Secret Invasion #1 Review

Hey Guys, I know it’s been a while since I’ve done a review but I’ve decided to make up for it by tackling the Secret Invasion mini series. I’ll be doing both this and the BND mini as well. Wish me luck and I promise I’ll have as few delays as possible.

Secret Invasion #1 (of 8 )

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Leinil Francis Yu
Inks: Mark Morales
Colors By: Laura Martin

Plot: 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.

Thoughts: Well what CAN’T I say? This was a great way to kick off what looks to be a butt-kicking Event. Sure I’m a bit weary about this undoing a lot of the interesting stuff that’s happened over the past few years but I keep in mind that Bendis HAS been keeping things in control behind the scenes from the get go.

Ok as for the title itself. It was very well done. When Bendis did House Of M, I feel he took his sweet time WAY too long. Most of the issues of that mini were pure build up and then in like the last two issues or so that’s when things really picked up. This time, however, Bendis just hits the gas and doesn’t stop!

Bendis promised that this even would be the Invasion is actually happening and he made true on that. We see the Skrulls have finally decided to initiate their plans and we are given MORE questions than we have answers. The most obvious one would be “How long has *Insert name here* Been a skrull?” As well as “IS *Insert name here* a skrull?” and the shocker at the end throws the confusion of those questions and pushes it up to 11! For once, unlike Civil War, unlike House of M, heck even unlike World War Hulk…I can’t help but wonder exactly WHAT will come out of this in the end!

From a writing standpoint, again Bendis is on his A-Game! The dialogue is spot on, the moments and build up fit perfectly, and, while this was mostly talking heads in this issue, it didn’t drag anywhere.

But there is one blemish on this otherwise kick ass first issue…the art. I’m sorry but as much as I liked Leinil Yu’s art in the past, when I heard he was the artist of this series the first thing that came to my mind was “Well at least he can draw great skrulls”. That opinion has not really changed much. Granted the art in this is far better than the stuff he did in New Avengers, but that’s mostly due in part to Mark Morales’s inking and Laura Martin’s coloring than Yu’s actual work. Yu is just not an event artist, but that being the case I’ll only take .5 points off of this issue for it but the remaining issues I’ll just focus just on the story

Fav Quote: “He Even Loves You.”

Rating:4. 5 out of 5. A GREAT start for what looks to be a promising event. But the art is NOT even material in my opinion.