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Marvel 2015 Secret Wars Reading Order, the event that rebooted the Marvel Universe

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First, it’s not The Secret Wars from 1985, it’s the one from 2015. Planned by Jonathan Hickman who wrote the main miniseries (with art from Esad Ribić), Secret Wars is about the destruction of the Marvel Universe as we knew it and various other alternate universes like the Ultimate one or the 2099 line and more.

In fact, each universe’s respective Earth was used to create Battleworld, a planet that exhibits the aspects of those various universes. That’s why various versions of individual Marvel characters can be present multiple times on the Battleworld.

For more, here is the official synopsis: The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated each and every alternate universe one by one. And now – despite the best efforts of scientists, sages, and superhumans – the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe have collided…and been destroyed!

All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! And the survivors of this multiversal catastrophe all bend their knees to Battleworld’s master: Doctor Doom!

What strange creatures inhabit this world? Which familiar faces will return? And what happens when Battleworld’s various domains go to war? The Marvel Universe is dead – and the victors of the Secret Wars will determine what comes next!

What to read before the Secret Wars of 2015?

First, if you need to read a book collecting issues with information that will become relevant during the event, Marvel thought of you:

  • Secret Wars Prelude
    Collects New Avengers (2013) #1-3, Secret Wars (1984) #10-12, Fantastic Four #611, Ultimate Comics Spider -Man (2011) #1, Ultimate Comics Ultimates #4.

Then, Jonathan Hickman used his run on Avengers to open the way for the Secret wars event. Those stories are collected as follows:

The full “Avengers: Time Runs Out” storyline is also collected in one big hardcover.

Also more optional but I put them here anyway, there are the “Last Days” issues. Before Secret Wars arrives, everything must end! In the final hours of the Marvel Universe, everyone is a Mighty Avenger! Facing Ragnarok, King Loki makes his move! Magneto, once Earth’s enemy, fights to be its savior! Black Widow meets her fate still seeking redemption! On the brink of disaster, Ms. Marvel meets Captain Marvel! Punisher goes out with a bang! Silk seeks her family before the sky falls! Ant-Man dances with destiny!

  • Secret Wars: Last Days of the Marvel Universe
    Collects Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #8–9, Loki: Agent of Asgard #14–17, Magneto (2014) #18–21, Black Widow (2014) #19–20, Ms. Marvel (2014) #16–19, Punisher (2014) #19–20, Silver Surfer (2014) #13–15, Ant-Man: Last Days #1, Silk (2015A) #7, Spider-Woman (2014) #10

Marvel 2015 Secret Wars Reading Order:

2015 Secret Wars Reading Order: Collected Editions

  • Secret Wars
    Collects Secret Wars #0,#1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015. The Main Event! Of course, it’s the only book you really need to read.
Secret Wars #7 by Alex Ross

Battleworld

Secret Wars Battleworld #1 by Paco Medina

Warzones

Deadpool s Secret Secret Wars #1 by Tony Harris

2015 Secret Wars Reading Order: Issue by Issue

The best way to go is probably to read the main series first, then come back to the rest, picking up the stories with the characters you like. Else, you can go like that:

  • Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #8
  • Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Secret Wars) #1
  • Secret Wars #0-1
  • Black Widow (2014) #19–20
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard #14-15
  • Captain America & the Mighty Avengers #9
  • Ms. Marvel (2014) #16-19
  • Punisher (2014) #19-20
  • Magneto (2014) #18–21
  • Ant-Man: Last Days #1 (2015)
  • Silk #7
  • Silver Surfer (2014) #13-14
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard #16-#17
  • Secret Wars #2
  • Secret Wars: Battleworld #1-4
  • Secret Wars Journal #1-5
  • Secret Wars #3
  • Master of Kung Fu (2015) #1-4
  • A-Force #1-4 (#5 serves an epilogue to SW #9)
  • Planet Hulk #1-5
  • Spider-Verse (2015B) #1-5
  • M.O.D.O.K.: Assassin #1-5
  • Old Man Logan #1-4 (#5 serves an epilogue to SW #9)
  • Infinity Gauntlet (2015) #1–5
  • Inferno #1-5
  • Secret Wars 2099 #1-5
  • Where Monsters Dwell #1-5
  • X-Men ‘92 #1-4
  • Years of Future Past #1-5
  • X-Tinction Agenda #1-4
  • Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX #1-4
  • Future Imperfect #1-4
  • Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1-5
  • Armor Wars #½-#5
  • Marvel Zombies (2015) #1–4
  • Weirdworld #1-4 (#5 serves an epilogue to SW #9)
  • 1602: Witch Hunter Angela #1-4
  • Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #1-4
Secret Wars #9 by Alex Ross
  • Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #1-4
  • 1872 #1-4
  • Runaways (2015) #1-4
  • Squadron Sinister #1-4
  • Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #1-4
  • E for Extinction #1-4
  • Korvac Saga #1-4
  • Guardians of Knowhere #1-4
  • Civil War (2015) #1-5
  • Secret Wars #4
  • Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1-3
  • Red Skull #1-3
  • Spider-Island #1-5
  • Inhumans: Attilan Rising #1-5
  • Future Imperfect #5
  • Secret Wars: Secret Love #1
  • Ghost Racers #1-4
  • Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders #1-2
  • Age of Apocalypse Vol. 2 #1-5
  • Hail Hydra #1-4
  •  Howard the Human #1 (2015)
  • Ultimate End #1-4 (#5 serves an epilogue to SW #9)
  • House of M (2014) #1-4
  • Hank Johnson: Agent of Hydra #1 (2015)
  • Secret Wars #5
  • Secret Wars #6
  • Siege Vol. 2 #1-4
  • Secret Wars: Agents of Atlas #1
  • Thors #1-4
  • Secret Wars #7
  • Secret Wars #8
  • Secret Wars #9
  • Ultimate End #5
  • A-Force #5
  • Old Man Logan #5
  • Weirdworld #5
  • Silver Surfer (2014) #15
  • Secret Wars Too #1

After Secret Wars

When Secret Wars ended, everything ended of course. You can pick up anything with a #1 on the cover published at the end of 2015. More precisely, in October 2015, Marvel Comics started to relaunch around 60 series under the banner All-New, All-Different Marvel.

Last Updated on December 23, 2022.

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