Secret Wars II #1

Secret Wars II #1, published in July 1985, was Marvel Comics' direct follow-up to the highly successful 1984 crossover event. Marvel commissioned Jim Shooter to write the sequel, aiming to integrate the cosmic Beyonder into the established Marvel Universe rather than isolating the characters on a distant planet. The series was designed to explore the consequences of the original event, with Shooter overseeing the narrative across various ongoing titles to maintain a sprawling, interconnected scope.

The art for the opening issue was handled by Al Milgrom, whose style provided a distinct aesthetic shift from the first series. The design intention was to showcase the Beyonder’s initial experiences on Earth, characterized by his human avatar wearing a suit inspired by the 1980s pop culture landscape. Upon release, the series received a mixed reception from readers who found the pervasive nature of the tie-ins across the Marvel line to be overwhelming, though it remains a significant touchstone for mid-eighties comic book continuity.