This is an odd thought so many years later, but I'm re-reading Claremont's X-Men and New Mutants, which intersects with Jim Shooter's Secret Wars II. Because of that, I was considering re-reading that story. But it's obviously such a large and cumbersome event where the Beyonder more or less shows up and creates havoc in other books. Some of these events "matter" and others do not.
Here's my sort of thoughts on criteria:
- Any story that directly impacts the continuity of the main event. For example, the Beyonder gets the body he uses for the series during Captain America. That would more or less make the story essential. I think there's some stuff with the X-Men and New Mutants that fall into this category as well.
- Any story that is directly referenced as continuing from or during the main Secret Wars II event. For example, at the end of one issue, the Beyonder says he's going to seek out a lawyer, which references that Daredevil is next on the list. Also, during the same issue, he pops off to go visit the Avengers.
- Any story that's just a really good story. I would put the Daredevil story in this list if it wasn't already there.
Any thoughts on what stories you'd put in?