Comic Review: Secret Wars #2 (of 8)- Delicious

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Essad Ribic
Colours: Ive Svorcina
Main Cover artist: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel
Released: 13th May 2015


Secret Wars #2 is a delicious all you can eat buffet of a comic book that leaves you well satisfied and eager to return to the Marvel (ous) restaurant of superhero scrumptiousness as soon as is humanly possible.

The plot is simple. We are introduced to a brand new comic book world called ‘Battleworld.’ Doctor Doom is in charge. He controls everything. His law is the only law. His subjects worship him not just as a ruler, not just as a king, and not just as a god, but as the God, the creator of everything, the alpha, omega, and you know the rest, the big man in the old testament, yes that God, the only God.

Lots of things are happening on this Battleworld, but if you know anything about the real world concept of the ‘New World Order’ then it will be easy to understand.

What is the New World Order? It is the world that is to be created after WW3, after the horrendous death and destruction that takes place on this planet leaves people crying out for a centralised control system that will give them a guarantee of peace and prosperity and an end to all future wars. They will have that guarantee, but they will also find themselves living in a prison-cell.

This New World Order will be comprised of one religion, one judiciary system and one army enforcing the dictates of a centralised control system of unaccountable autocrats. That is exactly what is happening in the Battleworld of Secret Wars #2. Doctor Doom is the centralised control system and religion. Dr Strange heads up the judiciary, and a team of Thors make up the world Police/Army.

The only difference between this book and our own world is that in Secret Wars #2 the world is controlled solely by Doctor Doom and his group of specially selected order followers. In the real New World Order system the control will not go to one single person, but a group of elitist autocrats modelled on the EU or Chinese communist system.

However, if you want to look at it from the Christian prophesy point of view then perhaps this really is exactly what is going to happen? That would mean that the character of Doctor Doom is the comic book version of the Antichrist, the false Messiah of Revelations.

Take your pick between the two theories, secular or biblical. I myself lean towards the former, but either one could be correct. I guess we’ll find out as the book (and our own world) progresses. If it’s a team of heroes that are going to beat Doom then it will be a secular reading, but if it’s just one man leading an army against Doom (who could it be?) then we could well be looking at a biblical interpretation here.

Structurally speaking, this book has to introduce its readers to a huge new comic book world. That can be tricky, but writer Jonathan Hickman deals with the problem with ease. He begins with the tried and trusted method of introducing the world through the eyes of a new initiate. That new initiate is a young Thor, a character we both know and enjoy, so already we are at ease with the story. The book then hints at a discovery that might upset the status quo of this new world, a discovery that readers of issue #1 will already be well aware of. That’s clever, and very enjoyable for the reader as we already know more about what is happening than the characters in the book. The reader feels like he has special insight, and that is always a good feeling to have as a reader, and helps to clear any sense of confusion that you might have in reading what is potentially a very confusing story about a strange and disorientating new world. This world is then further clarified for the reader with a demonstration of how disputes are settled, and the book closes with a dramatic, super hero action packed scene of violent confrontation and threat to the status quo.

It’s a big book, but that solid, clever, enjoyable, and expertly crafted structure makes it easy to assimilate all of the information, to contextualise what is going on, and to enjoy it all as a good comic book story. It’s a new world, but it’s never a confusing one. We know exactly what is going on, and the sense of anticipation is deliciously enticing throughout the entire book. All of this is helped of course when the art looks top notch, as it does here. That art, by the tremendously talented Esad Ribic, is superb and the entire book is a joy not just to read, but to look at as well. I’ve talked a lot about the themes, plot and structure, but if this book was in Japanese it would still be a glorious, beautiful looking comic book.

This is how you put together a decent comic book. Develop a strong backbone idea that resonates with contemporary societal anxieties and concerns, formulate a tried and tested narrative framework, load it up with interesting personalities, throw in some action that will threaten the status quo, and get a talented artistic team to make your vision come to life.

That is what you have here in Secret Wars #2. This event is just beginning, but it’s got off to a flying start. I know what people think about comic book events, we’ve been let down so many times recently, but banish all thoughts of Avengers versus X-Men, and give this one a go. Secret Wars 2015 is in an entirely different league to that big pointless punch-up, and this is coming from a guy who not only bashes Marvel on a weekly basis, but has vowed more than once to never read any event story-line ever again.

If you are a comic book fan then you’ll want to read this book. I know it’s Marvel, and I know that they put out a lot of nonsense, but this book is a bit special.

Far too many contemporary comic books (and movies) devolve into self-aware, post-modern analysis of circle-jerk geek irrelevance, and the last thing I want to do is to read comic books written by a bunch of fanboys stroking their own egos and congratulating themselves on how clever they all are.

I don’t see any of that annoying smugness in Secret Wars #2. What I do see is a comic book that has dropped the stupid quips and knowing jokes and has buckled down to tell a good, serious, entertaining story. How refreshing, how entertaining, and how absolutely delicious it all is.


Rating: 10/10 (Yummy)