to Secret World’s Monster Island.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

E is for Extinction #1

Secret Wars has been oddly short on some of the more relevant mutants so far, but that’s hardly an issue with E is for Extinction. If you liked Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s New X-Men, you’re in for an alternate reality version of that run where Professor X killed himself to stop Cassandra Nova and now Magneto runs the school. So actually it’s not that different from a whole bunch of alternate reality X-stories, except Beak, Angel, Glob, and Quentin Quire are totally main characters.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Korvac Saga #1

The Korvac Saga is one of my least favorite Avengers “Classics” so I’m glad to see Dan Abnett and co. have given the Secret Wars version some legs. Much like the Carol Corps, we have a domain realizing that there are no stars in the sky, and recognizing something has changed. The original Guardians of the Galaxy definitely offer an appropriate investigative unit.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

X-Men ‘92 #3

Continues to be a completely enjoyable continuation of my favorite cartoon of all time.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

The Main Event

Secret Wars #4

Well, the Doom Gauntlets come off this issue. There’s a showdown of all interested parties, and for the most part issue #4 finally sets the core plot in motion, as the heroes inevitably rally to upheave Doomgard.

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it was inevitable that Secret Wars pick up the pace and set the stage for a Reed Richards and Doctor Doom showdown. On the other, I’ve been enjoying Battleworld so much that I’m disheartened to see even an inkling of its end.

This is the least excited I’ve been after reading a core issue of Secret Wars, as there just aren’t those beautiful “only in Secret Wars” moments like Franklin Richards playing on the hand of a Galactus while Doom and Sue look on. And I won’t spoil anything, but there are some other character moments that are disappointing (albeit understandable). Nonetheless, Secret Wars #4 highlights a crucial element of what this story is really about: there’s one man in the universe that God Doom fears, and he’s back.

Universes Encountered: Doomgard, Utopolis, Island of Agamatto

Battleworlds (Wave 7)

Secret Wars Journal #3

Last issue I lost my mind over the greatness of the Daredevil/Elektra/Mr. Sinister story, and this week that award goes to “Who Killed Tony Stark” by Frank Tieri and Richard Isanove. It’s an Oldtown murder mystery, with noir detective Wolverine, vigilante Frank Castle Jr., and a surprise “only in Secret Wars” twist. Loved this story and would continue reading a series based in this setting.

The third issue in this look inside Battleworld comes from Comedy Bang Bang’s Scott Aukerman. It’s a look at a Leonard Sampson trying to keep together his psychiatry practice in the Hulk-infested realm of Greenland. It’s a funny concept that offers some pretty genuinely helpful advice in a nice ending.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Battleword: Ultimate End #3

I grabbed my favorite beer. I sat in my favorite chair. I read Ultimate End #3.

It didn’t help.

I’m just going to go read some Ultimate Spider-Man and pretend this comic isn’t happening.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 1.8 out of 5

Read Red Skull on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworld: Red Skull #1

Our only new series launched this week and it’s a great concept. The idea that Red Skull would have resisted Doom’s sovereignty and been exiled beyond the SHIELD is pitch perfect, and blending it with a Secret Wars Suicide Squad is one of my favorite ideas so far in the event. It’s a crazy fun issue with some beyond the SHIELD Marvel Zombies warring, and one of the best final splash page reveals in Secret Wars.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 7)

A-Force #2

A-Force #2 took quite a few steps back, but it remains an interesting thread within Secret Wars. The A-Force is slowly developing some methods for inter-realm travel, which could prove very compelling as the series progresses.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.2 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

X-Tinction Agenda #2

If you like X-Men fighting X-Men and the immensely dense continuity of mutants, this is your comic.

For everybody else, keep on trucking.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Years of Future Past #2

Very strong continuation of the classic Days of Future Past X-Men story arc. A lot of nice Marvel Universe easter egg touches, including a laugh out loud awesome final splash page!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Future Imperfect #2

Goes from a by-the-books fisticuffs smashfest to a surprisingly (potentially) important book within Secret Wars. There’s not much to this if you weren’t a fan of the original Future Imperfect, but for those who love them some Maestro, it remains worthwhile.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Read Giant Size Little Marvel: A vs X on Marvel Unlimited!

Giant-Size Little Marvel: A vs X #2

An absolute blast, pure child-like comic book enthusiasm.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 1.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.6 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 8)

Ghost Racers #2

Remains a fun concept with poor execution. I appreciate the efforts to build character here in a book in which a Ghost Rider spirit races a giant shark in a Killiseum death match, but it feels so stock and cliche given the limitless nature of Battleworld.

I thought Juan Gedeon’s art was improved in this second issue (with some fun easter eggs including ‘Hail Hydrant’), and there’s no use pretending the torture of Knuckles O’Shauggenesy (this book owes a ton to Jason Aaron’s Ghost Rider run) didn’t get me right in the gut. Nonetheless, as a whole this feels like a series that should be a lot more exciting.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

Master of Kung Fu #3

I continue to love this series, and the third issue has enough material to sustain a full 6 issue trade collection. Shang Chi in the 13 chambers against Kung Fu version of Karnak, Namor, and the Black Panther could be entire runs, and instead it’s jam-packed action in one issue.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Runaways #2

Runaways #2 turns significantly more murderous, which isn’t particularly surprising at a Doom School for Gifted Youths. That said: Et tu, Valeria Richards?

Big picture Secret Wars, I’m far more interested in Val’s role with the school than I am the ‘Deadly Class’ protagonists.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 8)

Squadron Sinister #2

Surprisingly, Squadron Sinister reigns supreme among Secret Wars tie-ins in terms of showcasing the Battleworld realms and explaining geography with a map. There’s a lot of cross domain interaction elevating this series, including a sit-down dinner with Baron Sinister and Baron Hyperion. The “Bad Justice League” is improving as the series progresses, although the core concept still feels a little too familiar to those with “Crime Syndicate” experience.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.4 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Spider-Verse #3

It’s not a knockout, but Spider-Verse is growing on me. Andre Araujo’s playful Spider characters are a ton of fun, and feel like the long lost cult classic versions of a Spider-Man animated series that never was. I had zero investment in any of these Spider-characters prior to the series (with the exception of Spider-Gwen, and I guess Spider-Ham), and now they feel familiar and interesting. A lot is riding on the conclusion but right now it’s a good read.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Secret Wars: 2099 #3

