Marvel’s powerful 1980s hero Star Brand is officially back in canon. Star Brand was the centerpiece of Marvel’s attempt to create a “New Universe” in the ‘80s, separate from the Marvel Universe. Now, as Marvel’s heroes revisit a location from the upcoming Avengers films, it has also taken a leap of faith and reintroduced Star Brand.
Battleworld #2 is written by Christos Gage, with art by Marcus To. Battleworld, an amalgamated setting made up of different Marvel Universes smashed together, is expected to play a pivotal role in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Star Brand showing up in the MCU feels like a longshot, but it is more of a possibility now that he is back in action.
The Original Star Brand, Marvel’s Forgotten ’80s Powerhouse, Officially Returns To Action In “Battleworld”
Battleworld #2, Written By Christos Gage; Art By Marcus To; Available Now From Marvel Comics
This is Marvel’s original Star Brand returning to Marvel lore, as confirmed by author Christos Gage in a postscript to Battleworld #2 . Gage wrote:
Oh snap! Middle-aged comic book nerds just lost their minds while the younger ones said, “That’s not Star Brand.” Folks, that is the ORIGINAL Star Brand, Ken Connell, from the New Universe comics circa 1986.
Advanced previews for Battleworld #2 teased Star Brand’s appearance, but the full issue confirms this is more than just a cameo. Instead, Star Brand seems poised to play a big role in the series’ remaining issues.
This is a big move for Marvel, because the 40th anniversary of Star Brand’s debut is coming up in 2026. Marvel’s “New Universe” comic line lasted just a few years in the 1980s, and though the Star Brand design was integrated into the Marvel Universe years later, the OG version of the character, Kenneth Connell, didn’t make the jump.
In mainstream Marvel lore, the Star Brand powers were given to Connell’s equivalent, “Kevin Connor.” This incarnation of Star Brand was introduced in 2013, and killed off in 2017, making him a relatively short-lived experiment at resurrecting the character concept, in the grand scheme of Marvel history. Consequently, it’s even more notable that Connell, not Connor, is back as Star Brand.
Marvel Has Been Teasing Star Brand’s Return; Now, It’s Time For Him To Take His Place In Marvel Lore
Is The “New Universe’ Ready For A Revival?
Star Brand’s return in Battleworld #2 is appropriately triumphant. It sets him up as a major player, as he declares himself “the toughest hombre in any universe.” Further, Battleworld #2 ends with a tag for the next issue declaring “it’s a whole New Universe” in the recognizable “New Universe” brand font.
This suggests that Marvel could be opening the door for a return of more “New Universe” characters and concepts, beyond just Star Brand. These could be brought into the Marvel canon fold, or if Marvel wanted to be really ambitious, it could relaunch the “New Universe” line of comics as a distinct parallel continuity once more.
First introduced in 1984’s Secret Wars, the “Battleworld” location is expected to be adapted into the upcoming Avengers film of the same name. Even a cameo by Star Brand would be the perfect “back door pilot” to an MCU version of the hero. Or even a “New Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Marvel’s current secondary continuity, the Ultimate Universe, is ending early next year. A new “New Universe” as its replacement would be a huge surprise for Marvel fans. For now, though, the question is what lies in Star Brand’s immediate future, as Marvel’s 1980s powerhouse finally returns, coming back with something to prove.
Battleworld #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.