Marvel has announced that Secret War #1, the first issue in a five-issue mini-series written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Gabriele Dell'Otto, has sold out.  According to Marvel, the 'staggering backorders' placed by retailers with Diamond Comic Distributors led Marvel to plan a special Commemorative Second Printing of Secret War #1, which will have a distinctive gold foil cover and which will ship to retailers in May to coincide with the release of Secret War #2.  Marvel currently plans to link the availability of the second printing to retailers' orders on #2.  The 48-page Secret War #1 carries a $3.99 cover price.

Brian Michael Bendis, whose status as one of the top writers in comics can only be strengthened by the success of Secret War #1, praised Marvel for taking a chance on the comic, 'Since painted books are a real gamble for publishers, and this is a new format we tried (on the Secret War series), I am doubly thrilled that the fans and retailers rewarded Marvel for going for it.'