Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

Secret Invasion #1

By Hervé St-Louis
April 5, 2008 - 08:25

Secret Invasion #1

For months Tony Stark and other Avengers have suspected that the shape shifting alien Skrulls have begin to infiltrate the Earth secretly. Desperate about what to do about the situation, Tony Stark asks Hank Pym and Reed Richards to help him solve the problem. But the Skrulls are one step in front of them and have begun their invasion of planet Earth, in the Savage Land. Can the Avengers stall the Skrulls?

This issue was quite interesting as a set up issue, although not much into the early infiltration of the Skrulls has been revealed. It will be interested when more of the Easter eggs that Bendis has been inserting are revealed. However, this issue and possibly the rest of the series, will probably focused more on action than the secret plot. And there is the main problem with Secret Invasion. Readers will have to read a ton of other books where the real story will be exposed.

The first issue gives a good recap of the challenges and threat that the Skrulls represent and show them all over the Marvel universe revealing themselves in secret attacks.  Bendis has chosen not to show us much from the Skrulls’ viewpoint which doesn’t allow readers to understand their motivations for invading Earth. Granted, these motivations have been shown in previous series, like the Avengers Illuminati series. However, the pace is just right for this series and there is just enough interests to bring me back next issue. I can’t wait to see how this series will turn out and if the multiyear plan makes sense.

Yu has improved his storytelling since he last drew Civil War Choosing Sides special. He understands pacing and doesn’t rely on poster shots exclusively to move the story forward. It’s even very easy to understand what he’s drawing and what characters are up to. Having said that, I still find that he makes all characters look anaemic but he’s bringing a good sense of cinematic storytelling that makes his work stand reasonably well with other artists who have worked on recent Marvel blockbusters, like Civil War and World War Hulk.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12