Hello Marvel fans from across the multiverse! Welcome to the Secret Wars comics reading guide!
As the Multiverse Saga continues, time is running out before Marvel Studio’s Avengers: Secret Wars hit theaters in May 2027. Surely you know the name “Secret Wars”, but what actually happens in the ultimate multiverse crossover event? Before you start an incursion of different reading orders, here’s what you need to know:
Secret Wars Comics Reading Order:
- Secret Wars (1984) #1-12
- Ultimate Universe
- Ultimate Comics: Doomsday (2010)
- Ultimate Comics Ultimates (2011) #1-12
- New Avengers (2013) #1-33; Avengers (2013) #1-44
- Infinity (2013); Time Runs Out (2014)
- Secret Wars (2015) #0-9
Secret Wars is NOT easy to read. This is one of the biggest and most complicated comics events ever written, but also one of the most important and most rewarding. There is an original Secret Wars (1984), then Secret Wars II, Secret Wars III, Secret War, Secret Warriors, Secret Invasion, Secret Avengers, and another Secret Wars in 2015. It sounds crazy, but you don’t even need to read most of it. If you’re new, you probably just want Secret Wars (2015) by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic.
The key thing is, before reading Hickman’s Secret Wars, you need to know his New Avengers comics, and I would recommend his Fantastic Four run as well (look for the ones that say “Hickman” on the cover!). Please pay attention below to what is essential or not essential. This is a big reading guide because Hickman connects a lot of dots in his comics, but most of the things here are NOT essential. For the quickest reading order, start with the Fantastic Four section below. Have fun reading!
“Everything lives.”
Secret Wars (1984)
The original Secret Wars by Jim Shooter & Mike Zeck is a crazy event even on its own. Inspired by the success of the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel, 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars was the first superhero summer crossover (DC’s Crisis of Infinite Earths was a year later, in 1985. Admittedly, Crisis was the first to feature the multiverse).
Despite its origins as a toy advertisement, the first Secret Wars is actually a pretty great read, earning its legendary status. It’s full of memorable moments, like the Thing becoming human again and Spider-Man gaining the black symbiote suit for the first time. The basic story sees Doctor Doom steal the power of the Beyonder, then take over a Battleworld of heroes from different planets. These are key elements that come into play across every version of Secret Wars, and are likely to influence Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Secret Wars in a few years as well.
If you’re interested mainly in Jonathan Hickman’s modern Secret Wars (2015) comic or the upcoming movie, the original Secret Wars isn’t essential reading. Nonetheless, there are several interesting parallels, so even if you skip this now, I recommend coming back to it later!
- Prologue
- Amazing Spider-Man #249-251
- Uncanny X-Men #178-180
- New Mutants #13
- Avengers #240-242
- Hulk #293-294
- Iron Man #181
- Captain America #292
- Thing #10
- Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars (1984) #1-12
- Thor #383
- Fantastic Four #265
- Avengers #243
- Hulk #295
- Amazing Spider-Man #252
- Uncanny X-Men #181
- Thing #11-22
- Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars (2015) #1-4
- Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld (2024) #1-4
Beyonder extra reading:
- Marvel Age Annual (1985) #1
- Secret Wars II (1985)
- Secret Wars III (1988)
- Fantastic Four (1961) #319, 351; Annual #23, 26-27
- Code of Honor (1997) #4
- Deadpool Team-Up (1998) #1
- Thanos (2003) #8-10
- Annihilation: Silver Surfer (2006) #3
- Marvels: Eye of the Camera (2009) #4
- Astonishing Tales: Boom Boom & Elsa (2009) #1
- Defenders: Beyond (2022) #1-5
- All-Out Avengers (2022) #4-5
- Avengers: Beyond (2023) #1-5
Secret Wars II (1985)
Secret Wars II is not as revered as Secret Wars I (and don’t even ask about Secret Wars III). If Secret Wars shows a crossover event done right, Secret Wars II shows the other side of the coin. Bloated with useless tie-in issues, SWII is a meandering mess about the Beyonder wandering around the Marvel universe as he tries to understand humanity and the nature of existence. It sounds deep. It’s not. Skip it.
In the extra reading section is Secret Wars III, an unofficial event in the Fantastic Four series. This arc explains the Beyonder’s origins and his possible future, but it’s also totally inessential. Skip this too.
