====== Secret Wars II ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity: In the aftermath of the original cosmic tournament, the omnipotent and profoundly naive entity known as the Beyonder journeys to Earth in a flawed human form to comprehend the nature of desire, inadvertently threatening all of reality with his childlike whims and limitless power.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  *  **Role in the Universe:** //Secret Wars II// was Marvel Comics' first line-wide, year-long crossover event, serving as a direct sequel to the blockbuster 1984 miniseries. It shifted focus from a hero-vs-villain battle royale to a complex, often bizarre philosophical exploration of humanity through the eyes of the [[beyonder|Beyonder]].
  *  **Primary Impact:** The event is infamous for its unprecedented number of tie-in issues, which permeated nearly every Marvel title published between 1985 and 1986. While a commercial success, it received widespread criticism for its meandering plot and the disruptive effect it had on individual series, leaving a complex and controversial legacy that shaped future crossover events.
  *  **Key Incarnations:** //Secret Wars II// is a story exclusive to the **Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe)**. The upcoming **Marvel Cinematic Universe** film, `[[avengers_secret_wars|Avengers: Secret Wars]]`, is expected to draw inspiration primarily from the original 1984 series and the 2015 multiversal epic of the same name, not the philosophical journey of this sequel.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
Following the monumental, industry-changing success of 1984's `[[secret_wars|Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars]]`, Marvel Comics was eager to capitalize on the momentum. The original series, conceived by then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, was a straightforward, high-concept premise designed to sell a tie-in toy line from Mattel. Its sequel, however, aimed for something far more ambitious and cerebral.
//Secret Wars II//, a nine-issue limited series written by Jim Shooter with art primarily by Al Milgrom, launched in July 1985. Unlike its predecessor, which was largely self-contained, the sequel was designed as the central spine of a story that would weave through the entire Marvel Universe for a full year. Nearly every comic published by Marvel during this period featured a "Secret Wars II" corner box banner and was mandated to tie into the Beyonder's journey on Earth.
Shooter's creative goal was to move beyond simple fisticuffs and explore profound questions about existence, desire, and the human condition. The Beyonder, a being of infinite power, would serve as a 'tabula rasa' (blank slate), experiencing life for the first time. This approach, however, proved divisive. The execution was often seen as clumsy, with the Beyonder's quest leading to bizarre and tonally inconsistent encounters, from trying to use a toilet to becoming a professional wrestler to attempting to romantically pursue [[dazzler|Dazzler]].
The sheer scale of the crossover was its most defining feature. Over 40 different ongoing titles were roped into the narrative, often forcing regular writers to halt their own storylines to accommodate a sudden appearance by the Beyonder. This created a disjointed reading experience and established a precedent for intrusive, line-wide events that would become a staple—and a point of contention—for decades to come.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
The premise of //Secret Wars II// flows directly from the conclusion of the first series. The "origin" is not of a new character, but of a cosmic conflict born from curiosity.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
During the first //Secret Wars//, the Beyonder was a disembodied, omniscient observer. From his realm beyond the known multiverse, he had created Battleworld and populated it with Earth's mightiest heroes and villains simply to observe the conflict between good and evil. He witnessed beings of finite power driven by concepts he could not comprehend: hope, love, rage, ambition, and above all, //desire//. He saw that these mortals were fundamentally "incomplete," and that this incompleteness was the engine that drove their entire existence.
Fascinated and perplexed, the Beyonder concluded that to truly understand, he must experience it himself. He decided to walk among them. The storyline begins with the Beyonder piercing the veil of his reality and arriving in the Earth-616 dimension. Needing a physical form, he creates one for himself—a composite vessel modeled on various heroes, most notably [[captain_america|Captain America]], but with a distinct 1980s flair, including a prominent Jheri curl.
