The path to Secret Wars begins with Time Runs Out in Avengers and New Avengers.
The plan goes way back to when writer Jonathan Hickman took over the adventures of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Illuminati.
It all leads to Marvel’s big event of 2015 when heroes from multiple Earths clash in Secret Wars.
Time Runs Out is playing out in a near future with heroes vs. heroes as the final Incursion is coming to smash Earth out of existence.
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort revealed art from upcoming Avengers books leading into Secret Wars and answered fan questions.
Here are some major highlights:
“In AVENGERS WORLD, beginning with issue #17, we’re going to be going into BEFORE TIME RAN OUT, which will give deep background and reveal new information on what got some of the changes seen in TIME RUNS OUT to where they are.”
In the near future Cannonball and Smasher have a child and Sunspot is now owns A.I.M. The former New Mutants and Shi’ar Imperial Guard member will meet up with X-Men and Shi’ar:
“So in #17, as you can see, we’ll be focusing on Cannonball and Smasher and their child, whom we saw in AVENGERS #35 and #36, and what that’s all about.
Also, some other X-related characters may be putting in a surprise appearance.
And that’s beyond the Imperial Guard, who’ll definitely be there.”
Time Runs Out features hero vs. hero as the Avengers are hunting the Illuminati. The secret group kept the incursions a secret, were willing to destroy other worlds to save ours and even mindwiped Steve Rogers.
“Cap realized that the Illuminati were a problem at the end of AVENGERS #34, but he wasn’t yet in a position to do anything about it, nor did he understand the entire context yet. And then, of course, he got aged.”
“SECRET WARS pre-dates Jonathan writing AVENGERS, and was the crux of his entire run on both series.”
As you can see from the New Avengers preview art – the Beyonder returns. This alien orchestrated the original Secret Wars.
Brevoort confirmed roles for Captain Marvel, Black Panther and Doc Green, the new incarnation of Hulk.
Secret Wars arrives in May 2015.
Here’s the entire Marvel liveblog.
By Editor