Original Concept Art for The Beyonder (Secret Wars) by Larry Hama

Original Concept Art for The Beyonder (Secret Wars) by Larry Hama

A perfect confluence of corporate synergy and creativity, Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was initially proposed to the publisher by Mattel who were interested in a line of Marvel action figures, but also wanted a comic book that directly related to the toy line. Dubbed Secret Wars by Mattel, Marvel was given almost total leeway for the story with the caveats that there must be a base for the heroes and vehicles for characters to pilot.

Though it sounds surprising in hindsight, Marvel had trouble finding a writer who wanted to write "the toy book" and eventually the role was filled by legendary Editor in Chief Jim Shooter who immediately began crafting the massive story. The comic was drawn by Mike Zeck and John Beatty with Bob Layton penciling a few issues, but it was an all hands on deck affair for Marvel in creating the concepts and aesthetics for the series. Zeck and Layton alongside John Byrne, John Romita Jr., and Hama all contributed designs for the series. The Beyonder, the cosmic entity responsible for stranding Marvel's heroes and villains on Battleworld, did not actually appear in physical form in the original 12-issue series. It wasn't until Secret Wars II #3 in mid-1985 that The Beyonder got corporeal for a bit and assumed his 'classic' look and he didn't don his battle armor until Avengers #260 in October of 1985 which makes it even more interesting that these pieces are dated and copyrighted 1984 showing that Shooter and Marvel were all in on the concept.

Hama's designs for the character in his two main forms are absolutely fantastic. In his "civvie outfit", which closely resembles how the character would eventually appear in publication, Hama perfectly captures the idea of an infinitely powerful being beyond human comprehension taking the form of man. There's an undeniably ethereal quality to the figure, long and lean with Hama's loose but intentional pencil work providing a sense of constant motion and barely contained energy to the draping of his outfit that rivals the literal energy in the palm of his hand. The battle armor that The Beyonder would don in the comics bears little resemblance to Hama's design here, but with all due respect to final design (and with the understanding that artists would potentially have to be drawing it on a monthly basis in many cases) Hama's is waaaaay cooler. Already accustomed to the intersection of comics and toys with his landmark work on GI Joe: A Real American Hero, Hama goes all out for the Beyonder's battle armor in a design that absolutely looks like something you'd want to rip out of a blister pack and play with. The large, shoulder-mounted turbines and futuristic stalk-like rocket boosters are an undeniably eye-catching element, drawing the eyes inward to the complex, greeble-covered suit which must be housing some incredible and inconceivable technology.

Along with a letter of provenance from Hama written on Marvel stationary featuring the iconic web-slinging menace Spider-Man, these pieces are an astounding window into the process of creating comic book history.

Design sheets are in pencil on comic art board with Marvel copyright stats affixed with tape, are signed by Hama, and measure 11" x 17". Letter of provenance from Hama is on Marvel Comics stationary and measures 8 1/2" x 11". Also included are copies of Secret Wars II #3 and Avengers #260.