2099 remains the loosest possible Secret Wars connection – this could have just as easily launched as a new Avengers 2099 line – but this is the best issue of the bunch so far. The 2099 Defenders are a great addition to the slight mystery, and Peter David writes a stoically funny Silver Surfer.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #2

The opening gag is one of the funniest moments in Secret Wars, although by the end of the issue it mostly makes me wish Deadpool were more heavily involved. This series has taken a step back now that the thrill factor of the concept is established, but admittedly we do get some fun new Thors here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.3 out of 5

Read Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows on Marvel Unlimited!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #2

Issue two isn’t as much of a gem as issue one, but Renew Your Vows remains exceedingly compelling for Spidey fans. It’s both tragic and understandable to watch Peter Parker fearing so much for his family’s safety that he is teaching his daughter to do nothing with her powers. Naturally this unravels as Parker’s aren’t going to avoid heroism for too long, but it’s an impossibly fresh yet nostalgic alternate Spider-verse.

Think of all the times reading Spider-Man comics you wanted him to just ignore the darn siren and kiss MJ like a respectable boyfriend! Well, what if that actually happened, albeit out of fear?

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

1872 #1

Four new series starting this week, and this is the only one of the four that isn’t a what-if scenario based on a popular Marvel event. In simplest terms, it’s Deadwood come to the Marvel Universe, with Kingpin / Hearst, Sheriff Steve Rogers as Raylon from Justified, and Tony Stark as a less smooth, more drunk, more inventive Al. Or, for those who haven’t seen Deadwood – it’s Wild West Marvel Universe, as referenced in the Battleworld: Ultron vs. Zombies #1. Off to a fun start.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Spider-Island #1

I’m not a huge Spider-Island fan, but my favorite parts always involved Flash Thompson as Agent Venom, and that’s our entrance point in this “What-If Spider-Man had lost?” scenario. The resistance to a spider-virus infected Manhattan is Agent Venom, the Vision, Spider-Woman, and (Sort of) Jack the Werewolf. It’s a fun unlikely team and a strong opening issue.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Civil War #1

Simply put, it’s a wonderful What If? from Charles Soule and Leinil Francis Yu. The callback to Marvel’s most popular event of the 2000’s begins very much in the devastatingly destructive spirit of its creators, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Rather than the Civil War ending with a surrender, the fighting continues years later, as a literally divided United States is separated into a Stark run East Coast (“The Iron”) and a Steve Rogers run West Coast (“The Blue).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Age of Apocalypse #1

As my all-time favorite comic book experience, AoA #1 was going to have to try pretty hard to earn my disapproval. I’m not real clear on the timing of this series (the Age of Apocalypse is firmly underwear but Victor Creed and Wild Child appear to be on the side of Apocalypse? Does this make it prelude?), but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Secret Wars: Secret Love #1 (Wave 14 release date)

Secret Love #1 gets bumped up in the reading order due to its connection to Ghost Racers (however slight).

All in all, this is a really odd book. I’m all for Marvel trying weird, inventive looks in Secret Wars, but Secret Love is a very tough sell. Many of the short stories throughout Secret Wars have been excellent, but Secret Love stops all too often at just passable. I’d follow just about any Michel Fiffe Marvel project (seriously, check out Copra), but aside from a few cute moments, there isn’t much else to get excited about.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.9 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 9)

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #3

Adequate but insubstantial all-out multiverse Inhuman Civil War. Roguish, chattery, night-club owning Black Bolt is intriguing, and there are some great action shots of this version of Blackagar winged, holding a knife, and ready to take on Queen Medussa, but I have to admit, I miss the original.

I’m hoping Attilan Rising can raise the stakes in the final two issues, but in the meantime the resistance duo of 1602 Murdock and Karnak is a fun little miniseries in its own right.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Secret Wars: Battleworld #3

Not sure what happened here, but this issue of Battleworld completely fell off the map. All three stories are all gag and no substance. Paul Pope’s one page of Ant-War art is fun, and I enjoyed the splash all out Wolverine war (Watcher Wolverine most of all!), but it can’t save this comic.

In the words of Lockjaw, woof. This is a stay-away.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 2.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 0.8 out of 5

Siege #1

Giant Ant-Men. Endless Summers clones. An Abigail Brand War Journal.

The conceptual scope of Siege #1, our best Shield / Wall issue yet, is enormous, and that’s before Kang shows up.

So far, Gillen’s love affair with Brand is paying major dividends, and Filipe Andrade owns this book from the first kinetic blur of fist from Ord (Astonishing X-Men fans rejoice!).

Siege also raises some new and troubling questions concerning the history of Battleworld. According to Brand the wall was breached 30 years ago, and yet we have seen elsewhere in Secret Wars that it has been more like 9 years. Editorial confusion, or the mysterious work of emperor God Doom?

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 9.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 9)

Korvac Saga #2

The Original Guardians of the Galaxy continue their investigation into the “madness” of the missing stars. This remains a reasonably unique Secret Wars elseworld, with actual investigation into the root cause of Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Armor Wars #3

Still love the world of technovirus driven Iron armor for every man, woman, and child, but Armor Wars pretty quickly escalated into Michael Bay robots-smashing territory. It’s not like I’m opposed to an army of Iron Men led by the Kingpin facing off against an army led by War Machine Thor, but I’m hoping there’s another wrinkle to all of this.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

Read Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #2

Having seen how brilliantly Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #1 (see below a couple slots) dealt with outright God Doom heresy, Carol Corps #2 feels trite, like inconsequential children playing outside, well beneath Doom’s notice. Disappointment aside, the fact that the Carol Corps is another series moving towards conspiracy is appealing, although I really hope the answer isn’t just what we already know about Doctor Doom.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Planet Hulk #3

We’re at the point in all these series that are halfway through their arcs where the concept stops carrying such a thrill and the heavy lifting is up to how the story builds. Planet Hulk is smart enough to pause and demand our attention. Either you’re invested in this world as Doc Hulk espouses Greenland philosophy (nihilistic egoism?), or this journey is a chore. I fall into the former, although unless the creative team is ready to pull the trigger on a fan-fiction Cap / Bucky romance, I’m not sure what on earth all these flashbacks are accomplishing.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Years of Future Past #3

Issue #3 was a total downhill swoon for me. I realize Secret Wars is an eternal “What If” playground, and I’ve been enjoying the vast majority, but the relationship “bomb” dropped here is an affront to my delicate sensibilities (gross, man, gross).

