In this week's edition of Smash the Stash, it's a Secret Wars (2015-16) blowout as I finally wrap up Marvel's latest universe-altering event and just in time for its next event: Civil War II.
Secret Wars #8 (2015-16)
Jonathan Hickman
Esad Ribic
Alex Ross
The Thing bites the dust to Franklin "Von Doom" via Galactus, Groot is reborn, and Valeria is on the verge of revealing God Doom's secret but not before encountering not one but two versions of Reed Richards. And I have not even mentioned my favorite panel (or page) of the entire book:
If one was doubting the powers of God Doom, then allow this sequence in which God Doom literally rips out Thanos's spine. No major universe-altering should be without its epic battle and with Issue #8, Secret Wars has its epic battle.
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Secret Wars #9 (2015-16)
Jonathan Hickman
Esad Ribic
Ive Svorcina
In a story revolving around Victor Von Doom, it should come as no surprise that its resolution would come at the hands of Reed Richards. These long-time foes have been at the forefront of the Marvel Universe since their inception but given the state of the current Marvel Universe (i.e., the Marvel Cinematic Universe); Secret Wars was a proper send off for the "first family of Marvel Comics". Issue #9 failed to match the levels of epicness displayed in Issue #8 but it did do a few things: (1) Black Panther was put in the forefront of the issue towards its start and within its epilogue, (2) a certain degree of resolution was provided to the readers, and (3) it managed to write off the Fantastic Four as pivotal superhero team within the current Marvel Comics universe. Undoubtedly, fans of the Fantastic Four will see them again as heroes rarely go away for long especially heroes that are not dead. Also, I should mention that despite the claims saying that Secrets Wars would leave behind ONE primary continuity, Marvel sort of leaves the door open to the reintroduction of complicated multiple universes: NOT COOL.
