Marvel history is fundamentally reshaped by Doctor Doom's ission that there is one other villain he legitimately respects – the newly introduced "Master Blood." In the process, the publisher has recontextualized its very first major crossover event, the original Secret Wars, making this one of the most significant new lore drops of the year.

Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #3 includes the story "Whatever Happened to Master Blood?" – written by Al Ewing, with art by Juan Cabal – which offers a startling new take on Secret Wars, revisiting the crossover from the villains' perspective.

This includes an exchange between Doctor Doom and Master Blood, whom Doom acknowledges as "Earth's mightiest villain." While Master Blood is a new character, debuting in this story, this subtly pokes a hole into readers’ current understanding of the original Secret Wars.

A Previously Unknown Supervillain Has The Potential To Shake Marvel Canon To Its Core

"Whatever Happened to Master Blood?" – Written By Al Ewing; Art By Juann Cabal; Color By Edgar Delgado

chief among them Doctor Doom, Doc Oc, Kang, Ultron, and Galactus were all summoned to this contest of champions.

However, Master Blood is a new character, who has never been recorded as participating in the cosmic event. In Marvel’s preview of the Whatever Happened to Master Blood? story, Doom both perceives and knows of Blood, while acknowledging that the villain had been concealing his presence. As far as can be understood, both Doom and Blood look to have a seemingly precognitive understanding of the ensuing Secret War. Not only does this story introduce a completely new element to the classic Marvel crossover, it also highlights Doom’s cosmic knowledge and powers of deduction.

How Master Blood Fits Into The Tapestry Of Marvel Continuity Will Be Revealed By His Debut Appearance

Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #3 – Available October 9 From Marvel Comics

Of course, Marvel fans are more than familiar with retcons, reveals, and reimaginings of continuity as they know it. That said, the insertion of an entirely new character into Marvel's progenital crossover event is a bold creative move – though it is exactly the kind writer Al Ewing is best known for. The title of his story in Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood #3, "Whatever Happened to Master Blood?" makes it clear that the character's absence from Marvel lore up to this point will form the core of the story.

Doctor Doom’s recognition of Master Blood's strength makes his full debut among Marvel's most highly anticipated in some time.

It also echoes Alan Moore's classic Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, which might hint at what Ewing has in store. In any case, the new Master Blood's character design looks amazing, and if he’s powerful enough for Doctor Doom to not only know him but to recognize his invisible presence, he must have some important role to play behind the scenes. While the preview for Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood reveals little about this new mystery character, Doctor Doom’s recognition of Master Blood's strength makes his full debut among Marvel's most highly anticipated in some time.