Worse, the dialogue and characterization is so inauthentic and ham-fisted this whole issue. Kitty diving into action while shouting expository secrets, Wolverine’s son talking about the “military industrial complex” like he’s a Salon article… it’s a tough pill to swallow. I did enjoy the revelation of a certain priest in this issue, but hoping the series can pick itself back up from here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.5 out of 5

Where Monsters Dwell #3

And we’ve reached the point in Where Monsters Dwell where it’s very clear this is a Garth Ennis comic. Issue #3 is all about an Isle of beautiful, strong Amazon women who keep men enslaved for the sole purpose of their seed. You know, like prize-winning horses, but with fewer biopics starring Toby McGuire.

It’s a giant men as sex slaves fantasy, or inversed critique of the modern patriarchy, but most of all it’s the sort of strangely compelling narrative you don’t want anyone to see you reading on public transportation.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 2.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Read Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #1

So, so much better than I ever would have guessed just based on the title. The issue begins as a fun series of “What-Ifs,” and then escalates to outright heresy against Emperor God Doom! We’ve seen characters question their world to this point, but never so blatantly or outright. The result is hilariously predictable (God Doom is not pleased) and leads to all out war with Mondo City: a Marvel Universe of Punisher law!

This is the best comic I’ve seen from Al Ewing to date, and Alan Davis’ art is (expectedly) pitch perfect.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.4 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Guardians of Knowhere #1

Much like Old Man Logan, Bendis takes a step back in the first issue to let Mike Deodato deliver a glorious, bloody bar brawl between Angela of the Thorsguard (could this be the same Angela from MODOK: Assassin?) and Drax the Destroyer.

It’s a reasonably intriguing first Guardians issue from there, although it raises some continuity questions (much like Bendis’ Ultimate End). If the Guardians are living in a Celestial head in space called Knowhere (classic Guaridans) how come so many characters on Battleworld are noticing their world has no stars? Remember, there’s no space in this universe as far as we know, although we’ve seen plenty of cosmic elements (for example in Infinity Gauntlet). Plenty more to play out to explain this, but I’m already weary that it’s a lingering thread we never see solved.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.4 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Hail Hydra #1

If for no other reason, Hail Hydra is a notable first issue for actually continuing plot threads from an ongoing Marvel series leading into Secret Wars. Rick Remender carries through on his Captain America work, using Secret Wars as a catalyst for a universe in which America was founded by Hydra.

No real sparks, but it’s a solid first issue, particularly if you’re a fan of Cap’s time in Dimension Z.

Plus, I’m hardly Agents of SHIELD biggest advocate, but I got a kick out of an AoS cameo in here too.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 10)

Battleworld: Marvel Zombies #2

Loved the first issue, and the Zombie walkabout beyond the wall continues to excel in issue #2. The ending of this book is downright evil, but that’s how a good story tugs on your heartstrings. I never would have guessed an Elsa Bloodstone story would be one of my favorites in Secret Wars, but Spurrier’s sarcastic, parentally burdened hero is working beautifully.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Read Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde on Marvel Unlimited

Battleworld: Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1

Very fun, cartoonish in the most delightful animated series kind of way, and surprisingly indebted to the continuity of Secret Wars. Not to mention the best hair you’ve ever seen on Drax the Destroyer.

This is the first tie-in I’ve read that clearly references the events of those on the Raft in the primary Secret Wars narrative, with the actual Peter Quill from Earth-616! If you’ve been keeping up with Attilan Rising, you’ll note that issues #2 and #3 of that series have to take place after this first issue (despite their prior publication) in order for Quill to work as a singer in the bar (no, really). It doesn’t really change much for either narrative, but timewise that’s the flow.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 10)

X-Men ‘92 #4 & #5

Combining the digital infinite release this week since apparently I missed X-Men ’92 #4 the first go round.

Just when I think X-Men ’92 is getting stale, we get some harrowing gambit and rogue romance mind-torture (I swear that makes sense), and most importantly, the arrival of X-Force ’92! This is the first time reading this series that it occurred to me a Netflix renewal of this animated series would be awesome.

The sheer size of Cable and Bishop’s guns make this book worth a read. I think they’re actually growing from scene to scene.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

E is for Extinction #2

Find myself really enjoying E is for Extinction, with a classic Old X-Men vs. Young X-Men led by Magneto with a Phoenix Egg. There have been a million great final splash pages to close comics throughout Secret Wars, but the one at the end of issue #2 is a personal favorite.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Future Imperfect #3

You could skip straight to the final four pages and actually enjoy this issue more. One of my least favorite books in the event, with an extremely limited visual palette (we have 15 pages of a rebel heist, and somehow nothing interesting to look at). Nonetheless, Maestro is great, and his plans for Doom make for a compelling end game.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.2 out of 5

Weirdworld #2

God Doom this book looks amazing. Arkon is up there with the greatest heroes of Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Old Man Logan #3

Old Logan hunts a Thor, gets knocked from the Age of Apocalypse to Baron Stark’s Technopolis (as seen in Armor Wars), and ultimately gets sent to another realm (which I won’t spoil) by issue’s end. It’s still entirely perplexing why Old Man Logan would have no knowledge of Emperor Doom, but it makes for an enticing domain-hopping series.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 11)

Thors #2

Aaron and crew still having way too much fun with an Asgardian murder police mash-up (“He was good police. He was a Thor of Thors”). Issue #2 felt more like entirely enjoyable camp than serious investment in a murder mystery, but I’ll sure be playing along for the remainder.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Read Age of Ultron vs. Zombies on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworld: Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #2

Still invested in the series and the ramifications it can have on Secret Wars at large, but boy oh boy, as a standalone issue this is all exposition. Well, at least apart from the brilliant Shakespearean Punisher killing Marvel Zombies in the intro. That’s almost worth the price of admission alone.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 11)

1602: Witch Hunter Angela #2

Simply put, this series requires a lot of patience. Old English, challenging panel layouts, and inconsistently timed fourth-wall breaking… it all makes for a comic that demands your concentration.

