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Avengers (1963) #260-261, 265-266
Secret Wars II Omnibus
Hero, villain, force of nature and deus ex machina all in one: the Beyonder! For good or ill, he was one of the most powerful agents of change in the 80s, and now you can see all of his work all at once!
1184 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2008
9 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Jim Shooter
1,027 books83 followersJames Charles Shooter was an American writer, editor and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and launched comics publishers Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 14, 2023
WOW! This volume has everything Secret Wars II you ever need to read. Every cross over and title affected by the series is included. Nice read. Recommended
September 13, 2022
A weird story in which The Beyonder, the most powerful being in the Marvel universe, has a mid-life crisis and ponders desire and his purpose in life--along the way getting taken advantage of by the mob, dabbling in hedonism and small appliances, forcing people to think they love him, and killing and then recreating Death.
When I was reading Marvel comics back in the 1980s I never noticed how sloppy so much of it is. The "camera" in a scene wanders about aimlessly; there's little sense of visual grammar or continuity; the backgrounds are frequently a solid color with no detail; that color changes frequently with no rhyme or reason (in one five-panel stretch the background was white, then pink, then orange, then red, then pink again); the stories often aim for epic but actually make no sense; the author overexplains the bits which do make sense; and the characterization is often paper-thin.
Also, and least forgivably, the author of this one decided that two of the characters need to constantly call each other things like "snookums" and "lovey-pie."
When I was reading Marvel comics back in the 1980s I never noticed how sloppy so much of it is. The "camera" in a scene wanders about aimlessly; there's little sense of visual grammar or continuity; the backgrounds are frequently a solid color with no detail; that color changes frequently with no rhyme or reason (in one five-panel stretch the background was white, then pink, then orange, then red, then pink again); the stories often aim for epic but actually make no sense; the author overexplains the bits which do make sense; and the characterization is often paper-thin.
Also, and least forgivably, the author of this one decided that two of the characters need to constantly call each other things like "snookums" and "lovey-pie."
May 22, 2015
I love this not only for the story, which explores a lot of thought-provoking questions about existence, but also because it's essentially a cross-section of all the art and writing in the Marvel Universe at the time. There are certainly elements of the artwork that don't age well (the Beyonder's jumpsuit and jeri curls) but this was the Marvel Universe I cut my teeth on and it was a wonderful romp through memory lane! Sure, the individual issues are hit-or-miss, but this is a case where the sum is greater than its parts. I thoroughly enjoyed making my way through this beast over the course of a month. My only complaint is that the add-on FF story at the end which attempted to explain the existence of the Beyonder seemed unnecessary and to boot it got rid of Molecule Man who was one of the best characters of the series! An all-powerful being who just wants to sit at home and watch TV with his sweetheart--I loved the concept!
October 8, 2013
Oh wow, was this EVER bad.
I remember reading this as a kid and thinking it was really cool; but, re-reading it as an adult, I can see how horribly, horribly written it is. The plot is all over the place and every page is monotonous and boringly sloppy storytelling (I mean, Spider-Man shows someone how to go to the washroom in this!! How stupid!) There isn't even any good artwork to speak of. Ridiculously dated, to boot.
Definitely near the top of my "Worst Comics of All Time" list.
1/5
I remember reading this as a kid and thinking it was really cool; but, re-reading it as an adult, I can see how horribly, horribly written it is. The plot is all over the place and every page is monotonous and boringly sloppy storytelling (I mean, Spider-Man shows someone how to go to the washroom in this!! How stupid!) There isn't even any good artwork to speak of. Ridiculously dated, to boot.
Definitely near the top of my "Worst Comics of All Time" list.
1/5
Read
August 3, 2012Only for the true Marvel fans, and those interested in philosophical questions of meaning and being handled in comic book fashion.
July 24, 2025
First Secret Wars: "I am The Beyonder, behold my godlike powers!!!"
Secret Wars II: "HoW dO I mAkE wEE-Wee wiTH my Pee-peE??"
Secret Wars II: "HoW dO I mAkE wEE-Wee wiTH my Pee-peE??"
