MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS 395
into the “what if ” aspects of this battle. Religious and apocalyptic overtones abound
as this chapter starts to have Phil and company question what it means to be fallible,
until they are saved by the Fantastic Four and return to their normal existence, ques-
tioning the need for the marvels at all. Frustrated, Sheldon shouts to a crowd: “Are you
so busy digging for garbage you can’t even admit to yourselves that you’re grateful?”
Finally, the “Th e Day She Died” echoes the end of Sheldon’s career and the beginning
of life as an author of Marvels, an homage to the heroes that he spent a lifetime report-
ing on and defending. He recounts their treatment by the citizens of the planet they
have spent a lifetime defending. Central to the chapter are Spider-Man and his arch
enemies, Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin. It is here that readers see the impact
of death on Phil Sheldon, when Gwen Stacy perishes at the hand of the Goblin. Th is
becomes a question of faith for Sheldon—faith in the marvels that he so vehemently
supported and wrote about through the years. In the end, Sheldon realizes that even
superheroes are only human.
It is worth noting that Marvels is not without a sense of humor. For instance, while
referencing a quote about King Arthur, characters that look like John and Jackie Kennedy
are in the same elevator with Phil Sheldon. Liza Minnelli and Bea Arthur are seen at
a black-tie gala, and Howard Hughes is notably present in the book. Th e seriousness
of the text gives in to these small specks of humor, strategically placed throughout the
four chapters. In addition to the text itself, the graphic novel includes some behind-the-
scenes commentary on how the artwork was created, source material, and editorials by
Stan Lee and Scott McCloud.
All in all, Marvels does more than retell the origins of the Marvel universe and its
key fi gures; its goal is to re-envision and add character and humanity to its long and
rich history. Phil Sheldon is the ordinary everyman, but in the end, readers fi nd him
anything but ordinary—he is the epitome of what it takes to be a real superhero.
Alec R. Hosterman
MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS. Secret Wars is one of the fi rst crossover comic
book series to blend both the heroes and the villains of the Marvel universe in a story
that helped re-position the comics giant. It is considered one of the seminal limited
edition crossovers that led to other comic book publishers doing the same, like DC’s
Crisis on Infi nite Earths. Yet its genesis was never about developing a great storyline
and series for the Marvel universe; instead, the series was conceived as a marketing ploy
to sell their upcoming action fi gures line. Ironically, the action fi gures didn’t make a dent
in their niche, but Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars became the best selling comic book
series of all time for Marvel.
Published between 1984 and 1985, the 12-part series was conceived of and written by
Jim Shooter, penciled by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton, and edited by Tom DeFalco. Th e
series opens with members of the X-Men (Storm, Colossus, Cyclops, Magneto, Night-
crawler, Rogue, Wolverine, Professor X, and Lockhead the Dragon); the Avengers ( Cap-
tain America , Captain Marvel , Hawkeye, Iron Man , She-Hulk, Th or , and the Wasp);
