Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Marcus To
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover Artists: Leinil Francis Yu & Romulo Fajardo Jr; Nick Bradshaw & Rachelle Rosenberg; Mark Bagley & Nolan Woodard; Iban Coello & Rachelle Rosenberg; James Kerigan; Greg Land & Rachelle Rosenberg; Rod Reis
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 24, 2025
Some readers may think that Hank Pym lives in a Victorian house in San Francisco. But Hank resides in a subatomic house and laboratory in New York. When his insect friends get more antsy than usual, Hank returns to Human size to discover that someone has combined people, buildings, and vehicles from different places and eras in New York.
Then Hank Pym hears a voice proclaim, "You hail from different timelines, but soon there will only be one." Who has subverted Hank's reality? And can Ant-Man survive in a world where Martian Tripods and Tyrannosaurus Rexes menace the puny Humans? Let’s armor up, leap into Battleworld #1, and see!
Story
The mysterious voice doesn't just explain what's happened to Hank's world. It also tells him that he must fight to justify his survival. Hank soon meets people he recognizes, but they are all changed. Spider-Man is a rookie wallcrawler. Carol Danvers goes by another title than Captain Marvel. Luke Cage is a streetwise '70s strongman. And then there's a younger version of his wife. Only Janet van Dyne mourns him in her reality.
While many other heroes feature in Battleworld #1, Hank Pym is our guide to this patchwork world. He also becomes a leader, as he draws upon his relationships with his colleagues. While some don't know each other or have never faced a Battleworld, Hank can share his experiences with them. But he knows how to reach them when they must decide between standing together or dividing and conquering.
Christos Gage pays homage to beloved creators, stories, and eras in Battleworld #1. The Spider-Scribe also sprinkles his story with humor, particularly when a character says something that will resonate with readers of Joe Kelly’s recent Amazing Spider-Man stories. The characters Hank Pym meets give him the capability to mentor young heroes and reform villains. His greatest challenge may be the person who ostensibly brought them all together. Hank Pym failed him in a significant way. Yet as this person attempts to set the universe right, he could do something for Hank that Hank couldn’t do for him.
Art
While Marcus To sews together glimpses of different eras and realities, he shows characters surrounding a patchwork planet on a two-page spread. Three panels establish the epic scope of this story, showing a zeppelin cruising over skyscrapers, a Martian Tripod raining down destruction, and a city threatened by glaciers and an active volcano.
Hank Pym greets other characters wearing a lab coat over his uniform in Battleworld #1. Luke Cage bears his chest and uses a ship's anchor chain to hold up his pants. Carol Danvers flies in bearing a lightning bolt on her chest, while Hank rests a hand on Spider-Man’s shoulder when the young webslinger rubs his head. But Hank turns away and cups his chin with his hand, when Janet rushes forward to embrace him.
While Rachelle Rosenberg lavishes a loaded palette on Battleworld #1, a streak of white energy threatens to knock Carol Danvers off the gameboard. Yellow links Luke, Janet, and Carol with a woman who could say “Flame on.” Pink and lavender link immense adversaries with one of the biggest threats in the Marvel Universe. Green binds a woman who seeks to preserve our world with someone who survived a world-ending event, and a villain who destroyed Janet’s. Despite conflicting views on heroism, red and blue bind two young protagonists together. Yet as super teams surround a figure glowing pink, an orange and yellow background suggests what creates great heroes.
Travis Lanham fills white balloons and boxes with black uppercase letters that grow bold for intonation and rarely shrink. Swelling words threaten to burst balloons, while giant instructions appear in puffy clouds. Red borders emphasize narrative boxes and showcase emotion and revelation in balloons. Sound effects accompany Omega-level threats and one protagonist who shoots first and asks questions later. Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
Eventually, everything ends. People die. Civilizations rise and fall. That's life. Cyttorak’s scion Cyra forced Peter Parker to face this depressing reality. The person issuing a challenge to contestants wants to circumvent this process of death and renewal. Yet while he seeks to construct a "master race," surprises await the contestants and the reader in Battleworld #1.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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