His initial goal was simple: to find fulfillment. He possessed the power to reshape reality at a whim, yet he lacked the basic context for human existence. His journey was a series of misguided experiments. He tried to understand property by taking over the entire planet. He tried to understand commerce by turning a building into solid gold for Spider-Man. He tried to understand love by becoming obsessed with the mutant pop star Dazzler. Each attempt failed to provide him with the meaning he sought, pushing him from a state of childlike wonder toward cosmic frustration and, ultimately, terrifying rage. The "origin" of the conflict was the Beyonder's decision to leave observation behind and become a participant.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
**To date, the //Secret Wars II// storyline has not been adapted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it is highly unlikely to ever be directly translated to the screen.**
The MCU's overarching narrative, particularly the Multiverse Saga, is building towards an adaptation of //Secret Wars//. However, all signs point to this cinematic event being a synthesis of the 1984 original and, more significantly, the 2015 multiversal epic written by Jonathan Hickman.
Key concepts from those stories, such as:
  * **Incursions:** The collision of two universes, resulting in the destruction of one or both. This was introduced in `[[doctor_strange_in_the_multiverse_of_madness|Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]`.
  * **Battleworld:** A patchwork planet forged from the remnants of dead universes, ruled by a god-like figure.
  * **Doctor Doom:** The central antagonist who usurps cosmic power to become the ruler of Battleworld.
These elements are far more cinematic and plot-driven than the introspective, character-focused journey of the Beyonder in //Secret Wars II//. While the MCU could potentially introduce a character //named// the Beyonder, his personality and motivations would almost certainly be altered to fit the established tone and narrative of the MCU. Any cinematic "Beyonder" would likely be an antagonist on the scale of [[kang_the_conqueror|Kang]] or [[thanos|Thanos]], rather than the philosophically confused, emotionally volatile entity from the 1985 comic series. Therefore, fans anticipating //Avengers: Secret Wars// should look to the 1984 and 2015 comics for source material, not this particular sequel.
===== Part 3: Timeline, Key Turning Points & Aftermath =====
The narrative of //Secret Wars II// is less a structured plot and more a series of vignettes chronicling the Beyonder's chaotic journey of self-discovery across the main 9-issue series and its myriad tie-ins.
=== The Beyonder's Journey (Core Series Breakdown) ===
The core limited series tracks the Beyonder's emotional and philosophical evolution from curious observer to existential threat.
  * **Issues #1-3: Arrival and Naive Exploration:** The Beyonder arrives on Earth and begins his quest. He creates his human body and struggles with the most basic aspects of mortal life. He meets Owen Reece, the [[molecule_man|Molecule Man]], the only other human to have possessed near-omnipotent power, and forms a unique bond with him. In these early stages, his actions are driven by pure curiosity. He hires a "guide," a promotions writer named Stewart Cadwall, and attempts to understand power structures by taking over the operations of heroes and villains like the Kingpin. His power is absolute, but his understanding is zero, creating dangerous but not yet malicious situations.
  * **Issues #4-6: The Quest for Fulfillment and Love:** The Beyonder shifts his focus from understanding systems to finding personal satisfaction. He decides he wants to be a hero, but his black-and-white view of justice leads to terrifying overreactions. He becomes infatuated with Dazzler, believing that if he can make her love him, he will understand that emotion. His courtship is aggressive and cosmic in scale, completely terrifying Alison Blaire and alerting the X-Men to his unstable nature. He also has a pivotal encounter with the demonic [[mephisto|Mephisto]], who sees the Beyonder as the ultimate prize and ultimate threat. During this phase, his frustration begins to mount as no experience provides the profound meaning he craves.
  * **Issues #7-8: The Dark Turn and Cosmic Nihilism:** Rejection and failure curdle the Beyonder's curiosity into anger and despair. He concludes that desire is a flaw and that existence itself may be meaningless. In a fit of pique, he annihilates a distant galaxy and later kills the abstract entity [[death|Death]], throwing the cosmic balance of the universe into chaos. The heroes of Earth, led by Captain America and the Fantastic Four, realize that he can no longer be taught or contained. He has become the single greatest threat to all of reality. The Beyonder declares that his new purpose is to erase everything, including himself, to end the "pain" of existence.
