Secret Invasion #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils: Leinil Yu

Inks: Mark Morales

Color: Laura Martin

Letters: Chris Eliopoulos

Assoc. Editor: Molly Lazer

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

Covers by: Steve McNiven, Leinil Yu, and Gabriele Dell’Otto

June 2008

SYNOPSIS:

 SECRET INVASION IS HERE!!

Years in the making, months in the teasing…and it all STARTS HERE!

The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal…full-scale invasion! In this DOUBLE-SIZED first issue, page after page unveils reveal after reveal and shocking moment after shocking moment! Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will change the Marvel Universe forever.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!

PRO:

At the height of my comic collecting back in the 80’s one of the great things to look forward to was the big crossover events. It all started with Secret Wars and Crisis and went downhill from there. What can be described as the “Pro” on Secret Invasion is that it is nothing but 32 pages of fun reading. Look beyond the facts that there is a lot of continuity issues and the fact most readers are tired of the same old retreaded spectacle you have a few interesting ideas. Namely one being Elektra is a Skrull. Thanks GOD! She died ages ago and inexplicably reappeared back in the late 90’s. It always was a “WTF?” issue for me and a lot of Marvel readers and I’m glad that has been wrapped up nicely in a black body bag.

Yu’s artwork really benefits from Morales’ inking compared to his previous work on New Avengers. Laura Martin’s colors have moments of goodness.

CON:

Beyond being a lot of fun fluff, not much really happens in the story. Some big revelations that just leave questions. That would be fine had I not known better from every other big Marvel event. I know it’s not going to mean anything a year from now and that’s what I have a problem with. Yes, its about sales but its nothing more than fanboy comic book masturbation without the climax, which we keep falling for. Plus there is the overused marketing driven crossover into just about ever Marvel title, so you have to buy it all to get the full story. Then there’s the alternate covers – sheesh!! BUT, that’s only a concern if you really care, which I don’t, so I got the first issue of Secret Invasion and won’t worry to much about the other crossovers and alternate covers.

The cover I got was (apparently) by Gabriele Dell’Otto, although there is no physical credit in the book, the solicitation reveals the artist name. I have no doubt they have talent but the cover is just horrible. It’s a blurry drawing of the Heroes in Skrull faces all standing around. I say it’s blurry maybe not because of the production but the artwork has very soft edges. I’m not a fan of the work and the cover doesn’t work at all for me.

The coloring on the book was, again, done by the masterful Laura Martin and there are some panels that are just stunning. Sadly, for me, I think she was a miss-match for Yu’s style. There are times where the color just bleeds on the page and you feel as if you’d go blind looking at it for more than a few seconds. Yu’s style is very wiry and scribbled and Martin’s color pallet really takes a lot away and overpowers the drawings. Someone more muted would have suited this book better.

High Point:

Your yearly dose of fluff.

Low Point:

Terrible cover. Mismatched colorist. Marketing controlled crossovers.

Will I Acquire the Next issue

Yes, because questions need to be answered – though it may take months.

Review © 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art ©) Marvel Entertainment