Sometimes Marvel Studios likes to keep things under wraps. And sometimes they unveil years of new movies and shows all at once. That happened insideComic Con 2022, as Kevin Feige gave fansa complete Phase 5 roadmapand even teased a bit about what's to come in Phase 6. Phase 6 begins with the long-awaited Fantastic Four reboot, which will be set in 2024, andends with Avengers: Secret Wars in 2025.
If you've read Secret Wars, you know that Marvel is building their biggest superhero film yet, which could even surpass Avengers: Endgame in scope and sheer number of characters involved. But if you're unfamiliar with this grand cosmic epic, we're here to break down everything you need to know about Secret Wars.
The Original Secret Wars
Secret Wars is the name of two separate but somewhat related Marvel crossovers. The original series, officially known as Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, was released in 1984 and was accompanied by a popular line of Mattel action figures.
The basic premise of Secret Wars is that an all-powerful entity called The Beyonder transports a group of heroes and villains to a remote planet called Battleworld. These captive earthlings are forced to fight for the amusement of the afterlife. Alliances are forged and broken, and in the end Doctor Doom becomes a real threat as he manages to steal the power of the afterlife for himself.
Ultimately, these characters return to Earth, but not without lasting repercussions. For example, in Secret Wars, Spider-Man donned his black costume for the first time, unaware that he was actually an alien symbiote.
Secret Wars turned out to be one of Marvel's best-selling superhero comics in decades, even if reviews didn't match sales figures. Marvel also released a sequel in 1985, but Secret Wars II is widely considered one of the worst Marvel crossovers ever released...
...although he gave us the awesome 80s makeover of the Beyonder.
Secret Wars Reimagined by Jonathan Hickman
While Marvel has repeated the events of Secret Wars several times through limited series like Spider-Man and Secret Wars and various What If...? Comics, this crossover didn't get a real sequel until Secret Wars 2015. The two books aren't directly related, but the new Secret Wars features some of the same characters and concepts.
This secret war is the culmination of author Jonathan Hickman's Avengers saga. The series begins with the complete collapse of the Marvel Multiverse, when a series of incursions have destroyed all universes. All that remains is Battleworld, which in this story is a motley world built from the shattered fragments of dozens of different alternate realities.
The worlds of Old Man Logan, Marvel Zombies, Age of Apocalypse, Days of Future Past and many more now exist as fiefdoms ruled by barons. These barons, in turn, conspire against each other and flatter their ruler, God Emperor Doom. basically imagea mixture of Dune and Game of Throneswith a touch of spandex and you get an idea of what the status quo was like during the Secret Wars.
Ultimately, Mister Fantastic and a handful of Earth-616's finest are able to overthrow the Doom Regime and restore the multiverse to its pristine state. But again, Secret Wars ends with some permanent changes in the Marvel Universe, one of which is that Miles Morales and Peter Parker now share the same universe.
Basically, imagine a mix of Dune and Game of Thrones with a dash of spandex and you get an idea of what the status quo was like during Secret Wars.
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What secret wars is the MCU adapting?
Marvel may have given us the names of the next two Avengers movies, but we're not sure which Secret War Phase 6 will adapt. If the MCU's history has taught us anything, it's Avengers: Secret Wars. It borrows elements from many different comics without serving as an adaptation of a single story.
However, it's safe to assume that Avengers: Secret Wars is based more on the 2015 comics than the original 1984 series. For one, the new Secret Wars is by far the most critically acclaimed comic, while the original is basically a Toys were commercials disguised as comics.
But more importantly, Hickman's work at Marvel over the past several years has already been a huge source of inspiration for the MCU. Hickman's 2013 Infinity comic introduced Thanos' Black Order. His comic Secret Warriors introduced Leviathan, the secret organization that plays a key role in Agent Carter. And as we'll see below, Phase 4 has already introduced another key concept from Hickman's Avengers comics.
How Phase 4 Secret Wars builds
While the Avengers: Secret Wars announcement was welcome, it wasn't necessarily all that surprising. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness has already clearly hinted that the MCU is getting closer to Secret Wars. The Multiverse of Madness introduces the concept ofmiracle raids, a phenomenon that occurs when two parallel earths stop vibrating in cosmic harmony and begin to collide with each other. When an attack begins, the only way to prevent the annihilation of both universes is to destroy one of the two Earths.