Personally? I wasn’t up for it with the second issue, even with the introduction of 1602 Guardians of the Galaxy. Perchance in a fortnight.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.7 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 12)

Ultimate End #4

To its credit, the most frustrating comic of the entire Secret Wars experience is really good at being exceedingly frustrating. Just when you think maybe we’re getting somewhere the creative team takes a tonal shot of Malort into a non sequitur all out brawl between Earth-616 and the Ultimate Universe. There’s a fantastic chance Ultimate End should be read entirely after Secret Wars #4, but based on the publication schedule and recap pages, there’s no actual suggestion to do so.

In other news, we have a new low score for an issue.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 0.3 out of 5

Siege #2

Siege is actually getting better as it goes, which is a genuine rarity amongst the conceptual diminishing returns of many Secret Wars tie-ins. Abigail Brand and SHIELD continue to defend the Wall against Ultrons, Annihilations, and Zombies, and this issue we get some heart-breaking backstory about the fate of Nick Fury and Brand’s romantic interest, Hank McCoy the Beast!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 9.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.6 out of 5

Read Red Skull on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworld: Red Skull #2

For starters, Luca Pizarri’s panel of Annihilus lurching forward on a throne of Ultron skulls is poster-ready (and the rest of the issue is a damn treat too).

So far, Red Skull is one of the true gems of Secret Wars, a perfect Skull story in which he aims to overthrow God Doom himself!

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.7 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 12)

Age of Apocalypse #2

Age of Apocalypse #2 was so 90’s I watched an episode of Full House, played Pogs, and threw on a Pearl Jam CD after reading (I don’t even like Pearl Jam). Credit to Sandoval for recreating the busy, extreme feel of 90’s X-Men.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Read Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows on Marvel Unlimited!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #3

I won’t say I definitely got choked up and teary eyed over the Parker family meeting, but if you saw a bearded adult crying on the train this morning, well, it could have been me. Renew your Vows is hitting an emotional nerve Spider-Man stories rarely get to tap, and issue #3 flips the Renew Your Vows twist in a way that makes it all feel right.

If only Doctor Octopus could say the same after his encounter with black suit Spidey…

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Civil War #2

Issue two is even better than the first, as this pocket alternate reality is expanded. Soule and Yu are doing a great job with their alternate Civil War, and have a real chance to surpass the original by the time all is said and done.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.6 out of 5

Future Imperfect #4

I was tremendously down on Future Imperfect after the third issue, but issue four does a nice job giving this series a more intriguing hook. Maestro, Ross-Thing, and company travel through Asgardian wastes to interrogate Ulik the Troll over Destroyer armor. It’s a lot of Marvel toys hopefully culminating in a showdown with God Doom himself!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Read Giant Size Little Marvel: A vs X on Marvel Unlimited!

Giant-Size Little Marvel: A vs X #3

I can’t imagine a Secret Wars tie-in functioning better as a perfect all ages comic. Consistently funny with a deep teasing love of the Marvel Universe.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Guardians of Knowhere #2

So apparently Knowhere is the satellite moon of Battleworld. A world without stars… but sure. Ok, whatever, sure, I’m not Neil Degrasse Tyson or anything so why not.

Guardians is pretty darn straight forward (Mid level bad buy gets crazy god-like powers, guardians try to fight him and struggle) with some excellent boosts you’d only get in Secret Wars. If you like the Guardians of the Galaxy – in particular the Abnett and Lanning run prior to Bendis – there’s enough going on here to be interesting.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.4 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Infinity Gauntlet #3

Love the turn this series has taken in issue three. The best Thanos book on the market right now, hands down. Given what we now know from Siege as well, it will be interesting to see how much Battleworld-wide continuity is impacted by the assembling of the Infinity Gauntlet.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Spider-Island #2

Good read for fans of Dan Slott era Spider-Man or Agent Venom. Also…Iron Goblin. Just awesome.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

The Main Event

Secret Wars #5

It says a lot about Jonathan Hickman’s control on this event that he was able to wait until issue five to fully explain how precisely how we got God Doom, and for me, it does not disappoint. There’s a very real sense of “oh boy this is going to unravel in classic omnipotent Doctor Doom fashion real soon!” after issue #4, but there are still only hints here at this stage in the event.

Family Doom has a strong issue as well, with Franklin finally doing more than hanging out on a Galactus hand, and Val leading the Battleworld Future Foundation to find the Earth-616 Rafters (the FF has a Nostradamus!). Through five issues this is my favorite Marvel event this side of Age of Apocalypse. Three more to go to stick the landing!

Battleworlds (Wave 13)

Secret Wars: Battleworld #4

I can’t get over the incredibleness of “Silver Surfer vs. Galactus” by James Stokoe. This is the best looking Secret Wars story this side of Weirdworld, with impossibly detailed panels and shades of Moebius.

Sadly, the Maestro vs. Silver Surfer throwdown that follows is a by the numbers meaningless brawl (although literally anything involving the Future Imperfect trophy room is a fun bit of Marvel trivia). Nonetheless, it raises some interesting questions about the Silver Surfer’s potential involvement in Battleworld.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Read Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde on Marvel Unlimited

Battleworld: Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #2

There’s something beautifully charming about this cartoonish romance. Humphries and Firmansyah are doing a wonderful job with the first real look at the Earth-616 rafters after their scattering throughout Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Master of Kung Fu #4

Who will be the next Great Emperor of K’un Lun? The first Secret Wars tie-in I’ve completed, and it’s a definite recommended read!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Battleworld: Ghost Racers #3

It’s possible I’m being unduly harsh on a series that is Mad Max: Fury Road, Speed Racer, Knight Rider, and Ghost Rider all strapped to a rocket and launched into the heart of Secret Wars. This will be a fun racing action series for many. I can’t get into it, though, and issue #3 was about 17 times too many heads spewing fire action shots past my quota.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.8 out of 5

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #4

Inhumans gets back on track with issue four, delivering a Medusa and Black Bolt heart to heart that reveals a lot about New Attilan and Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 13)

A-Force #3

A-Force continues to feel poorly fleshed out, although it was exciting to see some female Thors in the form of Lady Sif, Valkyrie, and Gamora (Gathora?). There’s an interesting story of Arcadia somewhere in here, but I don’t feel it was established before the women fighting alongside Baronness She-Hulk were forced to run and fight.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.1 out of 5

Korvac Saga #3

Still the best take on Battleworld inhabitants trying to uncover what happened to the cosmos. A win for fans of Bronze Age Avengers and original Guardians of the Galaxy.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #3

More fine monster treasure hunters, with a side of insane Dracula. Huge wasted opportunity with the team visiting Weirdworld and nothing actually all that weird happening.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Planet Hulk #4

“Where is my axe? Where is my dinosaur? Where is Bucky?”