- Secret Wars II (1985) #1-9
- After #1: New Mutants #30, Iron Man #197, Captain America #308, X-Men #196
- After #2: Web of Spider-Man #6, Amazing Spider-Man #268, Fantastic Four #282
- After #3: Avengers #260, Daredevil #223, Hulk #312
- After #4: Dazzler #40, Alpha Flight #28, Avengers #261, ROM Spaceknight #72
- After #5: The Thing #30, Dr. Strange #74, Fantastic Four #285
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- After #6: Cloak & Dagger #4, Power Pack #18, Thor #363, Micronauts: The New Voyage #16, Power Man & Iron Fist #121
- After #7: Defenders #152, X-Men #202, New Mutants #36, Amazing Spider-Man #273, Spectacular Spider-Man #111
- After #8: Avengers #265, New Mutants #37, Amazing Spider-Man #274, Fantastic Four #288, X-Men #203
- After #9: New Mutants #38, Avengers #266
Extra reading:
- Secret Wars III (1988): Fantastic Four #318-319, 351, Annual #23
The New Avengers: Illuminati (2000s)
None of the comics in this section are essential, but they’re interesting for readers who want to dive deeper, explore the stories between events, and see the scope of how Secret Wars affected the full universe (and vice versa).
Many years after the original Secret Wars, Jim Starlin revisited the Beyonder character in his Thanos series, with a storyline continued into Annihilation. In 2006, Beyond! by Dwayne McDuffie & Scott Kolins also featured the Beyonder and Battleworld, continuing the spirit of Secret Wars as well.
Meanwhile, Brian Michael Bendis launched his own event called Secret War. Not directly related to any actual Secret Wars comics, Bendis’ crossover series about espionage and military weapons helped set up Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, and his long run on New Avengers. This is NOT essential reading for Secret Wars, but Bendis’ comics might provide context for Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Warriors later on.
The most relevant Bendis invention for Secret Wars is the Illuminati. The team he formed in the 2000s are an integral part of Hickman’s plans in the next decade. The Beyonder even makes an appearance himself! So while these are still not essential, I highly recommend the New Avengers: Illuminati comics for a bit of pre-reading.
In case that’s not enough, I’ve also included NewUniversal, Avengers vs. X-Men and a few other non-Hickman comics that factor into his runs in various ways.
- Thanos (2003) #7-12
- Annihilation (2006)
- Beyond! (2006) #1-6
- The New Avengers: Illuminati (2006) #1
- By Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
- The New Avengers: Illuminati (2007) #1-5
- By Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Reed & Jim Cheung
- Avengers (2010) #8-12
- NewUniversal: Everything Went White (2007)
- By Warren Ellis & Salvador LaRocca
- Sets up the “White Event”, Star Brand, and Nightmask, who come into play during Hickman’s run
- Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)
- By Hickman, Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker, Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron
- Sets up Black Panther vs. Namor (see Wakanda Forever reading guide), which is a major part of Hickman’s New Avengers run
Extra reading:
- Secret War (2004) #1-5
- Secret Invasion; Mighty Avengers #12-13, 18
- Dark Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato
How Marvel Studios Could Adapt Avengers vs. X-Men
Secret Warriors by Jonathan Hickman (2000s)
This marks the beginning of the Jonathan Hickman era, one of the most rewarding sagas in Marvel history! Picking up during Bendis’ Dark Reign era with Secret Warriors, Hickman stealthily charted his way through smaller titles before breaking out with a stellar Fantastic Four run, then Avengers/New Avengers and his magnum opus Secret Wars.
Everything is connected, but the later stuff is much more essential than his earlier work. That’s all to say, this section is not necessary for Secret Wars, but still fun to read! If you’re an enthusiast with commitment and lots of time, then this is a great place to start. If not, move on to the Fantastic Four section. But whatever you do, just have fun with it!
- Secret Warriors (2009) #1-28
- Prologue: Secret War (2004), Secret Invasion (2008)
- After #6: Dark Reign New Nation #1
- After #9: Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors
- After #16: Siege: Secret Warriors #1
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #1-6, Infinity #1
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (2011) #1-4
Extra reading:
- Dark Reign: The Cabal (2009) #1 (Doom story)
- Astonishing Tales: Mojoworld (2008) #1-6
- Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu Super Issue #1
Earth-1610: The Ultimate Universe (2010s)
Before we jump into Jonathan Hickman’s modern Secret Wars, take a moment to explore Earth-1610’s Ultimate Universe, which was being published in parallel with the comics set on Earth-616. Studying Earth-1610 is important because the major event of Secret Wars is the incursion crossover between the two main Marvel universes. It’ll be exciting to see how the MCU approaches a similar concept in their own Secret Wars adaptation!