Attacks are one of the main driving forces behind Hickman's Avengers and New Avengers comics. The latter focuses onIlluminatito prevent the incursions from spreading across the multiverse, forcing them to resort to increasingly desperate methods to prevent the inevitable. Secret wars only happen because the Illuminati fail.
The mid-credits scene in Multiverse of MadnessClea introduced by Charlize Theronand hints that hacking will be a long-term problem for the MCU. Don't be surprised if more MCU films and shows begin to address this plot point as the march toward Secret Wars continues.
It's also likely that Marvel will introduce some of Secret Wars' key characters in the years to come. Doctor Doom will almost certainly appear in 2024's Fantastic Four, if not sooner. The FF film may also feature Molecule Man, Doom's immensely powerful and mentally unstable accomplice, and the man who made Battleworld's existence possible in the first place.
And finally, we may see one or more versions of the afterlife before Secret Wars. Hickman's Avengers revealed that there are indeed many afterlife beyond the confines of time and space, and they are at the root of Incursion's problem.
The Kang Dynasty's Connection to Secret Wars
When it comes to Phase 6, Avengers: Secret Wars is only half the equation. Marvel will also release Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the same year, a reminder that this time-travelling super-tyrant has a key role to play in the next phases of the MCU as well.
Given the closeness of their release dates, it stands to reason that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are intertwined in the same way Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were in Phase 3. The Kang Dynasty will almost certainly set the stage for Secret Wars.
How does Kang influence all of this? Although Kang appears in the original 1984 comics, he is not a central character in any of the Secret Wars versions. This is one area where the MCU seems to be moving away from the source material. We know from Loki: Season 1 that the multiverse was almost destroyeda devastating war between different versions of Kang. One of these Kangs, calling himself One Who Remains, was able to end the war by compressing the multiverse into a single "sacred timeline" and wiping out his rivals. But thanks to Loki and Sylvie, the multiverse has returned and with it many kangs.
We'll see how Jonathan Majors plays one of these kangsthe next ant-man and the wasp: Quantumania, and we'll likely see other versions in Loki: Season 2 and other future MCU projects. Kang is clearly establishing himself as the next Thanos in the MCU, and it all culminates in Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
The Kang Dynasty is named after a 2001 Avengers comic. In this story, Kang and his son Marcus travel back to the 21st century to enslave humanity, and we can probably expect some version of that premise in the film shows up. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will likely show us the culmination of this multiverse war of the Kangs that will leave the multiverse in ruins. And from the ashes of that war will rise God Emperor Doom and Battleworld.
How do you think Phase 6 will adapt these classic Marvel stories? Is Kang the Conqueror or Doctor Doom the real villain of the multiverse saga? Let us know what you think in the comments.
To learn more about the future of the MCU, learn more about theother villains that could appear in Fantastic Four 2024and check the history ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's Villain, the High Evolutionary. And be sure to read our full review ofall the big announcements at comic-con.
Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Should he lend his intellectual scrub a macheteFollow @jschedeen on Twitter.
FAQs
Will the MCU end after Secret Wars? ›
Avengers: Secret Wars will bring an end to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's ongoing Multiverse Saga and may just bring an end to the Avengers. Avengers: Secret Wars is set to act as the epic conclusion to the second era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known as the Multiverse Saga.
Is Galactus the villain in Secret Wars? ›Spider-Woman joins the heroes as well, but she is introduced later instead of being on the original transport vessel. On the side of the villains are, notably, Doctor Doom, Ultron, Galactus, and Molecule Man, along with others such as Absorbing Man, Doctor Octopus, the Enchantress, and the Lizard.
Is the MCU heading to Secret Wars? ›The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now deep into its Multiverse Saga, the broad and intertwined follow-up adventure after the events of Infinity War and Endgame. Avengers: Secret Wars will be the conclusion of this new saga, and is set to arrive in May of 2026.
Who is the villain in Secret Wars MCU? ›The Beyonder will be the main villain of Secret Wars and a Kang variant.