August 26, 2013
"Secret Wars" was off the chain, yo. A unified battle between all the good/bad guys Marvel had, with twists and etc.
"Secret Wars II" was a major downgrade, mostly because it was too long (at least with this book) and it had a rambling point of view.
The Beyonder (he has the power of an entire universe, in one person) wants to hang out on Earth. It started out cool, when he was trying to be benevolent and goofs around with the lives of heroes and stuff.
But when he inevitably becomes evil or at least hates our universe, it got really boring and awkward. He basically threatens to kill everyone over twenty issues of Marveldom. Get it over with.
Speaking of which, the idea of including every related issue of a Marvel comic that the Beyonder showed up in is certainly inclusive, but it gets really dull. A full issue of something like the New Mutants, he has his cameo, and repeat with Spider-Man, X-Men, Alpha Flight, blah blah. Very repetitive.
The end of "Secret Wars II" was pretty awesome. What they decided to call "Secret Wars III" basically over-explained (a major problem with a lot of these sci-fi trappings of the Beyonder, btw) the awesome ending of Part II, and basically made for a lame ending.
So it was an OK book, but I probably would've preferred less material (or you know, better). Power Man and Iron Fist were awesome (but they always are).
"Secret Wars II" was a major downgrade, mostly because it was too long (at least with this book) and it had a rambling point of view.
The Beyonder (he has the power of an entire universe, in one person) wants to hang out on Earth. It started out cool, when he was trying to be benevolent and goofs around with the lives of heroes and stuff.
But when he inevitably becomes evil or at least hates our universe, it got really boring and awkward. He basically threatens to kill everyone over twenty issues of Marveldom. Get it over with.
Speaking of which, the idea of including every related issue of a Marvel comic that the Beyonder showed up in is certainly inclusive, but it gets really dull. A full issue of something like the New Mutants, he has his cameo, and repeat with Spider-Man, X-Men, Alpha Flight, blah blah. Very repetitive.
The end of "Secret Wars II" was pretty awesome. What they decided to call "Secret Wars III" basically over-explained (a major problem with a lot of these sci-fi trappings of the Beyonder, btw) the awesome ending of Part II, and basically made for a lame ending.
So it was an OK book, but I probably would've preferred less material (or you know, better). Power Man and Iron Fist were awesome (but they always are).
January 14, 2022
Collects Secret Wars II #1-9, New Mutants #30, 36-37, Captain America #306, Uncanny X-Men # 198, 202-203, Iron Man #197, Fantastic Four #282, 285, 288, 316-319, Web of Spider-Man #6, Amazing Spider-Man #268, 273-274, Daredevil #223, Incredible Hulk #312, Avengers #260-261, 265-266, Dazzler #40, Alpha Flight #28, The Thing #30, Doctor Strange #74, Cloak and Dagger #4, Power Pack #18, Thor #363, Power Man and Iron Fist #18, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #111, Defenders #152 and Quasar #8 (July 1985 -April 1986, July -October 1988 and March 1990).
As a kid, I collected and read all the Secret Wars limited series plus the X-Men, New Mutants and Alpha Flight tie-ins. Reading EVERYTHING here was a bit exhausting. Much was silly (though sometimes the silliness was absolutely warranted) and some of it is pointless, but for the most part this holds up as a much better story than the original Secret Wars. The New Mutants and X-Men stuff is still pretty damn dark and well written and I love it. The final Avengers, which sorta stands as an epilogue to the story, feels anti-climactic and I don't think the last four Avengers and the Quasar issues (happening several years after Secret Wars II) really needed to be included. All in all a fun thing to revisit though.
As a kid, I collected and read all the Secret Wars limited series plus the X-Men, New Mutants and Alpha Flight tie-ins. Reading EVERYTHING here was a bit exhausting. Much was silly (though sometimes the silliness was absolutely warranted) and some of it is pointless, but for the most part this holds up as a much better story than the original Secret Wars. The New Mutants and X-Men stuff is still pretty damn dark and well written and I love it. The final Avengers, which sorta stands as an epilogue to the story, feels anti-climactic and I don't think the last four Avengers and the Quasar issues (happening several years after Secret Wars II) really needed to be included. All in all a fun thing to revisit though.
