DC Secret Wars: Who Would You Bring to Battleworld?

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

So, this is probably a topic that's been asked a million times before, but since I've been reading and rereading some old comics because of the quarantine, I've cracked open Secret Wars (the original 1984 series, not the 2015 sequel). And even though that event isn't really the best, it is an exciting concept: pitting fan-favorite heroes and villains against each other. So, it got me thinking: what would it look like if DC did a Secret Wars?

Now, DC did have its own big event around the same time that featured a who's who of DC Comics when they did the original Crisis. Crisis on Infinite Earths and Secret Wars even both featured heroes being spirited away to a discreet location by a cosmic being. However, it wasn't necessarily the same concept as Secret Wars.

So, because I think we could all use a fun game about now: if DC just did a basic "battle royale" event for fan-favorite heroes and villains, who would you choose?

For a refresher, here's who the Beyonder brought along to Battleworld in Secret Wars:

Heroes' Vessel:
- Reed Richards
- The Thing
- Human Torch (Johnny Storm)
- Spider-Man
- Iron Man (Rhodey)
- Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau)
- Hulk
- She-Hulk
- Thor
- Captain America
- Hawkeye
- Wasp
- The X-Men (Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Rogue, Colossus, Nightcrawler)
- Magneto

Villains' Vessel:
- Dr. Doom
- Kang the Conqueror
- Dr. Octopus
- The Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer, Wrecker, Thunder-Ball, Piledriver)
- Galactus
- The Lizard
- Amora the Enchantress
- Absorbing Man
- Molecule Man
- Ultron

So, choose 33 of DC's biggest characters (or just your personal favorites) to duke it out on DC's Battleworld.

[Gaius]

Heroes
Superman
Wonder Woman
Nightwing
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz)
Flash (Barry Allen)
Captain Marvel
Martian Manhunter
Zatanna
Raven
Hawkman and Hawkgirl

Villains
Lex Luthor
Brainiac
Circe
Ares
Bane
Bizzaro
Deathstroke
Sinestro
Atrocitus
Monster Society of Evil (Dr. Sivana, Mister Mind, Mister Atom, Captain Nazi, Crocodile Men)

[Güicho]

I think I saw this on an episode of the Super Friends although instead of Secret Wars it was: The Final Challenge

Instead of the Beyonder, the "games" GrandMaster was: Vartoo.
And instead of "Battle World" the fighting arenas were:
Labyrinth of Death
Lake of Terror
Volcano Insano
Subatomic Universe
and Geometric Universe (yeah that's right SHAPES! ...How do you even fight them!?)

Goal: ... Get the Cosmic Crystal Cube! Or whatever HB pulled out their McGuffin Muffin.



Teams:

Heroes Blue Team: The DC created Heroes
- Superman
- Wonder Woman
- Aquaman
- Flash
- Green Lantern
- Hawkman
- Hawkwoman
- Batman & Robin


Heroes Green Team: the Hanna Barbera created Heroes (who I'm rooting for, and I'll put them up against anyones team.!)
- Apache
- Vulcan
- Samurai
- Dorado
- Rima
- Zan
- Jayna
- & Gleek


The Villains Red Team:
- Lex Luthor
- Cheetah
- Sinestro
- Brainiac
- Cap. Cold
- Ridler
- Mnata
- Grundy
- Bizzaro
- Toyman
- Grodd
- Giganta
- Scarecrow

[Mutant God]

Heroes:
Wonder Woman
Batman
Flash
Black Lightning
Zatanna
Huntress
Mento
Negative Man
Elasti-Girl
Starfire
Cyborg
Aqualad

Villains:
Maxwell Lord
Bane
Zoom
Parasite
Doctor Sivana
Scarecrow
The Brain
Monsieur Mallah
Warp
Blackfire
Brother Blood
King Shark

[Jekyll]

Heroes:

The Speedsters:
Jay Garrick
Wally West
Jesse Quick

The Scientists:
The Atom-Ray Palmer
Mr. Terrific- Michael Holt


The Brawler:
Hawkman


Cosmic:
Green Lanterns: Hal, John, Kyle
Shazam! ( Billy & Mary)
Starman- Jack Knight

Villains:

