10 Problems With Marvel's Secret Wars Nobody Wants To Admit

10. It Goes On For Ages

As it stands, Marvel's latest crossover event is set to wrap up in September. That means that, when all eight issues have come out, it will have been running since May. That's a full five months of Secret Wars, almost half the year given over for a one storyline. That is unprecedented not just in Marvel, but in comics as a whole. Not because their aren't long-running arcs, but because the length of Secret Wars dictates how long until Marvel actually start publishing their regular titles again. Right now almost all their books are on hold until Secret Wars is over, so €“ unless you pick up Hawkeye, Howard The Duck or Squirrel Girl €“ any book you read has to be a Secret Wars one. That's sort of a crummy publishing strategy, effectively forcing readers to engage with the crossover even if they have no interest. If they want to read new Spider-Man, X-Men or Avengers books, they're going to be tied into Secret Wars in some way. For five months. Way to scare off casual readers, Marvel, good job.