  * **Issue #9: The Final Confrontation:** The assembled heroes of Earth launch a desperate, final assault on the Beyonder. The plan hinges on Molecule Man. Recognizing that the Beyonder's power is too vast to destroy directly, the heroes provoke him into building a machine that will unmake him and turn him back into mortal energy. In a climactic battle, Molecule Man unleashes a devastating blast that seemingly kills the Beyonder. The immense energy released in his "death" does not vanish, but instead gives birth to a brand new, nascent universe.
=== The Tie-In Phenomenon ===
A defining characteristic of //Secret Wars II// was its "story-so-big-it-spills-into-your-favorite-comic" approach. Nearly every Marvel title from mid-1985 to mid-1986 featured a tie-in. These were wildly inconsistent in quality and relevance.
  * **Significant Tie-Ins:**
    * **//The Amazing Spider-Man// #268:** The Beyonder, attempting to understand wealth, turns an entire office building into solid gold for Spider-Man, causing a potential global economic collapse.
    * **//The New Mutants// #37:** In a shocking and controversial move, the Beyonder kills the entire New Mutants team out of frustration. He later resurrects them, but the trauma of their deaths haunted the characters for years.
    * **//The Uncanny X-Men//:** The X-Men had multiple encounters with the Beyonder, who was particularly interested in Phoenix (Rachel Summers) due to her cosmic power. He repeatedly tested them, viewing mutants as a key stage in evolution.
    * **//Fantastic Four//:** As Marvel's premier explorers of the cosmic unknown, the FF and Doctor Doom were central to analyzing the threat and formulating a plan to stop him.
  * **Inconsequential Tie-Ins:** Many tie-ins were fleeting, with the Beyonder appearing for a page or two to ask a philosophical question or perform a random act before disappearing, leaving the book's main characters to deal with the fallout. This led to criticism that the event was a disruptive and often pointless editorial mandate.
=== Immediate Aftermath and Legacy ===
The conclusion of //Secret Wars II// left several threads dangling. The New Mutants were restored to life, but were deeply scarred by the experience. The universe was left to readjust to the return of Death as a fundamental concept. The most significant consequence, however, was the creation of the new universe from the Beyonder's energy.
This new universe would later be explored and become the birthplace of the entity known as **Kosmos**. In a major retcon several years later in the pages of //Fantastic Four//, it was revealed that the Beyonder was not a god from another reality, but was in fact an incomplete [[cosmic_cube|Cosmic Cube]] whose energy had merged with the latent psionic power of Owen Reece (Molecule Man). This retcon attempted to ground the Beyonder's immense power within the established rules of the Marvel cosmos.
===== Part 4: Key Players and Perspectives =====
While dozens of characters were involved, the event truly revolved around the Beyonder and a small group of characters who represented different facets of the human condition.
==== The Protagonist: The Beyonder ====
The Beyonder is the engine and central figure of the entire saga. He is a paradox: a being of limitless power with the emotional maturity of a toddler. His motivations are, at their core, pure. He simply wants to //understand//. However, his lack of context for concepts like patience, empathy, consequence, and morality makes him terrifying. He cannot comprehend why someone would not want what he offers, or why his "gifts" (like turning a building to gold) create chaos. His journey is a tragic one, moving from a god playing with toys to a frustrated being so overwhelmed by the complexities of emotion that he decides universal annihilation is the only logical solution.
==== The Moral Compass: Captain America (Steve Rogers) ====
Throughout the chaos, Captain America consistently serves as the story's moral anchor. While other heroes simply saw a threat to be neutralized, Steve Rogers was one of the few who repeatedly tried to //teach// the Beyonder. He attempted to explain concepts of freedom, responsibility, and selflessness. He saw the potential for good within the confused entity and represented humanity's best, most idealistic self. His refusal to give up on reasoning with the Beyonder, even when all seemed lost, defined his role in the crisis.