Sinestro
Atrocitus

Lex Luthor
Reverse Flash
Savitar ( the comic version not the lame tv version)

Metallo
Parasite

Extant
Vandal Savage
Black Adam

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

My picks:

Heroes' Vessel:
- Wonder Woman (sort of the equivalent of Captain America in this situation and is appointed leader of the heroes' side)
- Batman
- Black Lightning
- Animal Man
- Mera
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Black Canary
- Titans: Nightwing, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, Wally West, Jericho, Pantha
- Negative Man
- Crazy Jane
- Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt)
- Big Barda
- Dr. Midnight (Beth Chapel)
- Ra's al Ghul

Villains' Vessel:
- Ares
- Dr. Psycho
- Joker
- Blackfire
- Lobo
- Black Adam
- Black Manta
- Mongul
- Silver Banshee
- Starbreaker
- Mister Freeze
- Mantis
- Klarion the Witch Boy
- Poison Ivy
- Lady Shiva
- Madame Rouge
- Doomsday

Then, I'd have it so DC's version of the Beyonder (whoever that is) summons the likes of Darkseid, Nekron, the Phantom Stranger, and the Spectre to his personal spacecraft to observe the bloodshed that takes place.

[Dr. Poison]

I think I saw this on an episode of the Super Friends although instead of Secret Wars it was: The Final Challenge

Instead of the Beyonder, the "games" GrandMaster was: Vartoo.
And instead of "Battle World" the fighting arenas were:
Labyrinth of Death
Lake of Terror
Volcano
Subatomic Universe
and Geometric Universe (yeah that's right SHAPES! ...How do you even fight them!?)

Goal: ... Get the Cosmic Crystal Cube! Or whatever HB pulled out their McGuffin Muffin.



Teams:

Heroes Blue Team: The DC created Heroes
- Superman
- Wonder Woman
- Aquaman
- Flash
- Green Lantern
- Hawkman
- Hawkwoman
- Batman & Robin


Heroes Green Team: the Hanna Barbera created Heroes (who I'm rooting for, and I'll put them up against anyones team.!)
- Apache
- Vulcan
- Samurai
- Dorado
- Rima
- Zan
- Jayna
- & Gleek


The Villains Red Team:
- Lex Luthor
- Cheetah
- Sinestro
- Brainiac
- Cap. Cold
- Ridler
- Mnata
- Grundy
- Bizzaro
- Toyman
- Grodd
- Giganta
- Scarecrow

As a fellow Super Friends fan, I can appreciate this comparison.

As for my lists, I'm going to go with who was around in 1984 as opposed to today:


Heroes

Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Aquaman
Green Lantern(Hal)
Flash(Barry)
Atom
Hawkman
Black Canary
Zatanna
Firestorm
Black Lightning
Geo-Force
Nightwing
Changelling
Power Girl(Earth 2)
Huntress(Earth 2)


Villains

Lex Luthor
Brainiac
Toyman
Bizarro
Riddler
Scarecrow
Cheetah
Giganta
Black Manta
Sinestro
Captain Cold
Gorilla Grodd
Solomon Grundy
Gentleman Ghost
Count Vertigo
Felix Faust

[Samm]

Heroes' Vessel:
- Mr Terrific
- Aquaman
- Firestorm
- The Flash
- Green Lantern
- Hawkgirl
- Superman
- Supergirl
- Wonder Woman
- Batman
- Green Arrow
- Black Canary
- The Titans (Bumblebee, Blue Beetle, Nightwing, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy)
- Black Adam

Villains' Vessel:
- Lex Luthor
- Sinestro
- Dr Sivana
- The Legion (Black Manta, Cheetah, Reverse Flash, Deathstroke)
- Brainiac
- Bane
- Enchantress
- Joker
- Giganta
- Black Beetle

Tried to find DC equivalents to Marvels characters. If I couldn’t find one then I just added in a personal favorite.

