Secret Invasion Review

Secret Invasion

Marvel Comics

Softcover Trade Paperback

248 pages

$29.99

ISBN 9780785132974

Contributors: Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Yu, Mark Morales, Laura Martin, Chris Eliopoulos, and Gabriele Dell'Otto

Reprints: Secret Invasion #1-8

Synopsis: They've been living among us and plotting our downfall for years.  Skrulls are shape-shifting aliens skilled in the ways of subterfuge and deceit.  They believe Earth is their next homeworld after their original planet was eaten by Galactus.  Capitalizing on the destabilized superhero community following the events of Civil War and World War Hulk the Skrulls launch a full-scale invasion. 

The enemy can be anyone and no one knows who to trust - the stakes are the entire planet.  How can the fractured superhero community stand a chance and who will be revealed as a Skrull? 

Who do you trust?

Pros: Nice art by Yu (a lot of characters to draw), great storyline and build-up by Bendis, cool covers by Dell'Otto, includes all the variant covers in the extras section, excellent setup for the next big storyline (Dark Reign), a few awesome scenes (takedown of Reed Richards is really graphic, long-lost heroes emerging from the Skrull spaceship, return of the kidnapped heroes), founding Avenger dies (yeah, she'll be back), reuniting of the core Avengers (Cap, Thor, Iron Man) after Disassembled storyline

Cons: Bendis' dialogue always has issues where he completely misses a character's speech pattern (they're not all from New York), Yu's art has it's own issues (funky poses/anatomy, women), Skrull armada seems pretty big and the only fighting is in New York?, a lot of details get overlooked because events are fully revealed in tie-in books, never really got the Skrull's religious angle (whole "He loves you." line)

Mike Tells It Straight: Secret Invasion is a decent universe-spanning crossover event which has legitimate origins and spins the Marvel Universe into an interesting direction at its conclusion (Dark Reign).  Compared to recent crossovers its not as good as Civil War (really, what crossover can beat an ending where Captain America dies?), but far better than World War Hulk and House of M.  Pretty much essential reading for Marvel fans, fast-paced and entertaining. 



TO BUY and Recommendations: