Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #3
Issue #3 of Marvel's first company-wide crossover event is the debut issue for two characters who would go on to long Marvel careers: Titania (Mary MacPherran) and Volcana (Marsha Rosenberg), both created by writer Jim Shooter and artist Mike Zeck within the Battleworld framework. Titania in particular became one of She-Hulk's most enduring adversaries and has since appeared in animation and live-action, while the issue also establishes the X-Men's tension with the broader hero coalition and delivers the memorable sequence of Spider-Man going up against the entire X-Men team. Within the larger series, Secret Wars helped define what a 'company-wide crossover event' could look like — bringing the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and solo heroes together for the first time at this scale — and #3 is the chapter where Doom's villain faction receives its most consequential new recruits.
In "Tempest Without, Crisis Within!", the storm-lashed battleground of Battleworld reaches a breaking point as tensions flare among the heroes. With the Hulk grappling with his own fading mind, Spider-Man caught between loyalty and rage, and the X-Men at a crossroads, the fragile alliance begins to fracture—just as Doom unleashes his new weapons and the villains strike. Written by Jim Shooter and brought to life by Mike Zeck’s dynamic art and John Beatty’s sharp inks, this pivotal issue sees alliances tested and secrets surface under the weight of war. The cover, also by Mike Zeck, captures the storm’s fury in bold, dramatic strokes.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars was conceived by editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, originally announced under the title Cosmic Champions in Marvel Age #11 (cover-dated February 1984), and retitled after a Mattel focus group found children responded strongly to the words 'wars' and 'secret' — the series being developed in partnership with Mattel's toy line. Shooter wrote all twelve issues; Mike Zeck penciled with John Beatty on inks, and Zeck transitioned directly from his Captain America run to take the assignment. Tom DeFalco served as the book's editor, with Christie Scheele on colors and Joe Rosen on letters. The character of Titania was named after a real Marvel production assistant, Mary MacPherran, who gave Shooter her blessing; Shooter later acknowledged that Volcana was partly inspired by editor and writer Mary Jo Duffy.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Title: 'Tempest Without, Crisis Within!' — Part 3 of the 12-issue Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars limited series (July 1984, cover date; released March 1984).
- First appearance of Titania (Mary MacPherran) — a super-strong villain created by Doctor Doom from a Denver civilian, later established as one of She-Hulk's chief rivals; portrayed by Jameela Jamil in the MCU Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).
- First appearance of Volcana (Marsha Rosenberg) — a plasma-generating villain also created by Doom in this issue; she later develops a relationship with Molecule Man (Owen Reece) across subsequent Marvel titles.
- Story by Jim Shooter; pencils by Mike Zeck; inks by John Beatty; colors by Christie Scheele; letters by Joe Rosen; edited by Tom DeFalco.
- Key plot beats: Doctor Doom uses Battleworld's alien technology to empower MacPherran and Rosenberg as his newest recruits; Spider-Man battles the X-Men after the mutants consider striking out independently; Professor X wipes Spider-Man's memory of the X-Men's plans; the villain faction launches a surprise dawn assault on the heroes.
- Nearly all first printings contain a 'Blue Galactus' error caused by a missing magenta printing plate during manufacture; subsequent printings corrected the coloring.
- The issue was reprinted as part of a Hasbro Marvel Universe Comic Packs action figure set (paired with Spider-Man and Thunderball figures) and again as a facsimile edition in May 2024 to mark the series' 40th anniversary.
- The character name Titania was given with the blessing of an actual Marvel production assistant named Mary MacPherran; Shooter confirmed this on his blog in 2011 with a photo identifying her.
Cast · 40 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
While a storm rages across Battleworld, the Wasp cozies up to her captor, Magneto. The Hulk secretly fears that his intellect is fading. Spider-Man overhears the X-Men planning to leave and join Magneto and whips the mutants good until Xavier wipes his memory. With their forces dwindled, Doom creates two new allies for the coming war. Thor revives the Enchantress and the two head off to chat. When dawn breaks, the Hulk drops the ball on sentry duty and the heroes are unprepared for an assault on their base by the villains who quickly gain the upper hand.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).