Secret Invasion - #2 (Marvel 7/2008)
Plot Summary
Overview
The Invasion is here!! The Marvel Universe is in shambles. The Skrull Empire's plan has birthed itself into perfection. It is hero versus hero!! Resurrections and reunions!! Is Tony Stark a Skrull? And is that actually Captain America leading the heroes into a new era?? EXPECT CHANGE!!
SPOILERS
The Secret Invasion has begun.
The shape-shifting alien race known as Skrulls want planet Earth and they've been infiltrating the world's superhero teams and government agencies in an attempt to claim the planet. The New and Mighty Avengers learned of the covert Skrull aggression nearly a year ago and though they've attempted to figure out what to do and how to combat the threat, their efforts have been hindered by questions and doubts that have left old allegiances in shambles: Who's a Skrull? Who do you trust?
The questions still linger, but the time to ponder them is over. Today, the Skrulls have taken actions that cannot be cannot be concealed. The Secret Invasion isn't a secret any longer, it's war!
Previously… In Secret Invasion…
The Skrulls' invasion of Earth kicks into high gear as a number of reveals and betrayals occured:
Dum Dum Dugan blew up S.W.O.R.D—the pointier, space-based brethren of S.H.I.E.L.D
Jarvis infected StarkTech (and subsequently S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers Tower and The Raft) with an alien virus that literally sickened Tony Stark and shut down the S.H.I.E.L.D mainframe.
Captain Marvel attacked Thunderbolts Mountain (we're still up in the air on whether this is a bad thing)
A shape-shifting Sue Storm opened up the Negative Zone gateway, which then proceeded to eat away at the Baxter Building
The issue climaxed when both Avengers teams encountered a fallen Skrull ship in the Savage Land, which opens to reveal '70s versions of a number of Marvel Universe heroes—complete with that sense of terrible/groovy '70s fashion!
Picking up right where issue #1 left off, Secret Invasion#2 begins with the Savage Land confrontation between new and old school Marvel, the two eras stare down one another as Ares, God of War, attempts to dissuade his team from attacking. The effort proves futile as Luke Cage, after months of paranoia and pent up frustration (his wife left), really wanted to hit the sh— out of something...
...which leads us to a giant free-for-all between the two teams! During the scuffle, Hawkeye...er...Ronin knocks out his older counterpart and grabs himself some very familiar weapons: a purple bow and arrow. Taking a sniper position in the local fauna, the ninja-esque archer fires away at the heroes from the ship.
Meanwhile, Ms. Marvel picks up the sickly Stark and retreats to the Mutate Citadel where she drops off her fearless, but green (with sick, not Skrull) leader. Tony orders her to head to Manhattan where he believes the real attack is occurring. In the meantime, Tony decides to put to use the one thing the Skrulls can't imitate: his brain!
The battle elsewhere continues... at least until a T-Rex shows up and crashes the chaotic party. Poor '70s Spidey fell under the giant clawed foot of the dinosaur, leaving behind the crushed corpse of a Skrull. While Luke Cage and Wolverine inspect the Spidey stiff, they encounter Mockingbird mourning over the dead Skrull body of '70s Hawkeye. When Wolverine attempts to attack her, the real Hawkeye/Ronin arrows him and demands Mockingbird tell him something about October 12.
Fulfilling the request, Mock tells Clint that day was to be the day their miscarried baby was to be born. Reunited with his wife once again, Hawkeye and Mockingbird share a tearful and kissy embrace.
Back in Manhattan, the Young Avengers leisurely stroll along... until the Skrull Armada appears and starts wrecking stuff. A beam descends from the ship and teleports in the Skrulls' ground troops...
AN ARMY OF SUPER-SKRULLS MADE UP OF THE VARIOUS POWERS OF EVERY MARVEL HERO PAST AND PRESENT!...
Which absolutely has to be our Don't F—k with Skrulls moment of the week...
Now, on to our other skrull-tastic moments of the week...