Will there be Phase 7 in MCU? ›As per a report on Heroic Hollywood, Marvel studios have now confirmed four new release dates of the movies that will define the phase 7 of the MCU and will release after Avengers: Secret Wars. The dates confirmed after the release of Secret Wars are February 13, 2026, May 1, 2026, July 24, 2026, and November 6, 2026.
Will the MCU last forever? ›The MCU is still going strong with years of content planned, and one Marvel Studios executive indicated that there aren't signs of Marvel ending its story anytime soon.
What race is Galactus? ›*Note: Although Galactus is usually represented in humanoid form, each sentient being perceives him having a form resembling that of his own race; humans see him as humanoid and Skrulls as Skrullian.
Who does Galactus fear? ›When this happens, Uatu the Watcher cannot watch, and Galactus pauses and "remembers what it is to be afraid." Considering Galactus once beat multiple Celestials at once, so for there to be one that he is specifically afraid of speaks to Tiamut's incredible ability.
Who is Galactus mom? ›There's a new Defender in the Marvel Universe–Taaia, the mother of Galactus! Throughout Defenders Beyond, the team, including Taaia, has been on a whirlwind tour of the Marvel Universe, going farther than anyone else has before–all the way to the mysterious One Above All.
Will Iron Man return in Secret Wars? ›An era ended when Tony Stark died saving everyone during the vents of Avengers: Endgame. Now, for the past few days, speculations have been going around that RDJ might return to MCU once again with Avengers: Secret Wars, but Marvel Executive Stephen Broussard has put down the rumours in his recent interview.
Who is the most powerful character in Marvel? ›
Beyonder
With a simple thought, the Beyonder can displace an entire planet, change the rules of physics, and even destroy the entire universe. That's why the Beyonder was presented in Marvel Comics as the most powerful being to ever exist.
Ant-Man 3's Kang May Be Different From MCU Phase 6's Big Villain. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania introduces the MCU's Kang the Conqueror, but is this the same villain who will soon face off against The Avengers?
Who is stronger Thanos or Kang the Conqueror? ›Thanos wins against Kang the Conqueror in the MCU with and without Infinity Gauntlet. His Titan physiology makes him stronger, faster, and more durable, and he is the more talented and skilled fighter of the two.
Who is God Butcher in MCU? ›Gorr The God Butcher has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful male supervillains, being labelled as one of Thor's greatest foes. The character made his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), portrayed by Christian Bale.
Is Molecule Man a villain? ›The Molecule Man (Owen Reece) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #20 in November 1963 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He is often portrayed as a supervillain, but sometimes takes the role of a reformed outlaw or reluctant hero.
Will there be a Phase 8 in the MCU? ›The Phase 8 of the MCU celebrates 100 years of Marvel Comics with stand-alone films taking place at various times and locations of Earth-199999 and that will cross in the last film of the phase. The main antagonist of the Phase is Kang the Conqueror.
Will Phase 6 be the last? ›Is MCU Phase 6 The Last One? Although only the Multiverse Saga was almost entirely fleshed out according to what was revealed at SDCC 2022, that doesn't mean that MCU Phase 6 will be the last one.
What year will the MCU end? ›Will the MCU end in 2028? Phase 6 is set to be concluded by Avengers 5 and 6, respectively, but that won't be the end of the MCU. According to the announcement by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige at CinemaCon 2022, the stories the MCU plans to tell in the following years are planned through 2032.
Is Thanos gone forever? ›During the "Infinity Saga" storyline, Thanos is eventually resurrected and collects the Infinity Gems once again. He uses the gems to create the Infinity Gauntlet, making himself omnipotent, and erases half the living things in the universe to prove his love to Death.
Will there be no more Avengers? ›May 1, 2026: "Avengers: Secret Wars"
Feige originally announced that a second "Avengers" movie will close out Phase 6 a few months later in 2025.
Will the remaining Avengers reunite? ›
During San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige set out to assure fans that, yes, there is a plan. And, yes, the events of Moon Knight and Doctor Strange and Loki and Wakanda Forever are all somehow related. And, yes, the Avengers will return in some form.
Are the 10 rings Eternals tech? ›The Ten Rings, after all, are circular in design, like much of the technology utilized by the Eternals. They also appear to be energy-based in their use, much like the tools and weapons used by the Eternals are fueled by cosmic energy.