October 1, 2017
Off the bat, it does not hold up well. This is 80s dialogue to the max. Also, while it's interesting to think about omnipotence incarnate trying to understand humanity, it's a little...unbelievable? Haha, this insane cosmic adventure on Earth is unbelievable. Yeah.
And then the crossover itself. So many issues that I "have" to jump to where I have NO IDEA what's going on in the series just so I can see Beyonder appear and say "Blorp" and then vanish. Absolutely no need for this somewhat almost could be interesting premise to be longer than a 4-6 issue series without any crossover issues.
And then the crossover itself. So many issues that I "have" to jump to where I have NO IDEA what's going on in the series just so I can see Beyonder appear and say "Blorp" and then vanish. Absolutely no need for this somewhat almost could be interesting premise to be longer than a 4-6 issue series without any crossover issues.
September 30, 2012
Terrible. Probably the worst comic mini-series ever made. Really, just crap. Should be called Secret Bore. I wish it was still a secret. I paid $2.25 for all 9 original issues and that was a rip off. The most exciting moment was when Spider-Man taught the Beyonder how to pee.
April 24, 2025
I picked up the Secret Wars II Omnibus mostly out of nostalgia -- thinking back to those wild Marvel Super Heroes roleplaying game sessions where the Big Boss cosmic being would disrupt reality, and we'd argue over power stunts, Karma points, and the broken Universal Table on the back of the book. I hadn't read all the issues back then, so this was my first time experiencing the full chaos in one place -- and it's a trip.
I read it issue by issue over the course of about a month, letting the weirdness unfold slowly, which kind of helped the event feel more like how it probably landed back in the day. Jim Shooter’s main 9-part story is chocked full of ideas, but the execution is a failed Agility feat. There’s a clear beginning and end, but the middle feels like it’s missing pieces. One moment, you’re in deep philosophical territory, the next you’re watching the Beyonder get life coaching from Spider-Man or a crash course in law from Daredevil. Shooter aims high, but it’s not always clear what he hits.
The real gems are in the tie-ins. They feel like the random encounters you'd get in a game module -- some messy, some brilliant, but often more engaging than the core plot. Standouts include Amazing Spider-Man #273 with Spider-Man and Puma, Dr. Strange #74 for the metaphysical detour, and the Kurse arc in Power Pack #18 and Thor #363. These side stories flesh out the Beyonder’s arc in ways the main series can’t.
The art’s all over the place. Milgrom’s main series looks rushed, but the tie-ins shine -- Sienkiewicz on New Mutants, Byrne on Fantastic Four, Frenz on Spider-Man, and Buckler on Iron Man are real highlights.
As Marvel’s first mega-event, Secret Wars II is a messy, bloated spectacle. It reaches for big themes -- identity, humanity, purpose -- but rarely sticks the landing. Still, like those unpredictable Marvel game nights, there’s a strange fun in the chaos. It doesn’t always work, but it captures a bizarre, ambitious moment in comics. And for fans who remember those dice-rolling debates, it’s got the same energy.
I read it issue by issue over the course of about a month, letting the weirdness unfold slowly, which kind of helped the event feel more like how it probably landed back in the day. Jim Shooter’s main 9-part story is chocked full of ideas, but the execution is a failed Agility feat. There’s a clear beginning and end, but the middle feels like it’s missing pieces. One moment, you’re in deep philosophical territory, the next you’re watching the Beyonder get life coaching from Spider-Man or a crash course in law from Daredevil. Shooter aims high, but it’s not always clear what he hits.
The real gems are in the tie-ins. They feel like the random encounters you'd get in a game module -- some messy, some brilliant, but often more engaging than the core plot. Standouts include Amazing Spider-Man #273 with Spider-Man and Puma, Dr. Strange #74 for the metaphysical detour, and the Kurse arc in Power Pack #18 and Thor #363. These side stories flesh out the Beyonder’s arc in ways the main series can’t.
The art’s all over the place. Milgrom’s main series looks rushed, but the tie-ins shine -- Sienkiewicz on New Mutants, Byrne on Fantastic Four, Frenz on Spider-Man, and Buckler on Iron Man are real highlights.
As Marvel’s first mega-event, Secret Wars II is a messy, bloated spectacle. It reaches for big themes -- identity, humanity, purpose -- but rarely sticks the landing. Still, like those unpredictable Marvel game nights, there’s a strange fun in the chaos. It doesn’t always work, but it captures a bizarre, ambitious moment in comics. And for fans who remember those dice-rolling debates, it’s got the same energy.
October 3, 2023
1. Sooooo… much better than Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars which was a glorified toy advertisement in comic book form.
2. Truly a mixed bag here ranging all across the Marvel Universe circa 1986. This book functions as a survey of what Marvel comics were like midway through the 80’s. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the really bizarre.
3. Jim Shooter may have had some good ideas, but they are buried under a 1960’s comic book sensibility. He writes dialogue like he’s writing a script for a superhero radio play all deep throated and wooden.
4. But… the premise is what sells this book… an omnipotent being from “Beyond” comes to Earth to figure out what makes finite humanity human. It actually functions as a pretty nice philosophical exercise. Humans (even super powered humans) are mortal, incomplete, striving beings with desires. When you are infinite and omnipotent desire means nothing. But limiting yourself creates some problems. Than there is the response of basically all the super types… we can’t let infinite power exist … it is too powerful. Interesting!
5. My favorite bits were Chris Claremont’s work on X-Men and New Mutants; The Cloak and Dagger tie-in; most of the Spider-Man stories, and some of the Avengers bits.
6. I could have done without the Power Man and Iron Fist story (thought I love Luke Cage); the creepy use of Dazzler as basically a love interest/sex object; the idiotic Thing; and the frankly bizarre end to the Defenders.
7. The art too was a real mixed bag with basically the main highlight being Bill Sienkiewicz’s work on New Mutants here.
8. There is a bit of a sloppy epilogue with the Fantastic Four story into the Negative Zone exposing the Beyonder as a Cosmic Cube (what?); a rather throwaway story about Quasar; and the absolute crazy Deadpool story.
9. But overall a fun read.
2. Truly a mixed bag here ranging all across the Marvel Universe circa 1986. This book functions as a survey of what Marvel comics were like midway through the 80’s. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the really bizarre.
3. Jim Shooter may have had some good ideas, but they are buried under a 1960’s comic book sensibility. He writes dialogue like he’s writing a script for a superhero radio play all deep throated and wooden.
4. But… the premise is what sells this book… an omnipotent being from “Beyond” comes to Earth to figure out what makes finite humanity human. It actually functions as a pretty nice philosophical exercise. Humans (even super powered humans) are mortal, incomplete, striving beings with desires. When you are infinite and omnipotent desire means nothing. But limiting yourself creates some problems. Than there is the response of basically all the super types… we can’t let infinite power exist … it is too powerful. Interesting!
5. My favorite bits were Chris Claremont’s work on X-Men and New Mutants; The Cloak and Dagger tie-in; most of the Spider-Man stories, and some of the Avengers bits.
6. I could have done without the Power Man and Iron Fist story (thought I love Luke Cage); the creepy use of Dazzler as basically a love interest/sex object; the idiotic Thing; and the frankly bizarre end to the Defenders.
7. The art too was a real mixed bag with basically the main highlight being Bill Sienkiewicz’s work on New Mutants here.
8. There is a bit of a sloppy epilogue with the Fantastic Four story into the Negative Zone exposing the Beyonder as a Cosmic Cube (what?); a rather throwaway story about Quasar; and the absolute crazy Deadpool story.
9. But overall a fun read.
December 30, 2023
Some mixed feelings on this one, when compared to the paperback version.
On one hand, all of the extra crossover issues connected to the event are present (with the exception of ROM and Micronauts), so you get to experience it in its (almost) entirety, but on the other hand, many of these issues add very little to the over-arching story.
