Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 is the premiere issue to one of comics' earliest use of crisis crossover events. Being the first of a twelve part story, having been released from 1984 to '85, this comic is all about setting up the story of the original Secret Wars. It all starts with the cosmic entity known as the Beyonder who takes various superheroes and villains from the main universe into a makeshift planet he created known as Battleworld. Heroes include some of the Avengers, X-Men, a few of the Fantastic 4, Spider-Man, and even Magneto. As for the villains there's Galactus, Doctor Doom, Ultron, some of the Wrecking Crew, and Doctor Octopus. The Beyonder asks them to take part in a planet scale battle and will grant the remaining winner whatever they desire. While the heroes are reluctant to take part in it, the villains end up fighting each other with Galactus and Doom going after the Beyonder but brought down easily. While initially avoiding the villains, Captain America and Iron Man both get the heroes to work together to take them on. This is a pretty good start, though a lot of the information it gives at once does feel a bit rushed and the dialogue is a little clunky. But Jim Shooter's writing manages to still keep the story in this comic very engaging, and knowing the combination of needing it out before DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths and being a tie-in to a toy-line does make me appreciate what he had to go through. He captures every hero and villain perfectly while making the mystery of the Beyonder compelling enough to want to read the rest of the event. The artwork is the comic's biggest advantage as the rushness behind the scenes didn't keep this from looking great. It has the light colorful brightness well known for the decade but with more details and features featured thanks to the Battleworld setting. You also get numerous characters in one issue, and often in single panels or and entire page spread, that never loose their signature looks thanks to pencilling by Michael Zeck, the inking from John Beatty, and Christie Scheele's coloring. Over the years, DC and Marvel has had incredible events with intriguing first issues to draw you in, but never forget Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1's iconic status for being one of the first, even through its flaws. Over all: 99%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1

2. Deadman: Love After Death #1

3. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1

4. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

5. Avnegers: War Across Time #1

6. The Yellow Kid

7. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

8. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674