Comics
[Comic Review] “Secret Wars” #1 Ends The Marvel Universe
‘Secret Wars’ #1 proves to be a successful start to Marvel Comics’ newest mega-event that is engaging, different, and epic. It’s good too since, literally every title the publisher is slated to release this summer ties into it. The regular Marvel Universe and The Ultimate Universe are collapsing onto one another, and every single hero isn’t too crazy about it.
WRITTEN BY: Jonathan Hickman
ART BY: Esad Ribic
PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics
PRICE: $4.99
RELEASE: May 6th, 2015
A little aside before the bulk of this review. I could never be bothered to read the entirety of Jonathan Hickman’s “Avengers” and “New Avengers” runs in preparation for Secret Wars. It seemed like an arduous chore. It’s delaying the gratification that is this event. But I know enough. Dr. Doom is behind the collapse of the Marvel multiverse in some capacity. The Ultimate Universe and The 616 are the only two worlds left after several earths collided in events called “incursions.” These incursions have destroyed most of the known multiverse. Now, every level of the Marvel power pantheon is involved in the forthcoming conflict. From The Avengers, The X-Men, The Beyonders, The Cabal and everything in between. This is the beginning of a new world of shared and warring continuity called Battleworld where the bulk of Secret Wars takes place.
The first page of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s mega event does a pretty good job at introducing all the key players. It does an even better job at placing the reader in the middle of three plus years of continuity. The story starts at the absolute last drastic minute. Secret Wars begins right before the incursion of the Ultimate Universe against the 616.
Ultimate Nick Fury’s fleet of massive helicarriers descend on the classic Marvel Universe. Things are hectic as almost every team of heroes is present and accounted for in anticipation of the upcoming battle. Everything is easily digestible thanks to the different lettering choices between inhabitants of both worlds. (Ultimate uses lowercase, 616 in all caps.)
We get glimpses of the cabal of insane super-villains teaming with ultimate Reed Richards. We’re treated to the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the X-Men. The struggle seems real and lively, and Hickman balances hundreds of characters with relative ease. There are a few standout moments with the key players of the event that won’t carry the same impact if spoiled. But it seems like Cyclops might have a much larger role in this event than was once anticipated.
Esad Ribic absolutely slays the mass insanity of the incursion. His talent creating worlds that seem dizzying in their heights but never overwhelms. His attention to small character moments goes a long way to sell the emotional impact of the book. He also gives a taste of carnage to come. There are small moments that prove to be his. Several characters have small asides that rely solely on the art to carry the moment. Ribic delivers these moments without fail.
Somehow, “Secret Wars” #1 sticks the landing better than any event comic of the last few years. It has the confidence and takes risks to make an engaging start to the most important and interesting point in recent Marvel Comics history. It’s fun in all the right ways and manages to balance an insane amount of information without overwhelming the page.
The odds were against this book, and surprisingly it outdoes the hype. It’s a smart tribute that stakes its claim as earth shattering with a tremendous final page that is sure to be talked about for months to come. It may not start off with the insane amount of action some were anticipating, but instead smartly builds the tension to a boil before offering a glimpse of an even larger conflict on the horizon. And, it looks gorgeous while doing it. Secret Wars #1 is a huge home run for Marvel.
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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