Marvel Comics has made it no secret that the Marvel Universe would be ending, and true to their word in today's Secret Wars #1 by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Esad Ribic, it did indeed meet its end.

Secret Wars #1 Review

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That's the what, but if you don't want to know how it happened,The issue began as Doctor Doom, accompanied by Doctor Strange and the Molecule Man, confronted the Beyonders to stop them from destroying reality, but the outcome of their meeting is left up in the air.We then witness the Ultimate Universe invading the Marvel Universe in an attempt to destroy it. You see, due to a very long and complicated plot that has been unfolding for years, the two parallel universes were on a collision course, so if one earth were to survive, the other would have to go. The ensuing battle was awe-inspiring as we watched nearly every hero on both sides give it their all.

Everything You Need to Know to Read Secret Wars

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Some of the highlights include Colossus hurling Hulk through the air in a Fastball Special for the ages, Cyclops hatching a Phoenix egg and becoming the Phoenix to devastate enemy forces, a fleet of Ultimate Nick Fury's helicarriers bombarding New York City, and Drax using his chest-mounted missile-launcher to explosive effect.There's also a darkly humorous scene where the Kingpin is hosting a supervillain party to watch the battle over drinks, but Punisher shows up and delivers one of his best moments ever:Meanwhile, a special life-raft ship designed to survive the end of the universe launched into space, piloted by Mr. Fantastic and Black Panther, with the rest of the Fantastic Four and Future Foundation also inside. As the two worlds began to collide, they activated a teleportation device powered by Manifold to transport certain heroes aboard to safety - Cyclops, Star-Lord, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and the female Thor.However, several heroes died in ensuing chaos -- Rocket Raccoon was shot in the battle on Earth, while Invisible Woman, Thing, Human Torch and the FF children perished when their part of the spaceship broke off.Then came the big moment when the Marvel U's earth and the Ultimate U's earth smashed together, resulting in a white flash and the destruction of both universes.However, even though the next two pages are just panels of white and black with ominous narration from Mr. Fantastic, there's one shot of Doctor Doom's mask that mirrors the opening scene.Thanks to advance marketing, we already know that a new Battleworld will be formed from the shattered worlds of the multiverse, and that will be the setting of Secret Wars, but is this image hinting that Doom has something to do with its creation? The second of Secret Wars' eight issues comes out next week, so we'll find out soon enough.Until then, join us as we mourn the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe. May they rest in peace.

Joshua is IGN’s Comics Editor. He literally cannot even right now. If you feel the same way, follow him on Twitter and IGN