Much of the Ultimate stuff is skippable for Secret Wars (or just plain bad), but the essentials are Brian Michael Bendis’ Ultimate Comics: Doomsday trilogy and Hickman’s Ultimates run. Doomsday might be especially interesting considering it’s the new title for Avengers 5!
If you’d like to dive deeper into the Maker, the Doom variant, and other stories from Earth-1610, I’ve included some assorted reading selections below (but again, your enjoyment may vary).
- Ultimate Comics: Doomsday
- By Brian Michael Bendis & Rafa Sandoval
- Ultimate Enemy (2010) #1-4
- Ultimate Mystery (2010) #1-4
- Ultimate Doom (2010) #1-4
- Ultimate Comics Ultimates (2011) #1-12
- By Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribić
Extra reading:
- Ultimate Fantastic Four (2004) #1-6
- Ultimate Nightmare (2004) #1-5
- Ultimate Secret (2005) #1-4
- Ultimate Vision (2006) #0
- Ultimate Extinction (2006) #1-5
- Ultimatum (2008)
- Ultimate Thor (2010) #1-4 by Jonathan Hickman & Carlos Pacheco
- Ultimate Fallout (2011) #1-6 (Death of Spider-Man: Fallout)
- Ultimate Hawkeye (2011) #1-4 by Jonathan Hickman & Rafa Sandoval
- Prologue: Ultimates #1-6
- Cataclysm (2013)
- Prologue: Ultimates #25-30
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman (2009)
Now we get to the more essential recommendations. Jonathan Hickman’s road to Secret Wars basically starts with Fantastic Four. This is the run that modernized the first family for a new generation. His work with Reed, Doom, and the multiverse set the foundation for everything to come in New Avengers, Avengers, and even Secret Wars. This is one of the best places to start on for the ideal Secret Wars (2015) reading adventure.
If you’re interested, you can also look at Fantastic Four #554-561, the preceding run by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch. It’s not necessary, but might be helpful context for some of Hickman’s storylines.
Continue with the modern Fantastic Four reading guide!
- Optional Prologue
- Fantastic Four (1998) #554-561 by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch
- Fall of the Hulks (Doctor Doom)
- Fantastic Four (1998) #570-588, 600-611
- FF (2011) #1-23
- Prologue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
- After F4 #588: FF #1-11
- With F4 #600-611: FF #12-23
- Best order: F4 600, FF 12, F4 601, FF 13, F4 602, FF 14, F4 603, FF 15, F4 604, FF 16, F4 605-605.1-606, FF 17-18, F4 607-608, FF 19-21, F4 609-610, FF 22, F4 611, FF 23
Avengers: Illuminati by Jonathan Hickman (2013)
Following his massive critical success with the Fantastic Four comics, Jonathan Hickman took over Avengers in 2013. But not just one Avengers team – two. While Hickman’s main Avengers series was more about traditional big superheroics, his New Avengers focused on the secret Illuminati investigating incursions, making it crucially important reading before Secret Wars (2015). Because of the connections to Reed Richards and the multiverse, it’s helpful to read Hickman’s Fantastic Four run before starting New Avengers.
As the two Avengers series progressed, they became increasingly intertwined with inter-universal incursions, until they eventually exploded in the major blockbuster event Secret Wars. So make sure to keep reading until the very end!
- Illuminati Prologue
- The New Avengers: Illuminati (2006) #1
- The New Avengers: Illuminati (2007) #1-5
- Avengers (2010) #8-12
- War of Kings (Black Bolt)
- New Avengers (2013) #1-8
- After #3: Avengers (2013) #1-4
- After #4: Avengers (2013) #5
- After #6: Avengers (2013) #6-13
- After #7: Avengers (2013) #14-17
Avengers: Infinity by Jonathan Hickman (2013)
Infinity is a 2013 comic crossover event written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Jim Cheung, Jerome Opeña, and Dustin Weaver.
When Thanos attacks, Earth has to come to terms with its place in both the galaxy and the wider multiverse. The events of Infinity completely intertwine the Avengers and New Avengers series, leading directly into “Time Runs Out” and the build up to Secret Wars (2015).