The opening dialogue led to some unintentional laughs, but it’s also a pretty great reminder how much fun Planet Hulk can be. Inevitably this tie-in is going to end without exploring the vastness of Greenland in all its hulkified glory, but we get a good look at the mud kingdom and (finally) the Red King here. I’m embarassed to say, but this is the first issue I made the connection between the diabolical ruler of Greenland and Cap’s archnemesis, the Red Skull.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Secret Wars: 2099 #4

Perfect and funny opening conversation over drinks between Hercules 2099 and Namor 2099.

More of the same from there. At this point, you should be pretty settled on whether you like this series or not.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Years of Future Past #4

At this point I’m only reading Years of Future Past because I’m a lunatic completist.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.0 out of 5

Read Age of Ultron vs. Zombies on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworlds (Wave 14)

Battleworld: Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #3

Credit where it’s due, James Robinson is earnestly giving Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies a romantic center. Issue three beguiles the senses with four consecutive tales of romance beyond the wall before, well, making zombie ultrons and attacking. There’s not a lot pushing this series over the edge towards a recommendation, but it’s solid.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Runaways #3

True to their name, the Runaways hop around Battleworld as Bucky and the traitorous Sanna hunt them down on behalf of Val and God Doom. A lot of strong character moments in issue #3, with Noelle Stevenson nailing Molly’s adorable ferociousness, and artist Sanford Greene providing some pitch perfect facial expressions for Jubilee’s first hug.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Secret Wars Journal #4

No knockout blow like the last two issues, but two very pleasant “Elsewhere on Battleworld…” stories in issue #4. The Punisher of Egytpia trains the Iron Fist of Age of Apocalypse on the SHIELD, as Psylocke and Northstar’s beau take on Days of Future Past.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 14)

Weirdworld #3

God Doomit I love this book. Most of everything I want to type in all caps and exclamations is a bit spoiler-y, so suffice to say Weirdworld takes all the odds and sods of Marvel’s long history and blends them beautifully into this chaotic quest of Arkon.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

X-Tinction Agenda #3

Said it before, so I’ll say it again: This is such a weird choice for a Secret Wars “what if,” and having not invested in the storyline in the first place, it does not work for me much at all. In retrospect, it’s disappointing to think of all the classic Marvel stories that could have taken the place of this, especially given the surplus of X-Men books in Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.5 out of 5

Spider-Verse #4

So I can’t say anything other than there’s a scene with Gwen and an amplifier here that I’m completely in love with. Spider-Verse continues to improve.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Guardians of Knowhere #3

There’s a resonant undercurrent throughout all of Secret Wars that society should question their beliefs, no matter how sacred. Guardians issue #3 unveils this thread unexpectedly, with Gamora refusing to submit to what essentially amounts to state-sanctioned belief (there is no God but Doom). It’s a worthwhile investigation, and while the cameo parade of Guardians past and present is a bit much (just feels forced to me), this series continues to have potential. Especially with Mike Deodato driving the ship.

In terms of continuity, it’s unclear if Angela Thor is the same Angela Thor as that found in MODOK Assassin. It’s conceivable that Guardians could be entirely after MODOK, or that Guardians is the reason MODOK finds her in the first place. Some reshuffling may be in order as more as revealed, and I’ll take my Marvel no-prize at the door.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Read Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #2

Remarkable two issue series, with Yinsin’s peaceful realm of technology clashing with the state of Orwellian fear being led by Baron Maria Hill (also a Thor). On top of a strong dystopian alternate reality, Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders manages to layer in a clear-eyed, intelligent commentary on British government and policy.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

1872 #2

Really great second issue. Sheriff Steve Rogers stands up to the Kingpin and faces down his western assassins (8 shooter Doc Ock is a nice touch).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Read Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows on Marvel Unlimited!

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #4

Mayday Parker gets her chance to shine as the Regent resistance is revealed. Regent also shows off his villainous benevolence in a plot to take on Doom (he’ll have to get in line behind Maestro, Red Skull, et al).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Armor Wars #4

A bit predictable but ultimately still a fun new Iron world. I do wish the art here had depicted more Marvel villains in their Iron armor (the Mystereo Easter egg is pretty fun), but those are fanboy nitpicks.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.3 out of 5

House of M #1

Hopeless and company smartly deliver a House of M comic led with Magneto’s perspective, which is surprisingly limited throughout the actual House of M core event. Nothing astonishing in this first issue, but a respectable continuation of the House of M world.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Read Howard the Human on Marvel Unlimited!

Howard the Human #1

“Every story is better with a blind mouse and ninja monkeys.”

He’s not wrong.

PI Howard the Duck in a Marvel Universe gone animal. Skottie Young writes another one of the most entertaining tie-ins on Battleworld.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 15)

Battleworld: Marvel Zombies #3

This week’s award for best character summation goes to “Balding midget catharsis trigger!”

Elsa shares more about her past and her difficult childhood with Ulysses Bloodstone, her father.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 15)

Where Monsters Dwell #4

Karl Kauffman strikes back against the Amazon women who would threaten his manhood (quite literally). No real jokes or gags in this one, but with the constant declarations of war from the world of man, one gets the sense that writer Garth Ennis is trying to make a point…

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 2.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Read Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #3

Not sure if this issue was rushed to production, but the second page has grotesquely faceless Carol Corps members in some embarrassingly unfinished art.

I guess maybe if you’re really into planes you’ll dig this series? As it stands, this is a plodding, unexciting book. Hopefully Doom and the Thors can kick some excitement into this band of rebels.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.4 out of 5

Civil War #3

We’re at the point in Civil War where I just want this to be the Marvel Universe moving forward. This is an absolutely brilliant joyride through the post-Civil War playground, with a mix of easter eggs (some bordering on the Marvel Zombies side of the scale) and storytelling intrigue (at its core, this is an institutional whodunnit).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.7 out of 5

E is for Extinction #3

The continuing trippy extension of Morrison’s New X-Men is teetering on the brink of unintentional parody. It’s a bonkers comic, and hard to get mad at, but also completely impossible to take seriously. It doesn’t help that every single panel background is just solid purple or pink.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Old Man Logan #4

Andrea Sorrentino’s panel layouts… good DOOM what amazing work. Issue #4 kicks off with two 28 panel spreads of Wolverine fighting Marvel zombies, and the bloodshed and horror only get more fascinating from there. The visuals displaying the swarms of zombies are some of the best action sequences I’ve seen since “Wolverine In Hell” pitted Logan against the unquenchable demonic hordes.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

X-Men ‘92 #6 & #7 & #8

A reminder that issue numbers here refer to the digital infinite released for X-Men ’92. The mid-point arrival of X-Force still marks the high point, as issues #6 and #7 escalate the action and the final confrontation with Cassandra Novaking.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.4 out of 5

Read Hank Johnson: Agent of Hydra on Marvel Unlimited!