What Celestial is knowhere? ›Knowhere was one of two celestial objects orbiting Battleworld, considered to be its moon; the other was Johnny Storm, its sun. Knowhere was the decapitated head of a Celestial, said to have been slain by God Emperor Doom to protect Battleworld, and it remained orbiting the planet as a reminder of Doom's power.
How much can Hulk lift? ›UNLIMITED STRENGTH
The answer; there isn't one. The amazing thing about the Hulk is that unlike nearly every other superhero ever created, the Hulk's strength has absolutely no upper limit. He can lift a commercial airplane – which weighs around 100 tons – when he is at his calmest; that's no problem for him.
Tiamut is superior to Galactus in terms of physiology, strength, energy manipulation, and durability. In the comics, Galactus is documented to be afraid of Tiamut which speaks of the Celestial's immense power.
Does Galactus fear Tiamut? ›The Dreaming Celestial seems to be one of the most powerful Celestials. Tiamut challenged Arishem and won. Galactus feared him and Uatu the Watcher could not see anything when he awoke.
Why does Galactus fear the black winter? ›Galactus explains he fears the Black Winter so much because he has witnessed it twice, the first time being when he was the explorer Galan, long before he became the power he is today.
Who birthed Galactus? ›Galactus's initial origin was that of a Taa-an space explorer named Galan who gained cosmic abilities by passing near a star, but writer Mark Gruenwald further developed the character's origins, presenting Galan as alive during the previous universe that existed prior to the Big Bang which began the current universe.
Is there a female Galactus? ›Living on Earth, Gali or rather Galacta is the estranged daughter of the mighty World-Devourer known as Galactus and like her father she has an insatiable appetite for life-force energies. But unlike her father, Gali has found other ways to sate her appetite without having to destroy entire worlds.
Who is the wife of Galactus? ›In different comics, Galactus' wife (Aala) and daughter (Gali) have appeared, but in current continuity, his original family is a big question mark for the iconic Jack Kirby and Stan Lee creation.
Will Iron Man return in 2023? ›
Well, it is highly unlikely that Tony Stark will return since there are high chances of him being replaced by young Avenger called the Iron Heart, as introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.As we know that Iron Man has served as a mentor for the heroes of the next generation, it will be interesting to see if Tony ...
Is Secret Wars getting a movie? ›Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars will arrive in theaters on May 1, 2026.
Will Iron Man return in Avengers Kang Dynasty? ›Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man Return In Avengers 5 Supported By Kang Star. Kang actor Jonathan Majors supports the idea of Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man returning in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. It has been nearly four years since Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame.
Who is Marvel's number 1 character? ›Favourite characters
“Iron Man” sits at the top of the list of most popular Marvel movies, and incidentally, the character played by Robert Downey Jr. is also the most popular. With 62% of votes, he comes ahead of Spider-Man with 66% and Captain America with 61%.
On a more serious note, Marvel Comics has proven that Scarlet Witch can be beaten by Chthon, Holocaust, Doctor Doom, and The Avengers combined.
Who is the biggest villain in MCU? ›- Worst, No. 1: M.O.D.O.K. ...
- Worst, No. 2: Malekith – "Thor: The Dark World" ...
- Worst, No. 3: Yon-Rogg — "Captain Marvel" ...
- Worst, No. 4: Taskmaster — "Black Widow" ...
- Worst, No. 5: Kro — "Eternals"
- Knull. Knull is the eldritch god of darkness and the person who created the symbiotes. ...
- Ebony Maw. ...
- Loki. ...
- Magneto. ...
- Onslaught. ...
- Kang the Conqueror. ...
- Ultron. ...
- Ego the Living Planet.
The original Sinister Six–Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Sandman, and Electro–battling Spider-Man. Art by Alex Ross.
Can Ant-Man defeat Kang? ›In the mid-credits scene, we find out who exiled him: his variants! Different versions of Kang — in the comics they include Immortus, Rama-Tut, Baby Kang, and the Council of Kangs — are having a Kangs-only meeting saying that Ant-Man successfully killed the Kang they sent to the quantum realm.