==== The Counterpoint: Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom) ====
Where Captain America saw a student, Doctor Doom saw only power. Echoing his role in the first //Secret Wars//, Doom viewed the Beyonder not as a god to be understood, but as a cosmic battery to be tapped. He had no interest in the Beyonder's philosophical angst; he only saw an obstacle between himself and ultimate power. Doom's machinations to steal the Beyonder's omnipotence provided a key subplot and demonstrated the dark side of ambition that so confused the Beyonder.
==== The Fulcrum: The Molecule Man (Owen Reece) ====
Owen Reece was arguably the most important mortal character in the entire event. Previously a timid and insecure villain, Molecule Man had finally found peace and love with his girlfriend, Marsha Rosenberg. Having once wielded reality-warping power himself, he was the only human who could remotely empathize with the Beyonder's cosmic loneliness and confusion. He served as a bridge between the Beyonder and humanity, counseling him and trying to guide him. Ultimately, it was his power, guided by the heroes' plan, that was necessary to defeat the Beyonder in the final confrontation, cementing his transformation from a C-list villain into a pivotal cosmic figure.
==== The Unlikely Object of Affection: Dazzler (Alison Blaire) ====
The Beyonder's bizarre fixation on the mutant singer Dazzler served as a major subplot. He perceived her light powers as a manifestation of pure life and beauty and decided that winning her love was the key to his happiness. He offered her fame, power, and anything she could imagine. Dazzler's reaction of terror and revulsion was completely incomprehensible to him. Her storyline highlighted the Beyonder's fundamental inability to understand that emotions like love cannot be manufactured or forced, no matter how much power one wields.
===== Part 5: Critical Reception and Lasting Impact =====
//Secret Wars II// stands as one of the most controversial and widely debated events in Marvel's history, with a legacy that is both commercially significant and critically fraught.
==== Commercial Success vs. Critical Backlash ====
Riding the wave of its predecessor's popularity, //Secret Wars II// was an enormous commercial success. The main series and its tie-ins sold exceptionally well. However, the critical and fan reception was, and remains, largely negative. The most common criticisms included:
  * **A Weak Protagonist:** Many readers found the Beyonder to be an annoying, petulant, and uninteresting central character compared to the star-studded cast of the original.
  * **Meandering Plot:** The main series was often criticized for lacking a clear direction, feeling more like a series of disconnected and often silly episodes than a cohesive epic.
  * **Disruptive Tie-Ins:** The editorial mandate for all books to tie-in was deeply resented. It derailed long-running plots in beloved series like //Uncanny X-Men// and //Daredevil// for what often amounted to a pointless one-page cameo.
Jim Shooter, the architect of the event, has defended his creative choices, stating his goal was to tell a more profound story than the first //Secret Wars//. However, in hindsight, it is often held up as an example of editorial overreach and the beginning of "event fatigue" among comic readers.
==== The Tie-In Dilemma ====
The most enduring legacy of //Secret Wars II// is its pioneering of the line-wide, year-long crossover model. Before it, crossovers were typically confined to a few related titles or a single limited series. //SWII// established the template for an event that would touch every corner of the publishing line, for better or for worse. It demonstrated the massive sales potential of this model, which Marvel and DC Comics would replicate for decades with events like `[[civil_war|Civil War]]`, `[[secret_invasion|Secret Invasion]]`, and `[[crisis_on_infinite_earths|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]`. At the same time, it created the blueprint for the very problems that plague modern events: storyline interruption, inconsistent characterization, and the feeling that readers must buy dozens of books to understand a single story.
==== The Great Retcon: Inhuman or Cosmic Cube? ====
The nature of the Beyonder was too vast and continuity-breaking for many creators. This led to multiple retcons aimed at shrinking him down to size.
