Battleworld #1: Let’s Do The World Warp Again!

I’m always up for a fun multiverse story. Even though the MCU is very much wearing out the welcome of the concept, the framework can still be fun if the writer doesn’t take it too seriously. We follow the criminally underserved Hank Pym as he is pulled into this new Battleworld by a mysterious entity. The story wastes no time telling us just who this mystery manipulator is, but in the grand scheme it really isn’t important. What is important is how many different versions of characters will be showcased this time around. 

An older Hank Pym (likely OUR Hank), a battle-hardened Wasp whose the leader of the Avengers and whose Hank was killed by Baron Zemo, a fifteen year old Peter Parker mere MONTHS into career as Spider-Man, a Carol Danvers that still goes by Warbird (her best costume btw!), Bucky before he became the Winter Soldier, a Luke Cage from when he still rocked the afro and tiara (who remembers Dr. Doom still owes him some money), Storm from the Days of Future Past reality, King Thor from Jason Aaron’s acclaimed Thor run, Kushalla the Spirit of Vengeance, and the Maestro (because of course he’s here). This ragtag group of random Avengers will have to travel the world and fight their way home, and it will be intriguing to see who they encounter along the way. 

Christos Gage so far isn’t trying to tell some grand story ala Jonathan Hickman in Secret Wars 2015, this story is very much in the vein of the original Secret Wars. An excuse to take a bunch disparate alternate reality toys and smash them together to see what happens. No prep required, no deep lore to explain, just sit back and be entertained. To this first issue’s credit, it does just that. 

This is helped by Marcus To’s clear-cut pencils and Rachelle Rosenberg’s vibrant colors. Every character is distinct and there are even fun cameos for characters we might see later in the story. The fight scenes are energetic as well, adding to the overall fun of this opening salvo.