Can Thor defeat Kang? ›Kang and Thor clashed in the comics before, and Thor won, albeit with great consequences. The Asgardian God of Thunder might not be smart enough to outwit Kang, but he certainly packs enough raw power to stand up to him. Thor is now mightier than ever. He is stronger, faster, and more durable than Kang.
Can Kang defeat Celestials? ›
Can Kang stop a Celestial? Kang is nothing more than an Ant to the celestials if he goes for physical confrontation he would be immediately annihilated. Unless he plays his card from the end of time and work out an event that would lead to the Celestials destroying themselves.
Who is Thor's daughter? ›Who Plays Love? Gorr's daughter is played by India Rose Hemsworth, the daughter of Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, and actress Elsa Pataky. Hemsworth has talked about how his children are in the movie, saying "...Taika had his children in there. Christian Bale had his.
Who is the supreme god in Marvel? ›The-One-Above-All is the supreme creator of all existence in the Marvel omniverse and is considered to be the most powerful character in Marvel. He has an evil alter-ego known as The-One-Below-All.
Who is the first god in MCU? ›Odin's grandfather Buri is thought to be the first Asgardian god. His son Bor with his wife giantess Bestia thus had three children—Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve. His travels across the realms since birth have become the stuff of legend.
Can Molecule Man beat celestial? ›The Molecule Man's ability to recreate the matter around him at will means that the Celestials wouldn't have much chance of defeating him.
Who is the strongest Molecule Man? ›Once a lowly lab technician desperate for recognition, Owen Reece miraculously became one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Molecule Man, while fixing an atomic device. His accident poked a pinhole into the universe of a child Beyonder, and the energy from that universe empowered him.
Who has Molecule Man lost to? ›Following his first defeat by the Fantastic Four, the Molecule Man was whisked away by the alien Uatu the Watcher to be abandoned on a far-flung world and unable to escape due to the limitations on his abilities imposed by his own troubled mind.
What will be the last phase of MCU? ›Following the theatrical release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the spring of 2025, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be bringing Phase 6 to a close with the release of Avengers: Secret Wars in May of 2026.
What will be the last movie of MCU? ›Phase Five begins with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), The Marvels (2023), Captain America: New World Order (2024), Thunderbolts (2024), and Blade (2024). This phase will also include a total of seven seasons of television series for Disney+.
How will Secret Wars end? ›The story comes to an end when Black Panther uses the time stone to go back to the point of the Incursion. What he finds is that the world is peaceful, so much so that there is no second Earth waiting to collide with them.
Is Phase 6 the last phase? ›
Preceded by. Phase Six is the sixth part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as the third and final part of The Multiverse Saga.
Will Iron Man return to MCU? ›Well, it is highly unlikely that Tony Stark will return since there are high chances of him being replaced by young Avenger called the Iron Heart, as introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.As we know that Iron Man has served as a mentor for the heroes of the next generation, it will be interesting to see if Tony ...
What species is venom? ›Shang-Chi. Simu Liu's Shang-Chi is practically guaranteed to join the Avengers in Phase 6. For one thing, we already saw him summoned by Wong at the end of 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. For another, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is also directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
What will be the 29th MCU movie? ›Sorry, Marvel Fans - Doctor Doom Shouldn't Be in Avengers: Secret Wars. Doctor Doom still hasn't been introduced in the MCU, so adapting his important roles from the Secret Wars comics for the movie might be rushed.
What earth is Secret Wars? ›Many groups were involved in the Game of Worlds, including the Illuminati and the Cabal, but in the end, nothing could stop the incursions from ending the Multiverse. Time ran out, and only two realities remained: Earth-616 and Earth-1610.
Will there be a Iron Man 4? ›The verdict is here and it's a resounding YES! Iron Man 4 is in the cards for Marvel's heroes. Today on The Ellen Show, Robert Downey Jr. teased the upcoming discussions about the Marvel cinematic universe continuing. “I know there's going to be a bunch more Marvel movies,” he said.
What phase will Deadpool 3 be in? ›In September, Reynolds announced that Deadpool 3 would be released on September 6, 2024, as the first film in Phase Six.
Will Marvel have a Phase 6? ›During Marvel's huge Comic-Con 2022 panel, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige revealed that we'll be getting two Avengers movies during Phase 6, which will wrap up what's now known as The Multiverse Saga in the MCU.