We know Luke Cage desperately wanted something to hit for the past couple of months. Between the mistrust spawning from the Skrull situation to his wife leaving and taking their baby to seeing a ship full of older versions of his closest friends and teammate, he's had a rough time. But we think the real reason he decide to SHO-RYU-KEN his '70s counterpart is because he quickly realized that NO ONE looks good in a metal tiara and chain belt. Let's face it. Most of us would uppercut the sh-- out of the us from 10 years ago.
New School Rulez Part Deux
Seeing Skrull-eye...er...Hawk-Skrull or whoever that Skrull S.O.B. is getting "clocked" in the head with some Clint Barton tossed nunchucks only goes to show that the clothes don't make the man, the man makes the clothes. And when it comes to flamboyant purple archer suits, well, it takes one helluva man!
Kiss the Girl
Okay, so we're hopeless romantics at heart. What do you want from us? Let's face it, with so much madness going on, seeing moment of true happiness like this between Clint and long-thought-dead wife Bobbi really feels so much more heartfelt. Hell, we're glad she's back just for her costume alone. As far as the '70s heroes go, Bobbi's actually looks pretty decent.
You've had a good run…. Young Avengers
Yes, we know the Young Avengers still live, but considering they're the only line of defense against an army of Super Skrulls attacking Manhattan… Yeah, you've had a good run Young Avengers. You will be missed.
Cap? Back? So...um...hmmm? If this Cap makes Clint question his authenticity, then maybe this is the real deal Rogers! Either way, nice to see some classic Cap action in the current Marvel U, but we'll be keeping an eye on this Star-Spangled Skrull-venger!
So, this won't come back to bite them in the ass, right?
Nope, we're sure this won't be a problem down the line! I mean, two lovers reunited after thinking they other was dead...yeah, looks like a happy ending here!
That's it for this issue, but make sure to check back into Wizard Universe next time things get Skrully for a rundown of all things Invasion-y!
Appearances
Captain AmericaSpider-Man
Luke Cage
Sentry
Iron Man
Emma Frost
Beast
Wonder Man
Scarlet Witch
Doctor Doom
Cloak
Hawkeye
Green Goblin
Iron Fist
Vision
Jarvis
Elektra
Human Torch
Mr. Fantastic
Invisible Woman
Hank Pym
Patriot
Hulkling
Kate Bishop
Jessica Jones
Thor
Captain Marvel
Franklin Richards
Valeria Richards
Mockingbird
Black Widow
Moonstone
Songbird
Dum Dum Dugan
Jean Grey
SHIELD
Swordsman
Fantastic Four
Abigail Brand
Armadillo
Echo
Noh-Varr
Molecule Man
Ares
Ms. Marvel
Thunderbolts
Young Avengers
Wiccan
Speed
Skrulls
Shockwave
SWORD
Ronin
New Avengers
Mighty Avengers
Creators
Joe Quesada ( editor )Steve Mcniven ( artist, cover )
Mark Morales ( inker )
Laura Martin ( colorer )
Leinil Francis Yu ( penciler, cover )
Chris Eliopoulos ( letterer )
Brian Michael Bendis ( writer )
Tom Brevoort ( editor )
Molly Lazer ( editor )
Latest Reviews
This event has been pitch-perfect so far. It's unfolding like a great action movie. Where the first issue was solid set-up, this second issue gives us an intense battle in the Savage Land, and it offers some of the best eye candy I have ever seen in a comic. The last time I remember experiencing this kind of rush was when reading Civil War #7. Several 2-page splashes are used to wonderful effect throughout this book. The pace of this event also feels just right, and it's a marked improvement on Bendis' previous effort "House of M" (which I also nevertheless enjoyed).
On another note, I have read some negative reviews about this issue which has been dismissed in some quarters as "mere fill-in". Sheesh! There's just no pleasing some people. One minute Bendis is accused of ruining an issue with a tendency to be slow and wordy, the next he is accused of wasting an entire issue on a mindless fight. People are entitled to their opinion, but in my view Bendis is entirely right to give us a glorious punch up early in the event. The same critics would whine about the lack of action, or delayed action, in an action movie. A superhero book no less requires great action, and Bendis and Yu do not fail here. This event is delivering 5-star entertainment and I am hoping it stays that way.
