Secret Wars #4

Issue: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Vol. 1 #4

Publishing Date: August 1984

Highlights: The X-Men leave the Heroes in order to join Magneto against the Beyonder.

Synopsis: The Heroes escape their fallen hideout, only to discover the X-Men and Thor are missing. To make sure the Heroes are dead, the villains drop a mountain on them. The mountain doesn't crush the Heroes thanks to the Hulk. While the Heroes try to find a way out, the X-Men go to join Magneto. Thor fights off the Villains and the Wasp escapes from Magneto's hideout. The Heroes escape and find a native village in which they are given medical treatment.

Extra Info: Rogue second guesses herself and wonders if she would stand for what's right or betray the X-Men in order to survive.

Contradictions: None

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: Yes

Uncanny X-Men #183

Issue: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #183

Publishing Date: July 1984

Highlights: Rogue doesn't seem to care what happens to her as she fights till she drops in the danger room, trying to run from her split personality caused by the psyche of Ms. Marvel.

Synopsis: Finally back home, the X-Men settle into normal life, but tension grows as they all deal with the backlash of their own personal emotions and relationships. Colossus breaks up with Kitty, Rogue works herself to exhaustion and Wolverine decides to have a little talk with Colossus which goes better than he thought it would due to an unexpected run in with the Juggernaut.

Extra Info: Storm wonders if Rogue will go back to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants if she doesn't get help to control her powers soon.

Contradictions: None

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: Yes

Reading through Secret Wars

Now, I have been collecting comics for a long time, and although I had some of the Secret Wars series from 1984 and the Uncanny X-Men, I have to confess I never actually read them very thoroughly, simply scanning through until I got to the Rogue parts. I also didn't have a good chunk of the Secret Wars series, but have found that Marvel has digitized the series and was able to download what I was missing. So for me, it's kinda like reading the comics from this era for the very first time.

I have to imagine that waaaay back in 1984 (2 years before I was even born!!), it was very frustrating reading the Uncanny X-Men at the same time as the Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars.

The Secret Wars series was obviously meant to be read not at the same time as the Uncanny X-Men series (or, I'm assuming, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Spider Man, Hulk, ect. series for that matter), but is actually meant to be read in full before reading Uncanny X-Men #181.

It was strange reading through in order of publishing dates as I have committed to do. With every new Uncanny X-Men comes many references to yet to be published Secret Wars, causing many questions and much anticipation to those reading both series at the time I'm sure. Having read most of the X-Men series from over the past 20 years and knowing vaguely what has happened and where the story line will take me, I can't imagine my anticipation matching that of original readers from 1984, but it is an interesting way of reading through the series, that's for sure.

More posts on these comic books to come!

Secret Wars #3

Issue: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Vol. 1 #3

Publishing Date: July 1984

Highlights: The heroes and villains battle yet once more, while the villains seem to be getting stronger with their teamwork, the heroes seem to be falling apart from the inside out.

Synopsis: While a wicked storm rages outside making it impossible for anyone to attack, the heroes explore their new hideout. The Heroes break into separate groups, all trying to regroup from their previous battle. At Magneto’s hideout, he and the Wasp decide to talk in a civil manner while they wait out the storm. And over at the villain’s hideout, Dr. Doom creates 2 new super villain-esses. While exploring, Spider Man comes across the X-Men, who are planning to leave the heroes hideout to join Magneto, but when he goes to report this, Xavier wipes his mind of the conversation. Thor and the Enchantress go off through a portal to talk of things only Gods can talk of. The villains attack the heroes as soon as the storm breaks, taking them by surprise and freeing all their comrades before returning to their hideout.

Extra Info: Rogue is visibly unnerved by the fact that she is in the same place as the Avengers, given their past history together.

Contradictions: Rogue’s super strength can’t break through Spider Man’s webs, which seems kind of unrealistic considering she can take down whole buildings.

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: Yes

Uncanny X-Men #182

Issue: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #182

Publishing Date: June 1984

Highlights: Rogue flies off to save Michael Rossi based on Carol’s memories and emotions towards him.

Synopsis: After returning to the mansion on Storm’s orders to check on Kitty Pryde and the New Mutants, Rogue checks the emergency messages and is rattled by one that makes her take off immediately before trying to find Kitty. Rogue breaks into the SHIELD Helicarrier in order to save Michael Rossi. While rescuing Michael, Rogue’s personality switches to that of Carol Davners. Michael tells Rogue that she is not Carol and Rogue becomes confused, switching back and forth from Rogue to Carol and Michael, disgusted by what Rogue did to Carol, leaves her. Back at SHIELD, Nick Fury puts out an alert to bring Rogue in by any means necessary.

Extra Info: Rogue’s costume seems to have changed. Rogue is revealed to be 18yrs old.

Contradictions: None

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: Yes

Secret Wars #2

Issue: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Vol. 1 #2

Publishing Date: June 1984

Highlights: The villains attack the heroes, only to be defeated due to lack of organization and teamwork.

Synopsis: While being attacked by the villains, the heroes begin to realize that certain aspects of the planet were specifically designed to help them use their powers to their full potential. The heroes fight as a team, while the villains fight unorganized and end up running back to their hideout. The heroes take their prisoners and find their own hideout while the villains find that their hideout has been taken over by Dr. Doom. Magneto decides to attack the heroes while they are settling in, but flees when he finds that he wasn’t prepared for their retaliation.

Extra Info: None

Contradictions: None

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: No

Uncanny X-Men #181

Issue: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #181

Publishing Date: May 1984

Highlights: The X-Men are returned to earth, but find themselves in Japan instead of New York.

Synopsis: The X-Men are transported back to earth and find themselves in Japan with a giant dragon in tow. The dragon is apparently in love with Lockheed and flies to Tokyo where she destroys the city in order to find material to build herself a nest to settle down in with Lockheed. Japan’s army and the X-Men try to stop the dragon, but she on;y leaves when she feels she is finished. When she gets back to her nest site though, Lockheed tells her off and chases her away, causing her to just disappear into thin air. The X-Men rush to help those trapped or hurt in the aftermath.

Extra Info: Should be read after the Secret Wars series.

Contradictions: None

Powers Taken: None

Key Issue: No