- Infinity #1-6
- After #1: Avengers (2013) #18, New Avengers (2013) #9
- After #2: Avengers (2013) #19, New Avengers (2013) #10
- After #3: Avengers (2013) #20
- After #4: Avengers (2013) #21, New Avengers (2013) #11
- After #5: Avengers (2013) #22-23
- After #6: New Avengers (2013) #12, Avengers (2013) #24
- New Avengers (2013) #13-23
- After #15: Avengers (2013) #25-28
- After #17: Avengers (2013) #29-34
Extra reading:
- Original Sin #0-8
Secret Wars: Time Runs Out by Jonathan Hickman (2014)
Time Runs Out is the most important pre-reading before Secret Wars. As the multiversal incursions become increasingly imminent, this era intertwines the Avengers and New Avengers series so closely that it doesn’t make sense to read one without the other. And both are so crucial to Secret Wars that it probably wouldn’t make sense without either of these series either. The point is, don’t skip Time Runs Out!
Also, if you haven’t yet, make sure to catch up with the Ultimate series! These comics are rather important for understanding the Maker and the importance of the Earth-1610 characters coming into collision with their Earth-616 counterparts.
And by the way, if you’re interested in seeing how Sam Wilson became the new Captain America, refer to our Captain America Sam Wilson comics reading guide!
- Earth-1610: The Ultimate Universe
- Ultimate Enemy (2010) #1-4 by Brian Michael Bendis & Rafa Sandoval
- Ultimate Mystery (2010) #1-4 by Brian Michael Bendis & Rafa Sandoval
- Ultimate Doom (2010) #1-4 by Brian Michael Bendis & Rafa Sandoval
- Ultimate Comics Ultimates (2011) #1-12 by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribić
- Avengers (2013) #35-44
- With #35-42: New Avengers (2013) #24-32
- After #43: New Avengers (2013) #33
- After #44: Secret Wars (2015)
Extra reading:
- Avengers World (2014) #17-21
Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman (2015)
Secret Wars (2015) is a huge, wild event, yet the core of the comic is surprisingly similar to the original Secret Wars of the 1980s. But with Hickman’s multiversal approach, Secret Wars is about the collision of universes rather than planets, and he features a whole race of Beyonders rather than one individual. Once you’ve gone through the long and complicated reading order up to this point, the actual event is relatively straightforward. Just read Secret Wars #0-9 and you’re done!
That being said, the event had two hundred tie-in issues, branded as “Battleworld”, “Warzones”, or “Last Days”. None of the tie-ins are essential reading, so just pick the titles that sound interesting to you. The “Last Days” comics take place before Secret Wars, showing how different ongoing series dealt with the impending incursions as our heroes prepared for the end of Earth-616. “Battleworld” and “Warzones” are detailed in the sections below.
- Secret Wars (2015) #0-9
- Prologue: Free Comic Book Day: Secret Wars (2015) #1
- Promo video: Secret Wars: Battleworld Revealed! (2014)
- Promo video: Secret Wars: Live Kickoff (2015)
Extra reading:
- Secret Wars: Official Guide to the Marvel Multiverse (2015) #1
- Secret Wars Too (2015) #1
- All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe (2016) #1
“Last Days” Tie-Ins:
- Ant-Man: Last Days (2015) #1
- Black Widow (2014) #19-20
- Captain America and the Mighty Avengers (2014) #8-9
- Loki: Agent of Asgard (2014) #14-17
- Magneto (2014) #18-21
- Ms. Marvel (2014) #16-19
- Punisher (2014) #19-20
- Silk (2015) #7
- Silver Surfer (2014) #13-15
- Spider-Woman (2015) #10
Secret Wars Tie-Ins: Battleworld
“Secret Wars: Battleworld” is a line of comics that spin directly out of Secret Wars. These comics generally explore the Battleworld area while presenting multiversal twists on known characters and storylines. Most of these comics didn’t have any impact on the main Marvel universe. They’re just fun side stories.
One particularly interesting point is Ultimate End, which focuses on the last days of the Ultimate characters from Earth-1610. It was done by Brian Michael Bendis & Mark Bagley, the same team who launched the Ultimate Universe with the original Ultimate Spider-Man series.
