Secret Wars #2
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Esad Ribic
Secret Wars #1 was a fantastic way to cap Time Run Out and a worthy payoff to Hickman’s epic 77-issue Avengers run. It succeeded on those fronts but didn’t truly introduce us to what Secret Wars as a story was going to be. Considering that, I think that Secret Wars #2 is the true debut issue of this event. It introduces us to Battleworld while setting the mains players into place before the story starts to unravel. With Secret Wars #2, Jonathan Hickman has almost guaranteed this event a success and solidified himself as the best event writer of our time or perhaps, of all time.
I’m glad Marvel refrained from discussing the composition of Battleworld because this issue introduces us to it so well. Hickman sometimes has trouble delivering exposition because he makes his character lifeless as he does so. It can feel a little forced at times but thankfully, here Hickman uses a clever plot device to delve into the exposition. If you haven’t already seen, the Thors are in charge of policing battleworld. To be inaugurated into this police force, a Thor must prove himself worthy by raising Mjlonir which is exactly how this issue debuts.
We visit Battleworld through the eyes of this new Thor as he is learning the rules of Battleworld. Hickman makes the exposition feel quite natural through this and succeeds on that front. Unfortunately however, the Thor characters aren’t too strong even if the concept of a Thor police force is beyond awesome.
Where Hickman thrives is where he always thrives best, with Doctor Doom. (Mild spoilers ahead) The new Marvel universe is unlike anything we’ve ever seen for Superheroes because it’s more akin to a world such as Game of Thrones. One of the best scenes in this issue is a tense trial by combat that really sets the tone for what type of world Hickman is building. There are Kingdoms, with rulers who all report to one king, or god rather. Victor Von Doom. Having a world ruled by Doom is a story I have always wanted to read and Hickman has quite literally created the best possible version of that.
A comic like Old Man Logan has a world build off a fascinating idea but fails to adequalely develop the concept. It’s very unfortunate when a writer has an amazing idea that they just can’t translate all that well to paper. Fortunately, this is a Jonathan Hickman comic and this man is the master of world-building. Through this issue alone, Hickman is able to create a compelling culture for this new Marvel Universe. We all love the 616 and this Doom-ruled world will never last but I wouldn’t be upset if it did. Having Doctor Doom rule a world of Kingdoms and lord at war is one of the coolest comic idea in the last year. And the fact that Hickman is able to greatly develop this idea makes it all the better.
This issue felt very different from the majority of Hickman’s Avengers comics. Whereas Avengers was about facing the end of the universe, Secret Wars #2 is about exploring a new one. The ties to Hickman’s ongoing story are few for now but there’s a sense that he just didn’t want to overload this issue. Which was a wise decision, given that this issue felt perfectly balanced and paced. No ongoing conflict has really been established and the Beyonders have yet to be mentionned but none of that bothers me. Hickman’s introduction is so immersive that I didn’t stop to think about the pre-established conflicts. Hickman is a master at bringing various plot-lines together so I’m not worried about any of this. However, if this book wants to maintain the same quality, Hickman will have to start involving his ongoing story.
Though, Secret Wars #2 wouldn’t be as breathtaking without superstar artist Esad Ribic. From magnificent scenery, to epic scale, to smaller character moments, Ribic draws it all to perfection. His painted style is an amazing suit to Hickman grandiose script but where Ribic shines brightest is in his rendition of Doom. Secret Wars has the potential to become the best Doctor Doom story in years and that couldn’t be if Ribic portrayal wasn’t so spot-on. Time Runs Out was flooded with visual inconsistencies, but Secret Wars has Ribic to save it from that detriment.
There has never been a Hickman-created world that didn’t feel complete. From culture, to history, to politics, Hickman truly does think of it all. Saying that Battleworld may be his most interesting world yet is quite the achievement. The Marvel Universe is dead and what we are left with is a brilliantly realized world reminiscent of Westeros. In 2 issues, Secret Wars ended the MU and replaced it with something even more interesting. That’s more than most events can accomplish in 8 issues.
