Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD: SECRET WARS & THE COMICS BEHIND AVENGERS DOOMSDAY

by Shashwata Ray Chaudhuri April 9 2025, 12:00 am Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins, 42 secs

With fans breaking the Internet during the recent cast announcement of the next film involving the Avengers, Avengers Doomsday, a die-hard fan of the Marvel universe, Shashwata Ray Chaudhuri, looks at the comic book that is at the source of the forthcoming film.

For Marvel fans looking to dive deeper into the origins of the MCU’s upcoming multiverse saga, Secret Wars (2015) is a must-read. With the multiverse theme gaining prominence in recent Marvel releases, this comic offers the perfect primer for what's to come. Available in major comic book stores across London, Manchester, and Birmingham—or through digital platforms like Marvel Unlimited—it’s the ideal addition to any collection for those eager to understand the possible future of the Avengers on screen.

Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars (2015) is one of the most captivating comic books I have ever read. The story masterfully portrays our beloved Marvel characters across various universes and is becoming increasingly important to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with the upcoming Avengers: Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars rumored to be based on these comics.

The Beginning of the End: Incursions and Interdimensional Collapse

The story begins with young genius Valeria Richards, daughter of the scientific mastermind Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), constructing a ship capable of surviving multiversal travel. Assisting her are a team of gifted allies. Their mission: escape the collapse of the multiverse, as interdimensional incursions begin destroying alternate universes.

Victor Von Doom, the story's central antagonist, joins forces with Doctor Strange and Molecule Man to confront the Beyonders—an ancient race of omnipotent aliens. Together, they manage to steal the Beyonders' powers and use them to salvage fragments of destroyed realities. These fragments are fused into a single patchwork planet known as Battleworld.

Doom declares himself God Emperor Doom, brainwashing the surviving inhabitants into believing he created everything. He enforces a strict order through his elite enforcers: the warlords and the Thor Corps. His rule is absolute, built on fear, manipulation, and the belief that only he can maintain cosmic balance.

Rebellion Awakens: Heroes of the Past Return

Doom's iron grip is challenged when a group of explorers uncovers a crashed ship in a desolate area of Battleworld. Inside are heroes like Spider-Man, T’Challa, Star-Lord, Thanos, and Reed Richards—survivors with memories from before the multiversal collapse. As they join forces with native Battleworld inhabitants, rebellion begins to spread.

A pivotal moment occurs when Doom kills Thanos in a brutal confrontation, tearing out his spine—a shocking display of raw power that shakes even his most loyal followers.

The heart of the story lies in the philosophical and moral clash between Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom. In a climactic conversation, Reed acknowledges that Doom's attempt to save the multiverse had noble intentions, but condemns his methods of authoritarian control.

Ultimately, the Beyonders’ powers are transferred to Reed, resulting in the collapse of Battleworld. With the help of the Black Panther—wielding an alternate version of the Infinity Gauntlet left behind by Doctor Strange—Earth-616 (the prime Marvel universe) is restored. Reed and T’Challa lead the efforts to rebuild what was lost. In the end, Doom is granted the one thing he had long desired: a healed, unscarred face—a symbol of redemption.

Secret Wars is more than just a crossover event; it’s a breathtaking culmination of years of Marvel storytelling. Hickman weaves together rich narratives that explore themes of power, identity, memory, and the very nature of reality. It is, without exaggeration, a work of literary and visual art that every Marvel fan should experience.

Future of the MCU: A Live-Action Adaptation on the Horizon

With Robert Downey Jr. reportedly set to return as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers films and original X-Men cast members confirmed to reprise their roles, Marvel Studios may be poised to adapt elements from Hickman’s Secret Wars. The idea of Doom crafting Battleworld and pitting the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men against each other aligns perfectly with the MCU's current multiverse saga.

Fan theories speculate that Doom could manipulate events to incite conflict between major superhero factions—mirroring the comic's intricate power struggles. A potential live-action showdown between Doom and Thanos would be a cinematic moment for the ages, especially if it re-creates one of the most violent and iconic scenes in Marvel Comics history.