Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars

In May, 1984, Marvel decided to shake up the Marvel Universe a bit. To do this, they created the Secret Wars, a twelve-issue limited series that involved almost every major Marvel character. In this series, Earth’s heroes are kidnapped by an almost omnipotent being known as the Beyonder, and pitted against their most deadly enemies. The members of winning side were promised their fondest desire—but the losers would be granted no mercy.

The Secret Wars changed the lives of all involved, particularly The Amazing Spider-Man. As part of his involvement, he was given a black alien costume which gave him special powers. Eventually, however, it was revealed that this “costume” was actually a living being—a symbiote. When Spider-Man rejected bonding with it, it found another host and became known as the super-villain Venom.

Jump to issue:

#1

May 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Beyonder (voice only); Avengers; X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four in all

18 copies from $16.00
#1 - 4th printing

Halloween ComicFest Reprint

Dec 2014

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

3 copies from $8.00
#1 Variation A

Blue Galactus Interior Color Error Edition with Cover A by Mike Zeck

May 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

2 copies from $9.00
#1 Variation C

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover C by Mike Zeck

Mar 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1 copy for $4.99
#2

Jun 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

8 copies from $9.00
#3

Jul 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Volcana; 1st Appearance of Volcana, Origin of Volcana; Origin of Volcana

11 copies from $15.00
#3 - 2nd printing

Jul 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Volcana; Origin of Volcana

1 copy for $44.98
#3 - 3rd printing

Hasbro Marvel Universe reprint

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

Included with Marvel Universe Spider-Man vs Thunderball Figure 2-Pack

1 copy for $74.99
#3 Newsstand Edition

Newsstand Edition with cover by Mike Zeck

Jul 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Volcana; 1st Appearance of Volcana, Origin of Volcana; Origin of Volcana

2 copies from $17.00
#4

Aug 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Bob Layton

17 copies from $8.00
#4 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Bob Layton

Jun 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Bob Layton

1 copy for $4.50
#5

Sep 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Bob Layton

10 copies from $2.25
#5 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Bob Layton

Jul 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Bob Layton

1 copy for $4.50
#6

Oct 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

Death of Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

6 copies from $1.75
#6 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Bob Layton

Aug 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

Death of Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

1 copy for $4.50
#6 Newsstand Edition

Newsstand Edition with cover by Bob Layton

Oct 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

Death of Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)

1 copy for $1.00
#7

Nov 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Spider-Woman II (Julia Carpenter)

8 copies from $7.00
#7 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Bob Layton

Sep 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Spider-Woman II (Julia Carpenter)

1 copy for $4.50
#7 Newsstand Edition

Newsstand Edition with cover by Bob Layton

Nov 1984

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Spider-Woman II (Julia Carpenter)

3 copies from $2.75
#8 Variation A

Oct 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom); 1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom), Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume; Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume

1 copy for $9.00
#8 Variation D

Unknown Comics Cover D by Kaare Andrews

Oct 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom); 1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom), Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume; Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume

1 copy for $15.00
#8 Variation E

Unknown Comics Virgin Cover E by Kaare Andrews

Oct 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom); 1st Appearance of Alien costume (later Venom), Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume; Origin of Spider-Man’s black costume

2 copies from $30.00
#9

Jan 1985

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

9 copies from $3.00
#9 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Mike Zeck

Nov 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

3 copies from $4.00
#10

Feb 1985

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1 copy for $60.00
#10 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Mike Zeck

Dec 2024

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1 copy for $4.99
#11

Mar 1985

Cover: $0.75

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

10 copies from $10.00
#11 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Mike Zeck

Jan 2025

Cover: $4.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1 copy for $4.99
#12

Apr 1985

Cover: $1.00

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

Conclusion

9 copies from $14.50
#12 Variation A

2024 Facsimile Edition with Cover A by Mike Zeck

Feb 2025

Cover: $6.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck

1 copy for $6.99
Book #1 - 2nd printing

Cover: $24.95

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck, Bob Layton

Collects series; ca. 1999

1 copy for $35.00
Book #1 - 4th printing

Cover: $34.99

W: Jim Shooter · A: Mike Zeck, Bob Layton

Collects Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12; ca. 2012

1 copy for $34.99