The Battleworld From Secret Wars Returns This September in BATTLEWORLD #1 (of 5)

By Chad Burdette

on June 19, 2025

The Marvel Universe’s next SECRET WAR erupts this September in BATTLEWORLD, a five-issue limited series by acclaimed writer Christos Gage (Superior Spider-Man) and superstar artist Marcus To (X-Force).

In the tradition of 2015’s visionary Secret Wars event by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic as well as the original classic Secret Wars, BATTLEWORLD will see shattered fragments of infinite worlds unite to form a single planet that will play host to an epic conflict! This time around, the players will be handpicked from across space and time, including some of the most iconic universes in the multiverse. Prepare to see fan favorite characters like the original Starbrand, Days of Future Past’s Storm, Kushala the Spirit Rider, and Maestro alongside exciting new versions of Wasp, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man and more. The battle lines are drawn as a mysterious force sets this awesome assembly of heroes and villains against each other in a war for the ultimate prize!

“I was a rabid consumer of the original Secret Wars when it came out in 1984, so a chance to revisit the Battleworld ‘destroy your enemies’ concept was irresistible. Then they offer me Hank Pym, one of my favorite Marvel characters to write, and the amazing Marcus To on art?!” Gage recalled.

On choosing the cast, Gage said, “When Wil suggested that the fragments of Battleworld could come from different timelines, I jumped at that, because Marvel has so many awesome ones, from Days of Future Past to 2099. Using Hank gave me the idea to build a team of characters with mistakes to atone for or tragedies to overcome, so we added a very young Spider-Man whose guilt over Uncle Ben is as raw as his inexperience; a newly sober Carol Danvers; King Thor, who rules over a dead future Earth; a fugitive Luke Cage, Hero for Hire; Bucky Barnes, fresh from the front lines of WWII; and more. But then, when I thought I was already in nerd heaven, they let me have Star Brand. The ORIGINAL Star Brand, Ken Connell! I still have the entire run of his New Universe comic that I bought personally between 1986 and 1989, so yeah, we’re gonna go a little nuts with this one. I haven’t even mentioned our Big Bad, Korvac, and Hank Pym’s first encounter with Arcade since he kidnapped a bunch of Hank’s Avengers Academy students…”

“When Wil approached me about being the artist for Battleworld with Christos Gage, I jumped at the opportunity,” To added. “As a comic fan growing up, my favorite stories were books like Avengers Forever, Onslaught, Heroes Reborn and others. I was always excited to see all these different heroes and villains share the stage with each other, and I couldn’t wait to draw all these heroes and villains that I have loved reading.”

Check out the covers, including the full connecting cover by Nick Bradshaw that will run on all five issues of the series:

Greg Land Variant Cover

Mark Bagley Star Brand Variant Cover

Nick Bradshaw Wraparound Connecting Variant Cover

Rod Reis Promo Variant Cover

BATTLEWORLD #1 (OF 5)

“SLAY YOUR ENEMIES, PROVE YOUR WORTH AND ALL YOU DESIRE SHALL BE YOURS IN THE WORLD TO COME!”

The Battleworld from Secret Wars returns! Heroes from across the Multiverse are thrown together on a patchwork world to engage in their own Secret Wars for the survival of their timelines! Who or what has created this Battleworld, and for what nefarious purpose? Enter Maestro. Is he friend, or foe?