[Gaastra]

Heroes' Vessel:
- Reed Richards
- The Thing
- Human Torch (Johnny Storm)
- Spider-Man
- Iron Man (Rhodey)
- Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau)
- Hulk
- She-Hulk
- Thor
- Captain America
- Hawkeye
- Wasp
- The X-Men (Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Rogue, Colossus, Nightcrawler)
- Magneto

Villains' Vessel:
- Dr. Doom
- Kang the Conqueror
- Dr. Octopus
- The Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer, Wrecker, Thunder-Ball, Piledriver)
- Galactus
- The Lizard
- Amora the Enchantress
- Absorbing Man
- Molecule Man
- Ultron

Spider-woman 2 and Lockheed were also part of the heroes group and titana and volcana was in the bad guys group also in secret wars so you missed those!

[MoneySpider]

I would definitely bring Vixen.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

Spider-woman 2 and Lockheed were also part of the heroes group and titana and volcana was in the bad guys group also in secret wars so you missed those!

Actually, Titania and Volcana sort of just pop up out of nowhere and are given their powers by Doom an issue or two into the event. They were found by Doom in the forests of Battleworld. They weren't part of the crew that came with the vessel. Even the other villains are like "where did those two women come from?"

[Lee Stone]

Heroes:

Superman
Captain Marvel
Wonder Woman
Dr. Fate
Martian Manhunter

Power Girl
Firestorm (Ronnie/Stein)
Mister Miracle
Batman
Plastic Man

Green Lantern (John Stewart)
Zatanna
Starfire
Cyborg
Flash (Wally West)

Metamorpho
Vixen
Nightshade
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Bumblebee

Villains:

Solomon Grundy
Parasite
Neutron
Grodd
Cheetah

Shatterfist (Cadre)
Phobia
Mordru
Brainiac (robot version)
Amazo

Plasmus
Shadow Thief
Blackfire

[phantom1592]

I see Secret Wars as an absolutely A+ List only invited. It was a magnificent primer for people just getting into comics, and that's what I would do for DC's version. They brought in Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-men... with Hulk and Spider-man as wildcards... it's tough to do the same thingwith DC. Almost everyone has been on the JLA... so you really don't get that 'multiple teams working together. I would also avoid 'characters that do the same thing. So original Titans and exteneded junior sidekicks would be out. Except for Robin and Hawkgirl.

JLA
Superman
Batman
Robin
Wonder Woman
Green Lantern (Hal)
FLash (Barry)
Green Arrow
Aquaman
Hawkman
Hawkgirl

TT
Cyborg
Beast Boy
Raven
Starfire

wildcard
Shazam
Dr. Fate



Villains

Lex Luthor
Darkseid
Sinestro
Joker
Mr. Freeze
Solomon Grundy
Grodd
Mr. Mind
mr. Mxyptlyk
Clayface
Man-Bat
Cheetah
Abrakadabra
Bizarro



I'd have loved some JSA in there, but honestly they just don't fit my criteria. Jay, Alan, and powergirl are clones, Hourman, Dr. Midnight, wildcat... are pretty much 2nd stringers... and JSA wouldn't feel like JSA without their big guns, so I cut them. Also on and added level, it's nice to not have it JUST be another 'Crisis on XXXX' crossover from the silver age...

Villains were a bit more loose. I have a few of the 'nemesis' characters who ahve the same power as their heroes... but hopefully the fights would be more mix and match. I tried to pick a bunch that either the new readers should get to know quick.... or that I'd love to see get a serious push to the spotlight.

[Restingvoice]

Ugh... I hate being so DC, but Batman has to be there. It's a Battleworld and he's a tactician

Lex Luthor

Maybe Wonder Woman, but not sure.

Deathstroke

Why is my choice so DC XD

Red Hood. Well, this is also still very DC, but it fits.

Do I wanna go full DC and include Harley or not. Gotta admit. She works as a fun wild card

Green Arrow and Black Canary

Huntress

Too many heroes.

Deadshot. Honestly, I'm fine with the whole Suicide Squad there. This fits them.

The one I know I don't want is Superman. He won't fight and will focus more on getting them out unless there's innocent in danger. Does Battleworld have natives?

Cyborg Superman's fine.

That's it for now.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

The one I know I don't want is Superman. He won't fight and will focus more on getting them out unless there's innocent in danger. Does Battleworld have natives?

Not "natives" per se, but Battleworld had innocent bystanders, yes. There was an entire alien village in which the heroes took refuge.