There are some great moments: the Beyonder's numerous faux-pas are humorous (like trying to eat glass bottles), Molecule Man and Volcana are adorable, the issue with Boom-Boom's first appearance is surprisingly poignant, and some of the X-Men, Spider-Man and Avengers-related crossovers are decent.
Sadly though, the storyline feels like a half-baked copy of Stranger in a Strange Land and gets quite repetitive and convoluted, making it a bit of a chore to read through. This is especially so when there are over 1000 pages of material! Al Milgrom's art is average at best and frequently looks ugly, but there is some nice stuff from the crossover issues, from the likes of Johns Byrne and Buscema.
Overall, some nice ideas and moments but mostly a slog. Hard to recommend this.
On one hand, all of the extra crossover issues connected to the event are present (with the exception of ROM and Micronauts), so you get to experience it in its (almost) entirety, but on the other hand, many of these issues add very little to the over-arching story.
There are some great moments: the Beyonder's numerous faux-pas are humorous (like trying to eat glass bottles), Molecule Man and Volcana are adorable, the issue with Boom-Boom's first appearance is surprisingly poignant, and some of the X-Men, Spider-Man and Avengers-related crossovers are decent.
Sadly though, the storyline feels like a half-baked copy of Stranger in a Strange Land and gets quite repetitive and convoluted, making it a bit of a chore to read through. This is especially so when there are over 1000 pages of material! Al Milgrom's art is average at best and frequently looks ugly, but there is some nice stuff from the crossover issues, from the likes of Johns Byrne and Buscema.
Overall, some nice ideas and moments but mostly a slog. Hard to recommend this.
March 10, 2023
Lista de edições:
• Tropa Alfa 28
• Novos Mutantes 30 e 36-37
• Defensores 152
• Quarteto Fantástico 282, 285, 288 e 316-319
• O Espetacular Homem-Aranha (1976) 111
• Quasar 8
• Luke Cage e Punho de Ferro 121
• Capitão América 308
• Homem de Ferro 197
• Doutor Estranho
• Tropa Alfa 28
• Novos Mutantes 30 e 36-37
• Defensores 152
• Quarteto Fantástico 282, 285, 288 e 316-319
• O Espetacular Homem-Aranha (1976) 111
• Quasar 8
• Luke Cage e Punho de Ferro 121
• Capitão América 308
• Homem de Ferro 197
• Doutor Estranho
July 7, 2024
I have many fond memories of this series and the crossover issues contained herein. This was the first big Marvel crossover in terms of there being a million different issues that tied into a bigger series. I fell hook, line and sinker for the first few months, buying crap like Doctor Strange and the New Mutants that I didn't care one whit for at the time. As the months progressed, that stopped though. I was exposed to some really good reads too, like Daredevil #223, Incredible Hulk #312, and Captain America #308, all of which I read multiple times that summer.
The core mini-series was okay, nostalgia aside. Jim Shooter's writing has many dated slang and pop culture references which are forgivable, and is mostly solid. He makes some corny jokes but also doles out some thought-provoking plots. I dug on Al Milgrom's art circa 1984 on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man, but once you remove those rose-colored glasses you realize that he sucks. Sorry, Al, but you do.
One of the 'DVD-style' bonuses in the back of the book are Sal Buscema's unused pencils for Issue 1. It doesn't say why he bailed, but he never did the series, and that is unfortunate. Sal Buscema has a workman-like chug, but delivers solid storytelling and decent action sequences. I have to wonder 'what if'. The Fantastic Four issues (316-319) with Steve Englehart (writer) and Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnott (artists) are great, in spite of the fact that Ms. Marvel is, for some reason, a female Thing here. The Quasar issue sucks, and I consider it nothing more than a bonus, as it really doesn't tie in with what is going on in the rest of the book.
I am thrilled to death to see something that I loved as a child preserved in a deluxe, high-quality format like this. Nice paper, sewn binding, the only problem is the typos in the table of contents. Why would they list the wrong issues in the wrong spots? That's silly, especially when the indicia has the correct issues listed. A minor quibble, especially in light of the fact that this is a monster 1,188 book.
