Secret Wars II #7

Secret Wars II #7, published in 1985, serves as a pivotal installment in Marvel Comics' first major crossover sequel. Following the success of the 1984 Secret Wars, this limited series was commissioned to explore the existential and often surreal consequences of the omnipotent entity known as the Beyonder descending to Earth to experience human existence. The narrative was crafted by Jim Shooter, who served as Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, aiming to maintain the high-stakes, multiversal tone established in the original event.

The issue features cover art by Al Milgrom and interior pencils by Sal Buscema. The series was designed to weave through the entirety of the Marvel line, requiring a vast scope of character integration that was ambitious for its era. While the series was a commercial success, it received a polarized reception from critics and readers alike, many of whom found the Beyonder’s metaphysical journey and the resulting continuity disruptions complex compared to the straightforward hero-versus-villain structure of its predecessor.