Artist: Esad Ribic
Secret Wars #1 was a fantastic way to cap Time Run Out and a worthy payoff to Hickman’s epic 77-issue Avengers run. It succeeded on those fronts but didn’t truly introduce us to what Secret Wars as a story was going to be. Considering that, I think that Secret Wars #2 is the true debut issue of this event. It introduces us to Battleworld while setting the mains players into place before the story starts to unravel. With Secret Wars #2, Jonathan Hickman has almost guaranteed this event a success and solidified himself as the best event writer of our time or perhaps, of all time.
I’m glad Marvel refrained from discussing the composition of Battleworld because this issue introduces us to it so well. Hickman sometimes has trouble delivering exposition because he makes his character lifeless as he does so. It can feel a little forced at times but thankfully, here Hickman uses a clever plot device to delve into the exposition. If you haven’t already seen, the Thors are in charge of policing battleworld. To be inaugurated into this police force, a Thor must prove himself worthy by raising Mjlonir which is exactly how this issue debuts.
We visit Battleworld through the eyes of this new Thor as he is learning the rules of Battleworld. Hickman makes the exposition feel quite natural through this and succeeds on that front. Unfortunately however, the Thor characters aren’t too strong even if the concept of a Thor police force is beyond awesome.
Where Hickman thrives is where he always thrives best, with Doctor Doom. (Mild spoilers ahead) The new Marvel universe is unlike anything we’ve ever seen for Superheroes because it’s more akin to a world such as Game of Thrones. One of the best scenes in this issue is a tense trial by combat that really sets the tone for what type of world Hickman is building. There are Kingdoms, with rulers who all report to one king, or god rather. Victor Von Doom. Having a world ruled by Doom is a story I have always wanted to read and Hickman has quite literally created the best possible version of that.
A comic like Old Man Logan has a world build off a fascinating idea but fails to adequalely develop the concept. It’s very unfortunate when a writer has an amazing idea that they just can’t translate all that well to paper. Fortunately, this is a Jonathan Hickman comic and this man is the master of world-building. Through this issue alone, Hickman is able to create a compelling culture for this new Marvel Universe. We all love the 616 and this Doom-ruled world will never last but I wouldn’t be upset if it did. Having Doctor Doom rule a world of Kingdoms and lord at war is one of the coolest comic idea in the last year. And the fact that Hickman is able to greatly develop this idea makes it all the better.
This issue felt very different from the majority of Hickman’s Avengers comics. Whereas Avengers was about facing the end of the universe, Secret Wars #2 is about exploring a new one. The ties to Hickman’s ongoing story are few for now but there’s a sense that he just didn’t want to overload this issue. Which was a wise decision, given that this issue felt perfectly balanced and paced. No ongoing conflict has really been established and the Beyonders have yet to be mentionned but none of that bothers me. Hickman’s introduction is so immersive that I didn’t stop to think about the pre-established conflicts. Hickman is a master at bringing various plot-lines together so I’m not worried about any of this. However, if this book wants to maintain the same quality, Hickman will have to start involving his ongoing story.
Though, Secret Wars #2 wouldn’t be as breathtaking without superstar artist Esad Ribic. From magnificent scenery, to epic scale, to smaller character moments, Ribic draws it all to perfection. His painted style is an amazing suit to Hickman grandiose script but where Ribic shines brightest is in his rendition of Doom. Secret Wars has the potential to become the best Doctor Doom story in years and that couldn’t be if Ribic portrayal wasn’t so spot-on. Time Runs Out was flooded with visual inconsistencies, but Secret Wars has Ribic to save it from that detriment.
There has never been a Hickman-created world that didn’t feel complete. From culture, to history, to politics, Hickman truly does think of it all. Saying that Battleworld may be his most interesting world yet is quite the achievement. The Marvel Universe is dead and what we are left with is a brilliantly realized world reminiscent of Westeros. In 2 issues, Secret Wars ended the MU and replaced it with something even more interesting. That’s more than most events can accomplish in 8 issues.
A Look Inside
