Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

The New Agengers #40

By Hervé St-Louis
May 26, 2008 - 23:15

Bendis informs readers about the Skrulls designs for the secret invasion and why they want to conquer Earth.  The entire issue is dedicated to the Skrulls history and preparation to invade Earth and eliminate its super humans. The Skrulls have major issues with how Earth’s super humans have confronted them in the past and this time, revenge is near. Can Earth’s heroes stand guard?

This issue made me feel many things, good and bad. First, why is this narrative not part of the main Secret Invasion mini-series?  The information it contains is vital to understand the secret invasion of the Skrulls. Yes, I am a regular reader of The New Avengers, but what if I wasn’t? It’s a great story and it explains so much.

Second, I like how the Skrulls are dedicated to achieving their goals, even if they do not always agree on the means. That they still remain true to their one major goal is great.

Third, I like the scorn of the Skrull Emperor about having a member of his royal family turned into a cow way back in Fantastic Four #2, published in 1962. That act had always disturbed me and although it was a highlight of more simple times and storytelling, turning villains into cows that would then produce milk and be butchered for their meat was simply wrong.

Speaking of wrong, I like how the secret cabal of Illuminati Avengers, composed of the Sub Mariner, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt, Professor X and Adam Strange are again responsible for putting the Earth in trouble, as they did with the Hulk World War. While trying to protect the Earth, all they achieved was finding it more threats. I hope that just like the Hulk event, this secret invasion of Skrulls comes back and slap them in the face.

Some of the things that worried me was the plot against Earth is not deep enough. There is not second guessing what the Skrulls are up to and what their goals are after reading this issue. If there are more twists to this story, I’d like to read about them.

Using Cheung as the artist of this issue was a good choice as he already worked on the Avengers Illuminati mini-series where we encountered the Skrulls and some of their initial motivations against Earth. The storytelling is good, although I wonder why Skrull women have different facial features than males ones. It would be more realistic to make both sexes more similar in looks.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51