For the most focused comics context, read Jonathan Hickman’s late Avengers and New Avengers material, then the nine-issue Secret Wars (2015) event. Marvel’s Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus gathers those issues in one hardcover. This is a comics reading recommendation, not a confirmed Marvel Studios prerequisite list: the cited official comic sources do not say what the future film will adapt.
Where to start: Hickman’s lead-in and the 2015 event
The central comics route is the end of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers runs, followed by Secret Wars (2015) #1–9. Marvel frames the event around a final incursion involving the Marvel and Ultimate universes and lists those nine issues in its official Secret Wars reading guide.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Avengers: Secret Wars [Marvel Premier Collection]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lK8kY4BRL._SL160_.jpg)
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Avengers: Secret Wars [Marvel Premier Collection] | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Secret Wars | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Secret Wars Expansion | $32.66 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984-1985) #8 | $1.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The lead-in matters if you want more context for the event than its main series can provide. A practical way to get that material together is Marvel’s Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus. Marvel lists the hardcover as published February 5, 2025, and says it collects Avengers (2012) #35–44, New Avengers (2013) #24–33, Secret Wars (2015) #1–9, plus material from Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Secret Wars) #0.
That collection is a focused route, not the entirety of Hickman’s broader Avengers story: its listed contents begin with Avengers #35 and New Avengers #24.
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Choose a reading route
| Route | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hickman omnibus | Avengers (2012) #35–44, New Avengers (2013) #24–33, Secret Wars (2015) #1–9, and Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Secret Wars) #0 material, as listed by Marvel. | A single hardcover with late-run lead-in issues and the complete main 2015 event. |
| Event-only route | Secret Wars (2015) #1–9, as listed in Marvel’s event guide. | A shorter, focused read of the event itself. Marvel’s guide promotes Marvel Unlimited access, subject to restrictions. |
| Historical comparison | Secret Wars (1984) #1 appears in Marvel’s Events and Modern Classics list; readers can continue with the original series if they want. | Readers curious about the earlier event’s place in Marvel history, rather than a necessary setup for the 2015 story. |
Is the original Secret Wars required?
No requirement is established by the cited Marvel reading lists. Marvel includes Secret Wars (1984) #1 in its Events and Modern Classics guide, while its 2015 event guide presents the later event as a story centered on the final incursion. The original is therefore an optional historical comparison, not a demonstrated prerequisite for understanding the 2015 series.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this does—and does not—mean for the film
The phrase “before Avengers: Secret Wars” can suggest a movie checklist, but Marvel’s cited comic pages establish reading options for the comics, not official film preparation. They do not confirm which storylines, characters, or plot points a film will adapt. Read Hickman’s material for comics context; do not treat it as a Marvel Studios-approved list of required viewing or reading.
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