10 Best Secret Wars Variants From Marvel Comics, Ranked

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Okay, so the 2015 Secret Wars event was a total game-changer. It basically blew up the entire Marvel Universe as we knew it, with Earths 616 and 1610 colliding and being destroyed. But it wasn’t a complete wipeout – a small group survived, and Doctor Doom, using some seriously powerful beings, rebuilt everything into this place called Battleworld. And let me tell you, it wasn’t the Marvel Universe anyone recognized! We’re talking heroes turned bad, gods acting as slaves, and all your favorite characters – X-Men, Avengers, everyone – completely reimagined. It was a wild ride seeing these familiar faces in such drastically different roles, and it really shook things up.

Featuring everything from terrifying monster mashups to fresh takes on beloved heroes, here’s a look at the 10 best variant covers from Marvel’s Secret Wars event.

10) Werewolf by Moon Knight

In Battleworld, Egyptia was a mid-sized kingdom ruled by the goddess Khonshu. She enslaved mutants, forcing them to construct pyramids in her honor, which sparked a rebellion led by Wolverine. Meanwhile, Marc Specter continued to be Moon Knight, but with the added ability of being a werewolf and leading a pack of his own. He eventually turned Wolverine, Colossus, and Shadowcat into werewolves as well. This version of the story is a nod to Moon Knight’s original appearance in Werewolf by Night #32 back in 1972.

9) Zombie Ultrons

Beyond the main shield, a few dangerous realms existed, housing some of Marvel’s most fearsome entities. One was the Deadlands, overrun by the Marvel Zombies – the zombified heroes and villains familiar from the Marvel Zombies comics. The other was Perfection, a world created by Ultron after he conquered all its heroes. When Hank Pym reached Perfection, he was sent to Salvation along with other survivors. It was there that Ultron formed an alliance with the zombies, combining them with his drones to create the terrifying Zombie Ultrons – a particularly frightening creation from Secret Wars.

8) Pilgrim

This version of the Punisher comes from Earth-1602 and appeared in the Age of Ultron vs. Zombies story arc during Secret Wars. He existed outside the main Battleworld, in a region controlled by Annihilus’s insectoids, Marvel zombies, and Ultron robots. Known as Pilgrim, he continued his usual work – killing any zombie he encountered. This allowed Frank Castle to unleash his skills on an entire population he considered deserving of death. Unfortunately, his efforts were cut short when he faced Ultron, a foe his weapons couldn’t overcome.

7) The Ghost Racers

The Ghost Racers are a team of different Ghost Riders who appeared in a four-issue series during the Secret Wars event. The series featured a game created by Arcade, with the initial lineup consisting of Robbie Reyes, Alejandra Jones, Carter Slade, Johnny Blaze, and Danny Ketch. Eventually, other Spirits of Vengeance joined the competition, like Gorilla Rider and Knuckles O’Shaugnessey, leading to a final showdown.

6) Howard the Human

Ever wonder what Howard the Duck would be like if he were the human stranger in a world of talking ducks? That’s exactly what happened during the Secret Wars event. Instead of an anthropomorphic duck landing on Earth, a human named Howard found himself in Quack City, a town populated entirely by duck-people, and struggled to adjust. He quickly grew to dislike his new life, but unexpectedly became the only one capable of solving a surprisingly compelling, noir-style mystery.

5) Toy Galactus

Galactus, usually one of Marvel’s strongest beings, was reduced to a puppet in the ‘Secret Wars’ storyline, controlled by Franklin Von Doom (Franklin Richards). This version of Galactus was a fiery being serving as a guard for Castle Doom, completely obeying Franklin’s commands. It was unsettling to see such a powerful character so controlled, with Franklin either sitting in his hand or riding on his head, ordering him to do whatever he wished. A particularly shocking and tragic moment occurred when Franklin used Galactus to kill The Thing, after the Fantastic Four member refused to fight. It was a brutal act committed by a terrifying creation.

4) Valeria von Doom

When Doctor Doom first created Battleworld, one of his initial acts was surprisingly personal: he made Susan Storm his wife and they had two children, Valeria and Franklin, primarily to upset the memory of Reed Richards. However, Valeria quickly became much more than just a pawn in Doom’s schemes. He loved her deeply, but she was also incredibly intelligent and perceptive, realizing that things weren’t as they seemed. Complex and independent, Valeria consistently served as a crucial force, preventing Doctor Doom from crossing the line.

3) The Sheriff of Agamotto

Doctor Strange was reborn as the Sheriff of Agamotto, serving as the loyal right-hand man to God Emperor Doom. Though he outwardly worshipped Doom and understood his own life depended on him, Strange secretly yearned for the truth. He diligently enforced Doom’s rule, even helping to defeat powerful heroes to eliminate any potential opposition. However, Strange also quietly rescued the survivors from a wrecked life raft, waiting for the right moment to help them, an act of defiance that ultimately cost him his life.

2) The Thor Corps

The Thor Corps was a unique element of the Secret Wars storyline, uniting different versions of Thor as Battleworld’s police force. They first appeared in the second issue and later starred in their own miniseries, which explored the individual members and their lives within Doctor Doom’s created world. The Corps consisted of alternate Thors and characters with similar powers, such as Beta Ray Bill. These stories had a distinct, noir-style feel and were very enjoyable, making their eventual revolt against Doom particularly satisfying.

1) God Emperor Doom

God Emperor Doom was undoubtedly the most impressive version of Doctor Doom in Secret Wars. While many iterations of Doom throughout Marvel history have shown him with immense power, this version truly stood out. He built Battleworld using the power he took from the Beyonders, funneled through Molecule Man, effectively becoming a god. His reign was terrifying – no one dared oppose him, and his power level was unmatched, even compared to his later appearances, such as in One World Under Doom a decade later.

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2025-12-20 01:11