Hank Johnson: Agent of Hydra #1

This one-shot has a lot of fun with the realm of Hydra, positioning the diabolical organization within the confines of suburbia (personal favorite: “Wolfgang Von Strucker Elementary School”). While I appreciate the concept, the execution is mediocre, with most jokes falling flat. Credit where it’s due, Hank’s choice of Avenger for his Halloween costume was a strong Marvel inside joke. You’d be better off with Howard the Duck for a humor comic.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 1.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.1 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 16)

Thors #3

As someone who has been reading a lot of Gotham Central lately, I continue to be impressed with how all-in Jason Aaron and Chris Sprouse have gone on the police procedural of Thors. This is nowhere near the depth and complexity of Gotham Central, but it’s an absolutely entertaining murder mystery, complete with sinister Lokis, piles of corpses, and of course, corruption at every turn.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Read Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde on Marvel Unlimited

Battleworld: Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #3

Cartoonish and silly hijinx ensue, and hey, it’s pretty fun. One of the more all ages comics in the Secret Wars line, and I have to admit, I’d like to see more of Quill and Drax in this environment.

There’s a possible continuity gaffe in this issue involving a certain Thor, but it’s very minor and does not seem worth a reorganization yet. Let’s pretend there’s just a lot of Thors (certainly true to a degree) and move on.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Battleworld: Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #4

I give writer James Robinson a lifetime pass on comics for the glory that is Starman, and artist Steve Pugh draws the heck out of some horrific mangled bodies (check out his work on Animal Man for good examples). But hooooo boy, Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies dropped right off the edge of the SHIELD and into a creative pit of ultron / zombie hybrids.

If you’re a huge fan of the complicated Vision/ Original Human Torch / Wonder Man / Hank Pym connection (see also: you loved Avengers Forever), this might be the comic for you. For everyone else, this has way less to do with Ultrons fighting Zombies, and way more to do with post-Battleworld romance (gross!).

It’s also worth noting that this series could be strangely relevant (did all Ultrons and zombies merge?) as we deal more and more with the forces beyond the wall.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Read Age of Ultron vs. Zombies on Marvel Unlimited!

Warzones (Wave 16)

Squadron Sinister #3

The back stabbing political maneuvering of the sinister squadron (Squadron Supreme gone wrong, or in another tongue, the DC trinity gone evil!) continues to be worth your time.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Squadron Sinister #4 (Published Wave 25)

Good finish, with Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Analogues. Published during wave 25, but makes more sense to read well ahead of Secret Wars #7.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Spider-Island #3

In a lot of ways, Spider-Island feels the most like an outtake from a relatively recent comic. With a few seemingly unalterable exceptions (and this being Marvel Comics, what’s really unalterable?), you could reasonably insert this section of comics into the back half of Spider-Island for a new look event.

As a result, Spider-Island is a nice visit back to the days of mid-600’s Amazing Spider-Man and Agent Venom from 2011. Nothing groundbreaking, but who doesn’t like seeing what would happen if Tony Stark took Norman Osborne’s Goblin formula?

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

House of M #2

Magnus begs for war, and well, he’s got it. The human resistance wages war on the monarchy of M, and Magneto turns out to have a pretty surprising chess partner.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Hail Hydra #2

Did somebody ask for body-horror Avengers? Because I’m not gonna sleep for a week after seeing what a world ruled by Arnim Zola does to the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

I haven’t been a fervent follower of Rick Remender’s ‘Dimension Z’ Cap story, but Hail Hydra gives you all the background you need to enjoy the story of Cap’s son in a world ruled by Hydra. Long time Marvel fans won’t quite be able to stop geeking out about this updated version of the Mutant Massacre.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 17)

Siege #3

The messiest issue of Siege to date, although to be fair, war on all fronts doesn’t exactly make for clean living. Nick The Fury Ultron is set to destroy the wall, and that’s only the beginning of the threats menacing the fall of the SHIELD.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Read Red Skull on Marvel Unlimited!

Battleworld: Red Skull #3

As it’s been doing from the start, Red Skull defies all expectations and packs a heckuva punch. Highly recommended.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 17)

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #5

This may be because I’m a total and utter sap, but the Parker family coming together to fight the bad guys is just a great big chunk of happy feelings. I really like how Slott was able to turn the Secret Wars alternate realities into a story about Peter Parker as a dad, breaking his vows, only to find a way to renew them for his family.

(You’ll never notice if you read digitally, but I do have to call out Marvel here for including a giant ad in the middle of a double page layout. Completely interrupts the story and was laughably confusing!)

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Read Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows on Marvel Unlimited!

Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #4

Fun concept, but never sticks. Here’s to more Deadpool after Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Korvac Saga #4

Well that escalated quickly.

Korvac unleashes his cosmic might, and the players of Korvac Saga become the first in all of Battleworld to see the truth behind Doom’s eyes!

My only knock on this issue is that Otto Schmidt didn’t seem to get the memo about creative freedom with Thors (they all look like Herc), and we may never get to see the new look Guardians of Battleworld in action!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Secret Wars: 2099 #5

The Defenders finish as the highlight of an uneven 2099 miniseries. While I’m pretty out on the 2099 Avengers, I’d strongly consider a 2099 Defenders series as part of the Marvel relaunch after Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Planet Hulk #5

Planet Hulk goes out with a whimper and a sulk, and that’s kind of the point. Gladiator Steve Rogers confronts Greenland’s ruler and his own inner demons.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Read Giant Size Little Marvel: A vs X on Marvel Unlimited!