  * **The Cosmic Cube Retcon (1989):** In a storyline by writer Steve Englehart, it was revealed that the Beyonder was never a god from his own multiverse. Instead, a race of beings (also called the Beyonders) had created Cosmic Cubes. The one that would become the Beyonder was incomplete and, upon achieving sentience, channeled its power through Owen Reece, creating both the Molecule Man's powers and the Beyonder persona. This effectively demoted him from a true omnipotent to a miscalibrated piece of cosmic technology.
  * **The Inhuman Retcon (2015):** During Jonathan Hickman's run leading up to the 2015 //Secret Wars//, the concept was retconned again. It was revealed that the Beyonders were an ancient, angelic-looking race from outside the multiverse, and that one of them was a "child unit" who had been mutated by an Inhuman king, creating a link between the Beyonders and the Inhuman race. This retcon tied the classic character into the larger cosmic tapestry Hickman was weaving.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
While //Secret Wars II// itself has not been adapted, its central character and themes have been revisited and radically reinterpreted.
==== //Secret Wars// (2015) ====
Jonathan Hickman's 2015 event of the same name served as the climax of his entire //Avengers// run. This story re-contextualized the Beyonders not as a single entity, but as a linear, emotionless race of beings—the "Ivory Kings." In this version, they were the architects of the multiverse's destruction, viewing it as a failed experiment. They systematically murdered all the cosmic entities (like Eternity and the Living Tribunal) across all realities. Their plan was to detonate the multiverse and see what came next. This version of the Beyonders shares the name and cosmic scale of the original but has an entirely different nature and motivation, serving as cold, implacable destroyers rather than a curious, emotional seeker of truth. Doctor Doom ultimately steals their power to create the new Battleworld.
==== //Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars// (2015) ====
This satirical miniseries retold the story of the //original// 1984 //Secret Wars//, inserting [[deadpool|Deadpool]] into the events as a secret, forgotten participant. While it primarily parodies the first event, the Beyonder is a major character. The series lovingly recreates his 1980s appearance and dialogue, capturing the specific tone and feel of the era that //Secret Wars II// grew out of. It serves as a humorous homage to the character's original, bizarre incarnation.
==== Speculative MCU Adaptation ====
As stated previously, the MCU's `[[avengers_secret_wars|Avengers: Secret Wars]]` will almost certainly discard the plot of //Secret Wars II//. The term "Beyonder" may be used, but it would likely be as a title or name for the main antagonist orchestrating the multiversal war and creating Battleworld. This character would be a villain in the vein of Kang the Conqueror, whose motivations are tied to control, power, or multiversal order, not a philosophical quest to understand desire. The core themes of the 2015 event—"everything dies"—and the desperate struggle to save remnants of reality are far more suited to the high stakes of a cinematic finale than the introspective and character-driven narrative of the 1985 sequel.
===== See Also =====
  * [[secret_wars]]
  * [[beyonder]]
  * [[molecule_man]]
  * [[doctor_doom]]
  * [[marvel_super_heroes_secret_wars_2015|Secret Wars (2015)]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((//Secret Wars II// was published from July 1985 to March 1986.))
((Many fans and critics have noted that the Beyonder's human form, with its Jheri-curled hair and stylized clothing, bore a strong resemblance to pop superstar Michael Jackson, who was at the height of his fame in the mid-1980s.))
((Jim Shooter was both the writer of the series and Marvel's Editor-in-Chief at the time, giving him unprecedented authority to mandate the line-wide tie-ins.))
((The death and resurrection of the New Mutants in //New Mutants// #37 is one of the most remembered and controversial moments of the entire crossover.))
((The concept of the Beyonder creating a new universe from his own energy in the final issue was later used to create the cosmic being known as Kosmos, who was then revealed to be the true form of the sentient Cosmic Cube in the subsequent retcon.))
((Despite its poor critical reception, the event introduced the character of Thundersword and was the first appearance of the energy-manipulating mutant known as Tabitha Smith, AKA Boom-Boom or Meltdown.))
((The sheer number of tie-ins—over 40 different titles—set a record for Marvel at the time and was a major factor in the reader fatigue that followed.))