The core mini-series was okay, nostalgia aside. Jim Shooter's writing has many dated slang and pop culture references which are forgivable, and is mostly solid. He makes some corny jokes but also doles out some thought-provoking plots. I dug on Al Milgrom's art circa 1984 on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man, but once you remove those rose-colored glasses you realize that he sucks. Sorry, Al, but you do.
One of the 'DVD-style' bonuses in the back of the book are Sal Buscema's unused pencils for Issue 1. It doesn't say why he bailed, but he never did the series, and that is unfortunate. Sal Buscema has a workman-like chug, but delivers solid storytelling and decent action sequences. I have to wonder 'what if'. The Fantastic Four issues (316-319) with Steve Englehart (writer) and Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnott (artists) are great, in spite of the fact that Ms. Marvel is, for some reason, a female Thing here. The Quasar issue sucks, and I consider it nothing more than a bonus, as it really doesn't tie in with what is going on in the rest of the book.
I am thrilled to death to see something that I loved as a child preserved in a deluxe, high-quality format like this. Nice paper, sewn binding, the only problem is the typos in the table of contents. Why would they list the wrong issues in the wrong spots? That's silly, especially when the indicia has the correct issues listed. A minor quibble, especially in light of the fact that this is a monster 1,188 book.
February 27, 2016
This wasn't a total mess. It hit "competence" from time to time.
There are really a couple of major problems here: (1) The Beyonder is too powerful for a story involving him to make too much sense. (2) The portrayal of the Beyonder at various points was incredibly inconsistent. (3) Probably more stuff about inconsistency.
Some of it was interesting. And some of it worked in the basic, "What is existence?" And this is a story about teaching scenes.
There are really a couple of major problems here: (1) The Beyonder is too powerful for a story involving him to make too much sense. (2) The portrayal of the Beyonder at various points was incredibly inconsistent. (3) Probably more stuff about inconsistency.
Some of it was interesting. And some of it worked in the basic, "What is existence?" And this is a story about teaching scenes.
May 10, 2010
I got this book from Amazon when they had their pricing glitch. So I paid $8 for this $100 book! The bad news is - I still probably overpaid. This book is nowhere near the quality of the original. The publisher included all the crossover issues to make the cost justifiable. 3 or 4 of those are good. That's it. Very thankful I didn't pay full price.
October 18, 2013
A comprehensive read of Secret Wars II, with all the core Secret Wars II books, plus all the auxillary books, and also several books that finish up the line after the fact. The book is an interesting compilation of how humans act, and why they do what they do, under the magnifying glass of a supposed omnipotent, omniscient being.
July 31, 2012
This is one strange trip. When the universe is saved with an abortion and the highlight of the tale is Spider-Man toilet training a full-grown man shaped like Steve Rogers, you've got some head scratching to do.
February 3, 2016
To be honest, I didn't get it in the end. Is it some attempt to be philosophical and create a discourse on human limitations? A failed exploration at the psyche of the Marvel-verse? Another excuse to get Dr. Doom out?
Anyway, I'm glad that this happened in the '80s.
Anyway, I'm glad that this happened in the '80s.
September 19, 2010
It was almost punishment to read this. And I love old comics. Still, the pull is the some of the great art in several of the issues. The story, however, is very stupid.
August 23, 2012
Skip it. The story meandered like crazy and changed direction multiple times
July 21, 2012
Blow me, Beyonder. Take your white leisure suit and just go. Most boring galactic powered character ever.
July 11, 2015
Nothing like the first Secret Wars. The Beyonder is on a philosophical journey to discover the meaning of life.
August 15, 2015
The moral and ethic development of the Beyonder was not a good story and I had an extremely hard time finding that I should care.
October 18, 2016
Picking on the New Mutants should never be allowed.
July 11, 2012
"Good help is so hard to corrupt."
October 1, 2014
This is the best book on Asperger's I've ever read
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews