Introduction

With Avengers: Doomsday looking more and more like the setup for Secret Wars, it’s time to dive into how Marvel’s biggest multiversal event went down in the comics—and what’s already different in the MCU. The original Secret Wars was a game-changer, but the MCU is clearly taking its own path, which means there’s plenty of room for speculation.

The Original Secret Wars (1984)

Marvel’s first true crossover event, Secret Wars (1984), was essentially a cosmic battle royale orchestrated by the godlike Beyonder. He transported heroes and villains to Battleworld, a patchwork planet he created, and forced them to fight for ultimate power.

Key Moments from the 1984 Storyline:

Spider-Man obtained his black symbiote suit (which later became Venom).
Doctor Doom stole the Beyonder’s godlike power and remade reality.
The X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four faced off against some of their deadliest foes.
The story reinforced Doom as Marvel’s ultimate power-hungry genius.

Secret Wars (2015) – A Multiversal Collapse

The 2015 version of Secret Wars was an even bigger, multiverse-ending event. The Ultimate Universe and the main Marvel Universe collided, leading to the formation of a new Battleworld, ruled by none other than Doom himself.

Key Differences in the 2015 Storyline:

Doom became God Emperor Doom, shaping Battleworld from the remains of destroyed realities.
The Fantastic Four played a huge role, with Reed Richards ultimately undoing Doom’s rule.
The story directly led to a soft reboot of the Marvel Universe, resetting many characters and plotlines.
Kang played a significant role, using his mastery of time and manipulation of events to influence the multiversal collapse that led to the creation of Battleworld.

How the MCU Has Already Changed Secret Wars

The MCU is clearly heading toward Secret Wars, but it’s already making major changes:

No Beyonder (yet) – Instead, Kang and his variants have been set up as multiversal threats.
Kang’s Expanded Role – In the comics, Kang was involved in Secret Wars, but in the MCU, his presence has been even more pronounced. His variants, like He Who Remains, have already set the stage for multiversal chaos, aligning with the themes of Secret Wars. Given Kang’s influence over time and reality, he could be a major player in how the MCU’s Secret Wars unfolds.
The Multiverse is Already Shattered – Thanks to Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, reality is already breaking down.
X-Men and Fantastic Four Are Just Entering the MCU – Unlike the comics, where they were already major players, their MCU introductions are happening just before Secret Wars.
Avengers: Doomsday Looks Like the Setup Film – If Secret Wars is the big finale, Doomsday could be the Infinity War moment where everything starts falling apart.

What Could Happen in the MCU’s Secret Wars?

Doctor Doom could replace Kang as the main villain. The comics made him the centerpiece of Secret Wars, and he’s one of Marvel’s biggest missing villains.
Battleworld may be built from collapsed realities. Given the MCU’s focus on the multiverse, we could see fragments of different universes smashed together.
Avengers: Doomsday could be the first part of a two-film event. Much like Infinity War and Endgame, we might see Doom (or another villain) reshaping reality before the final battle.

Final Thoughts: Expect the Unexpected

While Marvel Studios is pulling inspiration from Secret Wars, they are clearly remixing elements from both the 1984 and 2015 versions. With Avengers: Doomsday serving as a major turning point, anything is possible.

Want to read the Secret Wars comics yourself? You can check them out here.

Also, don’t forget to read our full breakdown of the Avengers: Doomsday cast to see which heroes and villains are confirmed for the next big MCU event!

What do you think the MCU will do differently? Let us know in the comments!