Giant-Size Little Marvel: A vs X #4

The jokes don’t land as surely as the first three issues, but you could put either of these Skottie Young double page spreads up as posters in any child’s room in the world, and they would immediately have the coolest room.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.1 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Civil War #4

Unlikely villains, brilliant mid-2000’s continuity callbacks, and Extremis-Thor powers. I won’t say this is Marvel’s Kingdom Come, but hot damn I’m excited.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

A-Force #4

Pretty predictable bit of action until the end sets up some major consequences for Secret Wars moving forward!

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

1602: Witch Hunter Angela #3

Since I’ve already expressed my troubles with 1602, I’ll make sure to mention that Stephanie Hans has created a gorgeous visual display of Shakespearean Marvel. 1602 looks absolutely fantastic, and the Romeo and Juliet twist at the center is a joy.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.2 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 18)

Battleworld: Secret War Journal #5

Like much of ‘Secret War Journal,’ issue number five floats by with a horror Night Nurse, and then delights with Mill-E the model citizen promoting the gospel of Doom from province to province. You had me at ‘Council of Doombots.’

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 18)

Guardians of Knowhere #4

Remember that lucid dissertation on blind faith from Guardians of Faith #3? Well don’t worry, that’s all been replaced with all-out madhouse fighting! It’s a fast-paced and completely unforgiving conclusion to this series, with more of a connection to the overall Secret Wars arc than I was anticipating.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.6 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.7 out of 5

House of M #3

Another Secret Wars entry that has improved as it goes. A Depowered Magnus on the run with a handful of hated Avengers, while Pietro, Wanda, and Namor take over the House of M.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Infinity Gauntlet #4

Strong start, and blistering action throughout, but the pacing was frequently off here, with several pivotal moments confounded and diminished. Still a top-notch tie-in, but hoping issue #5 can ground the plot.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Armor Wars #5

Should have ended with issue #4. This is just “whodunnit” blathering over a Transformers smash-em-up scene.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 1.1 out of 5

Spider-Island #4

There’s not a lot I can criticize in an issue with a double spread containing the dialogue “Die, insects! The dinosaurs reclaim this world!”

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Spider-Verse #5

Spider-Ham made me laugh out loud, and there’s nothing sweeter than seeing Pete and Gwen take it to Stormin’ Norman.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 19)

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #5

Series conclusion takes us to Future Imperfect’s Dystopia briefly, which means it needs to slide up in the order before Future Imperfect #5.

More importantly, Attilan Rising concludes brilliantly, with heartbreaking twists and turns as Medussa and Black Bolt challenge Doom.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

Runaways #4

Solid ending to a quality series, and credit to the creators for following through on suggested romance instead of shying away like, say, Planet Hulk (not to name names). Could have meaningful impact on family Von Doom as well.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.8 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 19)

Weirdworld #4

The undisputed heavyweight champion of the world remains undefeated. My favorite series in all of Secret Wars.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.7 out of 5

Years of Future Past #5

Without a doubt, I prefer my X-Men nostalgia from X-Men ’92, but I can understand there’s a certain kind of X-fan who will prefer Years of Future Past. I’ve been hard on the series, but it certainly makes an effort to carve a new story out of a well established classic, and there are some terrific moments here (Kitty riding a giant Lockheed).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.8 out of 5

X-Tinction Agenda #4

As an extinction agenda noob, this series never really gave me reason to care, or presented any interesting twists in the narrative exploiting the potential of Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 3.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.2 out of 5

Read Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps on Marvel Unlimited!

Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #4

Much stronger series conclusion, with Carol and the Banshees ($12 all ages indie punk concert this weekend at Shuba’s) take on the Thors.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

1872 #3

Certainly the greatest Red Wolf issue in years

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 20)

Battleworld: Ghost Racers #4

There are positives within this series, and the play-by-play death race of issue #4 is a perfectly enjoyable ride. Nonetheless, I have to think I’d have enjoyed Ghost Racers more with a different artistic style. The art feels almost unfinished for long portions of this series, and while the style fits the kinetic non-stop action of the races, a series with this many separate characters needs enough detail to discern what the heck is actually happening.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 2.6 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 20)

Hail Hydra #3

Tell me more of these Hydra Avengers…

I have to admit, it hasn’t always worked, but nobody has made more of an effort to turn Arnim Zola into an A-List Marvel supervillain than Rick Remender. Have to appreciate the commitment.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.9 out of 5

Hail Hydra #4

Rick Remender concludes his work on the deconstruction of Steve Rogers and his adopted Dimension Z family.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

E is for Extinction #4

There is a whole mad slew of X-history tied up in this one issue, and it blends impossibly well. A tender-hearted celebration of the X-Men, drawing heavily from New X-Men and X-Men 3: The Last Stand.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

The Main Event

Secret Wars #6

At the time of publication (October 7, 2015), so much of the conversation around Secret Wars has turned to the publication schedule. Main event issue #6 was pushed back several weeks, a ninth event issue was added, and reportedly Secret Wars won’t end until my first daughter graduates college (current child total: 0).

How refreshing it is to pick up Secret Wars #6 and be reminded, “Oh yeah, this is the best Marvel event of the millennium!”

The ball really gets rolling here, with a three week jump forward in time, and a whole lot of movement from the raft survivors and family God Doom. Highlights include Reed Richards working in tandem with Ultimate Reed, aka The Maker, Thanos having a heart to heart with a heretofore unseen Marvel legend, and Miles and Peter delivering the funniest Spider-Men gag in Marvel Comics.

Battleworlds (Wave 21)

Siege #4

There’s a slight overlap between this issue and Secret Wars #6, but reading after will provide some color.

You could conceivably also just take the reading order from the tweet of Kieron Gillen himself!

It’s a great end to an Abigail Brand driven story I could have read as an ongoing for years. Plus, for all the talk of Secret Wars tie-ins that don’t really move the needle on the plot, Siege #4 has major ramifications for the core series moving forward.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 9.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.5 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 21)

1602: Witch Hunter Angela #4

I’ll be completely honest when I say I thought this series was done with issue #3, and I was totally ok with that.

If you’ve enjoyed the series to date, you’ll continue to here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 4.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Spider-Island #5

Agent Venom earns his hero bonafides.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 22)

Battleworld: Marvel Zombies #4

“I’m also prepared to beat you to death with your own face if you squander this new beginning, or indeed if you fail to improve your ghastly breath.”