In release order:
- Master of Kung Fu (2015) #1-4
- Ultimate End (2015) #1-5
- Secret Wars: Battleworld (2015) #1-4
- Secret Wars Journal (2015) #1-5
- Inhumans: Attilan Rising (2015) #1-5
- Ghost Racers (2015) #1-4
- Marvel Zombies (2015) #1-4
- Runaways (2015) #1-4
- Thors (2015) #1-4
- Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies (2015) #1-4
- Korvac Saga (2015) #1-4
- Prologue: Guardians 3000 (2014) #1-8
- Red Skull (2015) #1-3
- Siege (2015) #1-4
- Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde (2015) #1-3
- Secret Wars: Secret Love (2015) #1
Secret Wars Tie-Ins: Warzones
The “Secret Wars: Warzones” comic line focused on the adventures of the characters actually on Battleworld as they struggled to survive. These comics were advertised as the beginning of the new Marvel universe, post-Secret Wars. Again, these are mostly just for fun and aren’t essential reading at all.
In release order:
- Armor Wars (2015) #½, 1-5
- A-Force (2015) #1-5
- Planet Hulk (2015) #1-5
- Spider-Verse (2015) #1-5
- X-Men ’92 Infinite Comic (2015) #1-8
- Secret Wars 2099 (2015) #1-5
- Inferno (2015) #1-5
- Old Man Logan (2015) #1-5
- M.O.D.O.K. Assassin (2015) #1-5
- Where Monsters Dwell (2015) #1-5
- Infinity Gauntlet (2015) #1-5
- Future Imperfect (2015) #1-5
- Years of Future Past (2015) #1-5
- Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (2015) #1-5
- Giant-Size Little Marvel: AVX (2015) #1-4
- X-Tinction Agenda (2015) #1-4
- Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos (2015) #1-4
- Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps (2015) #1-4
- Weirdworld (2015) #1-5
- 1602 Witch Hunter Angela (2015) #1-4
- Squadron Sinister (2015) #1-4
- E Is For Extinction (2015) #1-4
- X-Men ’92 (2015) #1-4
- Civil War (2015) #1-5
- Spider-Island (2015) #1-5
- Age of Apocalypse (2015) #1-5
- 1872 (2015) #1-4
- Guardians of Knowhere (2015) #1-4
- Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders (2015) #1-2
- Hail Hydra (2015) #1-4
- Howard the Human (2015) #1
- House of M (2015) #1-4
- Hank Johnson, Agent of Hydra (2015) #1
- Secret Wars: Agents of Atlas (2015) #1
Secret Wars in Multimedia
Secret Wars, the Beyonder, and the multiverse concept in general have appeared throughout Marvel media, especially in recent years. The most notable early appearances are the “Secret Wars” and “Spider-Wars” arcs in the Spider-Man animated series from 1994. This series used the concept of Secret Wars to establish the Spider-Verse (eventually inspiring Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and Into the Spider-Verse as well). Continue reading with the Spider-Verse reading guide here!
The animated TV series Avengers Assemble also adapted a “Secret Wars” storyline in season four, which also featured the Beyonder. And since 2021, Marvel Studios has been preparing for their own Secret Wars live action event as the grand finale of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
- Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994) S5 E9-13
- Features the Beyonder!
- Avengers Assemble (2013) S4 E1-26
- Features the Beyonder!
- Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)
- Loki (2021) S1 E1-6; S2 E1-6
- What If…? (2021) S1 E1-9; S2 E1-9
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
- The Marvels (2023)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- The Fantastic Four (2025)
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
Extra watching:
- Marvel Battleworld (2020) S1 E1-6; S2 E1-6
- Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023) S1 E6, E10-11, E14; S2 E1-6
- Chibi Tiny Tales (2020) S4 E16
Extra games:
- Marvel Realm of Champions (2020)
And that’s our guide to the Secret Wars comics! Are you excited for Avengers 6? What are your theories for the end of The Multiverse Saga? Let me know on X/Twitter @vinwriteswords and remember to follow the site on social media @MyCosmicCircus for more coming soon!
Also check out our full list of comics reading guides here, including The Fantastic Four, Kang, and What If…?! To learn more about Secret Wars in the comics, visit the official Marvel Secret Wars page!
Fantastic Four Comics Reading Guide
Are you new to comics? Try our Comics FAQ Guide, and find me on Twitter if you have any questions!
All comics images courtesy of Marvel Comics.
