Reading about the original Secret Wars from 1984 is fascinating on many levels. Between Sean Howe’s excellent retelling of the story behind the story (of Secret Wars) in Marvel Comics: The Untold Story and Marvel’s massive reboot of the saga, there’s a lot to be curious about. Thankfully, former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief and Secret Wars writer Jim Shooter is joining the series penciller Mike Zeck and inker John Beatty for an upcoming convention convention circuit. Their tour was announced on the sly via Zeck’s website, here’s a look at Beatty’s website as well. With the imminent 30 Year Anniversary of Marvel Superheroes Secret Wars fast approaching, uncovering more news about the behind-the-scenes info that the panel may announce is going to be a must for comics historians. Here’s Zeck on the tour and a list of shows that the group will be attending:
It’s been about 30 years since I last appeared at a convention with Jim Shooter. Starting this summer we’re going to be tour buddies again! Once Shooter, Beatty, and I committed to appear at the Florida SuperCon, other organizers saw the benefit of bringing the Secret Wars team together again. This being the 30th anniversary of the original Secret Wars and this being the year that Marvel is publishing a new Secret Wars series, it only makes sense. So something of a “Secret Wars Tour” is forming!
For further reading start with Tom Spurgeon’s interview piece with Sean Howe, then go purchase Marvel Comics: The Untold Story.
Even without an issue of Secret Wars proper this week, the news coming out of Marvel regarding the event has been overwhelming. Get a snack and relax as we inform you on all the big new coming from the publisher about the event from the last two days — it’s kind of a lot!
1. Get ready for the ‘THE FINAL WAR.’
This morning CBR debuted the brand new new solicits for the publisher where Thanos stands in what seems to be the pit introduced in Secret Wars #2 with a solicit reading reading: THE FINAL WAR! I think this Alex Ross cover has my attention…
2. Something is happening…8 Months Later?
AS IF that wasn’t enough for you, Marvel also announced on Newsarama yesterday that their books after Secret Wars are picking up a full 8 months after the big event! It’s interesting to hear that Marvel is billing 8 months as their mysterious number. Fans already got a taste of the Marvel Universe 8 Months Later with the Free Comic Book Day Avengers story. Sneaky! The House of Ideas went onto to state that A-Force and Weirdworld are continuing after the event (AWESOME!) Maestro, Mrs. Deadpool & The Howling Commandos, and Uncanny Inhumans will all be part of the new Marvel Universe (reboot?) So let’s look for the reboot publishing initiative in Fall 2015.
3. Uncanny X-Men #600 Delayed!
Uncanny X-Men #600 has been delayed until AFTER Secret Wars. That’s huge news as Marvel has been seeding some massive plot developments for Cyclops in Secret Wars that need to be addressed in Bendis-written titles eventually! Uncanny X-Men #600 has been delayed into October, and it is the last X-Men title written by Bendis.
The author commented on the story through Tumblr: the Internet is half lying to you. It is not shipping in October because I am a massive spastic fuck up. it was bumped until after secret wars for editorial and commercial reasons. not my call. this was marvel. but they have their reasons.
4. Mike Zeck is getting an Artist’s Edition with a Secret Wars reprint.
Finally, the extremely important 80’s Marvel artist Mike Zeck known for a little story entitled Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt, and an obscure comic called Secret Wars first published in 1984 is getting an Artist’s Edition featuring his Marvel work called: Mike Zeck’s Classic Marvel Stories: Artist’s Edition.
The author said the following about working on the original Secret Wars with Jim Shooter via this comment with CBR: I didn’t think much about that at the outset, but when issues started hitting comics outlets, it became evident that it was “a big deal with a lot of attention!” Deadline pressures and other elements made the work less enjoyable than some other projects but [it was] definitely worthwhile in the end. “Secret Wars” totally succeeded in bringing attention to Marvel comics via the series and the toy tie-ins. I always hear from fans at conventions that it was “Secret Wars” that prompted them to start reading comics. Very gratifying.
I found “Secret Wars I” to be unreadable, although most people seemed to love it in 1984 (except for people who worked for the Comics Journal, of course).
Almost everyone hated “Secret Wars II” a year later, but I find it fascinating. It’s bizarre and surreal; Jim Shooter seems to have unleashed his id on this one. (Steve Gerber was one of his targets.) As Howe writes in his Marvel book, “SW II” mixes heavy-handed expository dialogue, which seems to have been written for young children, with references to drugs and prostitution. Who was this comic written for?
the band’s getting back together and going on tour? i used to go see these guys when they were the opening act for the stones. man, i hope they play all their hits. too bad, it looks like they ain’t gonna play the javits center. maybe i can catch them in baltimore.
the band’s getting back together and going on tour? i would see these guys when they would open for the stones. too bad tho’, it looks like they ain’t gonna play the javits center, maybe i can catch them in baltimore. man, i hope they play all their hits.
oops, sorry about the two similar comments , it seemed like the first one didn’t go through. apparently it did.