I’m going to miss Elsa in the Zombie wastelands.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.1 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 22)

Civil War #5

Nailed it.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 23)

Agents of Atlas #1

Strong “Only in Secret Wars” introduction of the Agents of Atlas from Injustice overlord Tom Taylor. Baron Zemo as Baron might be the biggest “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that” moment in this entire event.

This one-shot will definitely be more enjoyable if you have some familiarity with Jeff Parker’s runs on Agents of Atlas, although it’s not a requirement.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

1872 #4

One of my favorite tie-ins from Secret Wars goes out in style, with my favorite Black Widow moment in Secret Wars.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 6.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 24)

House of M #4

The Magneto as monarch story I always kind of wanted.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.0 out of 5

Where Monsters Dwell #5

There’s a whole lot of reveal in the conclusion that I truly did not care about, but the moral is quite clear and admirable: Don’t be a jerk.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 2.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Battleworlds (Wave 25)

Thors #4

An actual lead-in to Secret Wars #7! Totally explains some things!

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 9.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Warzones (Wave 25)

Infinity Gauntlet #5

Thanos takes over the fifth and final issue, and that’s never a bad thing.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.2 out of 5

Age of Apocalypse #3 (Wave 16)

There’s no question we’re firmly back in the mid-90’s with Age of Apocalypse, with the creative team doing a nice job interjecting some modern mutant additions (for example, Dr. Nemesis) to the fray. As a whole, AoA feels slight compared to the 90’s all-time great, but there’s still time.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.6 out of 5

Age of Apocalypse #4 (Wave 18)

As much as I love the original Age of Apocalypse, this miniseries just doesn’t hit for me. More than passable, but a bit of a letdown given the legacy.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.1 out of 5

Age of Apocalypse #5 (Wave 23)

A strange approach to the Age of Apocalypse tie-in gets even stranger. I won’t spoil the ending, but the conclusion may well be the polar opposite of just about every X-Men theme ever. It’s a thought piece for another time…

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 5.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.5 out of 5

Future Imperfect #5 (Wave 16)

Without a doubt my favorite issue in the Future Imperfect series, and a fitting conclusion to Maestro’s conquest for control of Battleworld. Some fisticuffs I never thought we’d actually see, and Peter David does a nice job blending his Future Imperfect dystopia with Asgardian legend.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 8.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.4 out of 5

The Main Event

Secret Wars #7

At this point, if you’re not reading my man Matt Lehn’s Secret Wars reviews, you are missing out!

In addition to being continually excellent, this episode of Secret Wars throws a wrench into the reading order of Age of Apocalypse and Future Imperfect based on certain character appearances. I guess this is what they pay me the big bucks for (wait, no one is paying me for this? Hold the cart!!). I’ll explain my placement of those issues below with Secret Wars #8.

The Main Event

Secret Wars #8

Ok… previously on “Dave tries to read and order every single issue of Secret Wars,” I tried to make sense of Doom’s Barons showing up in both the main event and their tie-in series. Hence, you just read the conclusions to Age of Apocalypse and Future Imperfect (if you’ve been following along with the CBH guide).

After reading Secret Wars #8, this is looking like a fool’s errand. Hickman’s main event is simply not going to make room for tie-ins that involve the relevant barons on display here.

Personally, I’m fine with that, as Secret Wars is already my favorite Marvel event of all time. That said, my Marvel No-Prize version of events:

The Barons we see in the core Secret Wars series are not the same ones we see in separate tie-in series. Remember, within Battleworld, there are a near infinite variety of the same fundamental character (Spider-Gwen, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man, etc). For example, the Maestro we read in Future Imperfect thinks he’s the Baron and prime Maestro, but in reality he’s just another Maestro walking down the street.

Alternative theory, the Barons all conquer their various states of disarray off-panel, largely because they are awesome. I mean, let’s be real, Apocalypse is eternal. And then they show up deus ex machina in Secret Wars #7 as if nothing ever happened.

I know, it’s weird. Either way, you might as well wrap up those tie-ins prior to the events of Secret Wars #7, and then come up with a desperate, baller no-prize version of your own.

Secret Wars #9

… they stuck the landing. Wait, no, that’s impossible, we all know the Marvel Universe is knee deep in All-New All-Different, how could they… God-Doomit they stuck the landing!!!

Far be it from me to succumb to hyperbole, but this is the greatest Marvel event of all time. Darn near perfect work from Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic.

Everything lives.

Secret Wars Epilogue – All-New All-Different Set Up

The following comics were published prior to the conclusion of the primary Secret Wars event, but all give away the ending in order to set up their continuation as part of All-New All-Different Marvel.

Old Man Logan #5

An emotional and satisfying conclusion to Old Man Logan, that picks up some of the fallout from Death of Wolverine. In a weird way, Old Man Logan also helps explain Ultimate End, showing that Bendis is clearly playing with a Manhattan untouched by Secret Wars and “raft survivors.” That doesn’t actually make any sense to me, but then again neither does the Cosmic Madonna, so what do I know.

That said, Old Man Logan #5 can’t help but conclude with a spoilerific promo of All-New All-Different things to come. It’s hardly shocking given Marvel’s press cycle, but ughhh.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This: 7.9 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.3 out of 5

Ultimate End #5

You will find no better explanation of Ultimate End than the one provided in the comments below by my main man, Dan. It is fantastic Marvel continuity analysis, and if I had a no-prize to give, he’d win it.

I won’t even try to explain it really, which is only fair for a series that also didn’t bother trying to explain anything until the final issue. Even throwing the continuity out the window (which, yes, Bendis and Bagley also did), this is just a boring, confusing, poorly paced comic.

I love the Ultimate Universe, but this was a terrible way to go out. Thank Doom the rest of Secret Wars is so great.

Technically the first half of Ultimate End #5 should occur prior to Secret Wars #6, and the remainder can be read after Old Man Logan #5. This series sure as heck doesn’t deserve TWO spots on the list, though, I’m doing it a favor even leaving it here.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.0 out of 10

CBH Score: 1.3 out of 5

A-Force #5

Much like the final issue of Old Man Logan, A-Force gets a bit ahead of itself in setting up the new series launching with All-New All-Different Marvel.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 7.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 3.0 out of 5

Weirdworld #5

There’s a chance that if Mike Del Mundo drew Wanted I’d actually like the book, and that’s my least favorite comic.

How Essential Is This Tie-In? 5.5 out of 10

CBH Score: 4.7 out of 5