Jonathan Hickman: The Architect Behind Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars

If you have been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe lately, you know that massive changes are on the horizon. The multiverse is collapsing, incursions are happening, and Doctor Doom is stepping up as the ultimate threat. But where did all these mind-bending concepts come from? The answer is Jonathan Hickman.

Hickman is an American comic book writer who fundamentally reshaped the Marvel Universe over the last fifteen years. While legends like Jack Kirby and Stan Lee built the foundation of Marvel, Hickman engineered its modern cosmic architecture. You can read more about the founders in our articles on Jack Kirby: The King Who Built the Marvel Visual Universe and Stan Lee: The Storyteller Who Made Marvel Matter.

Today, we are diving into Hickman's incredible legacy. We will explore how his masterplan is directly influencing the MCU and why cards featuring his key characters are becoming essential additions to any serious collection. His ability to weave long-term narratives has made him one of the most respected voices in modern comics.

The Five-Year Masterplan

Jonathan Hickman does not just write story arcs; he builds intricate, multi-year sagas that reward patient readers. His monumental run began with Fantastic Four and FF from 2009 to 2012. During this time, he introduced groundbreaking concepts like the Future Foundation and the Council of Reeds. He took Marvel's First Family and pushed them into high-concept sci-fi territory, focusing heavily on the intellect and burden of Reed Richards.

From there, Hickman took over Avengers and New Avengers from 2012 to 2015. This is where things got truly apocalyptic on a cosmic scale. He built the Illuminati, a secret group of Marvel's smartest heroes making impossible choices to save their universe. This era introduced the terrifying concept of incursions—events where two universes collide, forcing heroes to destroy one Earth to save another.

In the middle of this run, Hickman also delivered the massive Infinity event in 2013. This six-part epic saw the Avengers heading into deep space to fight the Builders, while Thanos invaded a defenseless Earth. It was a masterclass in balancing multiple massive storylines at once.

This massive narrative culminated in the 2015 Secret Wars event, drawn brilliantly by Esad Ribic. The multiverse finally collapsed, and Doctor Doom seized the remaining fragments to create Battleworld, ruling as the God Emperor. It was a five-year masterplan that paid off in one of the greatest comic events of all time.

Reshaping the X-Men and Ultimate Universe

Hickman's ambition did not stop with the Avengers. In 2019, he completely reinvented the X-Men with House of X and Powers of X. This dual series launched the Krakoa era, shifting mutants from a persecuted minority to a powerful, immortal nation-state. It was a bold, complex new status quo that revitalized the entire X-Men line and brought lapsed readers back to the franchise.

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Most recently, Hickman has been making waves again in a different corner of the multiverse. From 2024 to the present, he has been writing Ultimate Spider-Man, successfully relaunching the Ultimate Universe. He continues to prove that he can take beloved characters, place them in fresh, compelling scenarios, and keep readers hooked month after month.

The Direct MCU Connection

If Hickman's comic storylines sound familiar, it is because they are currently playing out on the big screen. In March 2025, director Joe Russo confirmed that Hickman's runs directly inspired the upcoming Avengers Doomsday film. Even more exciting, reports from February 2026 suggest that Doomsday will be a literal adaptation of Hickman's New Avengers and Secret Wars storylines.

We have already seen the seeds planted across multiple projects. The concept of incursions was heavily featured in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the Loki series. Now, with Doctor Doom positioned as the ultimate threat, the MCU is fully embracing Hickman's vision of a collapsing multiverse.

For a complete look at who will be fighting this cosmic battle, check out our breakdown of the Avengers Doomsday Full Roster: Every Hero Confirmed. The cinematic universe is clearly building toward the exact climax Hickman wrote a decade ago.

Collecting the Hickman Era

For trading card collectors, the MCU's shift toward Hickman's narratives presents a massive opportunity. Characters that Hickman elevated are now stepping into the global spotlight. This makes their trading cards key investments for anyone looking ahead to the next phase of Marvel films.

Cards featuring Doctor Doom, Reed Richards, and Namor are seeing increased attention. Namor's role as a conflicted member of the Illuminati makes him a fascinating character to watch. Other key figures from Hickman's run, like Black Swan and The Maker (the evil Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe), are also smart targets for forward-thinking collectors.

You can explore many of these characters in our Characters guide or browse specific sets in our Card Database. As the movies draw closer, the demand for high-grade cards of these pivotal players will only increase. Stay updated with all the latest developments in our MCU News section.

Collector's Corner: 4 Hot Cards to Watch

As we prepare for the cinematic adaptation of Secret Wars, here are four key cards to keep on your radar. You can track their values on platforms like Card Ladder, TCGPlayer, and eBay.

1. Doctor Doom Comic Book Heroes Base: The God Emperor himself. As the central antagonist of the upcoming saga, any early or high-grade Doctor Doom card is a must-have for serious collectors.
2. Mister Fantastic Comic Book Heroes Base: Reed Richards is the emotional core of Hickman's Secret Wars. His rivalry with Doom will define the next era of the MCU, making his cards highly desirable.
3. Namor Comic Book Heroes Base: A crucial member of the Illuminati who makes the hard choices. Namor's complex morality makes him a standout character in the incursion storyline.
4. Black Panther Comic Book Heroes Base: T'Challa's bitter feud with Namor during the New Avengers run is legendary. Cards capturing this era of the King of Wakanda are great additions to any portfolio.