Secret Wars was Marvel’s first big crossover event. Mattel wanted to produce a Marvel toy line, but only under the condition that the toys be attached to a major event in the Marvel Universe. Secret Wars was the event. The story was meager—basically a grander version of 1982’s Contest of Champions, Marvel’s first limited series—but writer-editor Jim Shooter and especially penciler Mike Zeck managed to make it something special.
The Coloring and Activity Book has nothing to do with the comic, but it does feature many of Mattel’s cheaply made, uninspired toys. You’ll see the big ticket item, the Tower of Doom, above.
I talked about the Marvel Books imprint and artist Carlos Garzon here. I’ve covered Jim Mooney’s work a couple of times: The Amazing Spider-Man: A Book of Colors and Days of the Week, and the AD&D Characters Coloring Book.
2 Warps to Neptune 
Lol. At first I thought Dr. Doom was introducing his own Tower of Doom to Magneto, and I was wondering why he himself would call it “terrible.” But then I saw the statement didn’t have quotation marks. I kinda wish it did. Doesn’t it look like he’s saying it to Magneto? haha
I was more amused by the fact that it says “Dr. DOOM’S TOWER OF DOOM!” on the top and “This is the terrible Tower of Doom” on the bottom. No shit!
What about Doom’s fancy crown? And what’s the deal with his horse flying among the clouds? Damn thing doesn’t have any wings.
LoL I just skimmed over the photos and didn’t notice that until now. Hilarious. I’m not hip to Dr. Doom, but is there a story behind the construction of the Tower of Doom? Was that his, like, retreat when he didn’t want to be amongst the Latverian populace of his kingdom? Was he a tyrannical leader? Did he um, rule with an…um…iron fist? =D
Dr. Doom: This is the terrible Tower of Doom. I’ve got a better one down the street.
“Dr. Doom wants to be king of Earth”… IKGNFO was a printing error that must have driven kids crazy… and hurt their self-esteem 😦