NB of the Week

-I FIND A LITTLE GIGGLE-GAS BEFORE I BEGIN INCREASES MY SPOILS ENORMOUSLY-

Secret Wars #2

Written by Jason Aaron

Drawn by Esad Ribic

Real quick, before we get started, anybody want out from the spoils? Because there's going to be some big things going down... Still here? Good. Lets get goin'.

The Marvel Universe as we know it is no more. In it's place is the twisted, beyond-totalitarianism existence we were warned of, Battleworld. As the issue begins, we see a young man fail a test as another passes. He has been deemed worthy and shall take his place among the Thors as the protectors and law of the realm. Whom do they serve? Well the one, true God of course: Doom. And it's their job to keep his peace. As an old Thor tells this young Thor the ways, we move over to another land, the Kingdom of Utopolis, as Alex Powers, along with some molemen and Dragon Man, find a hidden area and a very big hidden surprise. A buried ship.

We move back to the Thors as they arrive at Bar Sinister, "arresting" Mr Sinister for the crime of discord. He moves along willingly, quipping at every chance, showing he may have a plan already laid out. The Thors transport him to Castle Doom in Doomstadt (somebody obviously has an ego to measure) where we see just how strong Doom has made his haven: not only is it built around the World Tree but Galactus is his personal watch dog, guarding it from any unwanted guests. Here, we also find that Stephen Strange is the Sheriff of Agamotto, Doom's right hand man and the final say in law and "justice." He finds Sinister guilty of trying to align with Hyperion, the Baron of Utopolis against House Braddock of Higher Avalon. Sinister lives his namesake and instead of punishment, he proclaims his right to meet the accuser in battle. Only instead of Baron Braddock (Jamie Braddock), he wants younger brother Lord Braddock (Brian Braddock). After a quick beheading of Sinister, Brian failed to see it would take more to defeat Sinister and is in return quickly defeated by his still living opponent. Before death, Doom stops the fight and we find that Doom is unhappy with Brian. Those that want him cast down utter one name. The name Braddock. As he begins to rule against Brian, Jamie steps in claiming it was his name they spoke, not Brian. Before too harsh a judgement can come down, Susan Storm (is it still Storm here?) steps in and convinces Doom of mercy. As such, Brian is made the new Baron as Jamie is stripped of all and is given to the Shield. As people leave the room, Strange is given news of the findings young Powers found earlier. He knows it isn't good and invokes quarantine there. Before following that lead, we get Jamie as he is given some armor and taken to the Shield. A seemingly endless wall separating the rest of Doom's world from the lower pits of Hell. Essentially. The Deadlands: home of the Zombie Horde, the Annihilation Wave and the Ultron AI. Old Thor tells new, young Thor of it's horrors and how many lives it has claimed and we leave them with Jamie fighting (a)Venom and zombies.

Back to Strange, he gives Thors the quarantine lead as they arrive to the ship and set it up. A quarantine happens when something against the word of Doom appears. 

"Sometimes things occur that seem to contradict the godhead of Doom. The question isn't are they real. It's do they matter. There is an order to this world, and that order has a name.. it is Doom. And there is nothing lurking in the shadows that can threaten his reign."

As the Thors talk, one moleman can't help itself (for the vessel is just so shiny and needs to be touched) and it moves towards it, opening it. The older Thor is struck down as he calls for younger Thor to run and tell the sheriff what is happening. As old Thor dies, we see the faces of those responsible and it is Death himself: Thanos and his Cabal. The ones from before the incursion and before Battleworld.

Shit just got real. Marvel has listed their titles and told us all of the premise of Battleworld but nothing could have prepared me for just how bleak and horrifying and badass it really is. Doom has finally made his world in his image and it appears that he is far beyond simply ruling. He said that there are those who wish him thrown down (as all rulers face) but his ruling seems very, very solid. Maybe Thanos is exactly what this world needs in order to save them from it all. The devil you know...