Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Marvel's Secret Invasion (SPOILERS)

Man, I am soooooo over my initial interest in this event.

Nothing I've heard about it has piqued mine.

The only SI tie-ins I'm getting are books I was ordering anyway...

Catching up as I go. Incredible Hercules tie-ins were excellent, as were Guardians of the Galaxy, but those comics are consistently excellent already.

X-Factor, however, was not.

Ended up not getting any of the mini-series because I've had to buy some many at once that it didn't seem worth my while...

Oh, I -did- order the YA/Runaways 3-ish mini. Their Civil War tie-in was sufficiently stand-alone, and the Skrull connection for both teams actually makes a SI tie-in make sense.

So spoil on that front Pov. Did Xavin turn out to be a traitor? At least one of the trillion skrulls that live on Earth had to end up being bad right?

By trillion, I of course mean three or four.

Not as of the first issue, IIRC... I got the second this week, haven't read it yet. But the cover of Runawaysv3 #1 has him/her on it, if that means anything?

He's also in the new RUNAWAYS #1- which I *think* takes place after the YOUNG AVENGERS crossover miniseries.

Cobie- The Inhumans SI mini is worth getting, I feel. Especially since it's going to lead into the WAR OF KINGS miniseries, which will co-feature the X-characters marooned in the Shi'ar Empire. And, I believe, the Guardians of the Galaxy, eventually.

Judging by #2's preview, they're actually going to show Crystal use her powers- which we haven't seen in- oh, about a decade.

SI 6- gets us to the 'attacking heroes en masse' douple-page spread. Apparently, they're all now Avengers.

YOUNG AVENGERS/RUNAWAYS- this was really Xavin and Teddy's (or is that Dorrek now?)story, and, as such, was well worth reading. If one was jonesing for more of a team-up between the teams, then that one'd be disappointed. Though Speed and Molly have a cute little sub-sub-sub-plot that weaves it's way through the final issue.

At the conclusion, the Runaway and YAs are officially friends. Different from the way the last mini ended.

SI INHUMANS- I think this mini is the class of Marvel's late summer offerings. But then, I'm biased towards anything featuring these characters that's at least half-way decent.

Here, a hint of Crystal's true potential is shown via the part of her powers that's shown the least over the years- her earth-manipulating power.

Medusa has a bad-ass moment, as she uses her hair to fling a Skrull undergoing questioning (all right, it was torture) into the Terrigen mists again and again.

Trigon has a great moment, though I wish that what was alluded to-- his trouncing the Tiger Shkrull underwater-- had been explicitly on display. I mean, how often do we get to see *Triton* tear it up? Answer- never.

Karnak is also shown to great effect. Really, only Gorgon is somewhat on the sidelines... not a bad thing, actually, because of the changes made to him in SILENT WAR. And, over the years, he's pretty much the Inhuman seen to smash things and have the biggest fight scenes, so it's nice to see the others strut their stuff.

At issue's end, the royal family steals a Skrull ship and is on their way to find Black Bolt. And Ahura, as it's revealed that the kid that's been secreted in Attilan was also a Skrull.

This is bugging the hell out of me for the way it completely ignores the Royal Family's status quo after Silent War - they were completely under Maximus' thrall. ESPECIALLY Medusa, who'd been under longer than anyone else in the whole of Attlan.

Reboot- I agree that needs to be addressed. If they've shaken off Maximus' control in the time between SW and SI, then how is it he's still on the throne? (Or alive, for that matter- I'd love nothing more than to see a royal execution with that guy. I'm of the opinion that this character has kept the Inhumans a minor property for years.)

Has Maximus just gotten more subtle?

We do need to know what happened between that ominous black panel at the end of SILENT WAR and Medusa's discovering that her husband had been a Skrull for some time.

I interpreted that she was in Maximus' thrall sexually. Not sure if that's explicitly stated, but it's suggested, I feel. If so, she's been sleeping with a Skrull imposter and then a mental rapist. Her rage is earned.

Anyway, I understand the gripe and empathize, but I'm enjoying the proceedings enought to put that aside. For now.

Oh, I think that it was, if not explicit, at least fairly clear that "sexually" was part of it from the opening of Silent War #4. But only part of it - Maximus' own thoughts about what he did in #6 said that the "virus" he planted in their brains basically erased anything Maximus didn't like about their personality, "clearing their mind, leaving [him] a blank slate to write upon," with only Black Bolt able to resist it (and Luna, who he couldn't infect in the first place). That's not the sort of thing a bit of anger should change - if anything, it should have prevented the anger.

Anyone notice DC's interestingly timed released trades of "Millennium" with the tagline on the cover "Trust No One." and their "Invasion" event (from what, almost 20 years ago?)with the tagline "Secret No More."

SI Thor #2- Wherein Monstress is reincarnated as a Skrull amalgram of "Thundra, Titania, Volcana and Battleaxe" with a really bad red wig. Really bad.

I can't decide if I think Blake's/Thor's decision to assist at the childbirth while crap's happening in Asgard is noble or irresponsible... it netted that great bit with the fireman of the Oklahoma town, so I guess I'll go with noble.

I don't like the way Balder's discounted. He's as much an Asgard god as Thor.

Always nice to see Beta-Ray Bill get a moment or two.

MIGHTY AVENGERS 18- Not even one panel with an actual Mighty Avenger? Why even call it 'Mighty Avengers 18'? This is actually SI 6.5 or something.

The timing doesn't match up to events anywhere else, that I can determine. It's always best to squint and ignore that kind of stuff with these events, though.

I don't dislike Fury's team (new Howling Commandos? I forget if that's who they're going to be...). In fact, there's potential there, for sure. I look forward to reading them in some other storyline.

SI's really wearing out it's welcome- except for the INHUMANS and maybe INTIATIVE tie-ins.

I have a feeling the climax and conclusion will be exciting, but what it's taking to get there? Not so much. I sort of dread the denouement. 'Marvel Universe will never be the same'. Who'll be this event's Scarlet Witch or Captain America, I wonder?

I was intrigued by the villains-chipping-in bit from the publicity and have been disappinted that that's been pretty much a non-event.

Ah, well. Two more months before the overall Secret Invasion story can be judged.

Noticed it today at the comic book shop. Secret no more. Thought it was kind of funny

SI INHUMANS #3: Luna and 'Uncle Maximus'? Even though there's a nod or two to SILENT WAR in this issue, those bits are almost, if not completely, wiped away by the wrongness of this panel. NO WAY Luna'd be clinging to Mad Maximus. Even if she is a child whose parents are kidnapped and off heroing. Where's her nanny?

Aside from that wrong-headed scene, this is a fun, somewhat old-fashioned at heart team comic.

Crystal's power is on great display-- creating a bubble of air in which the Royal Family 'step out' into space... whipping up a water-filled room for Triton (who's on the receiving end of Queen Medusa's verbal barbs-- she reserves most of them for her sister later on).

The Inhumans are split up-- sent to different worlds... the sisters to Earth... Gorgon and Karnak to Rigel 3... Triton to Plagia.

Triton: Has Pelagia appeared in the MU before? Have it's people? I can't decide if it's a horribly misguided conincidence that the natives look *exactly* like Triton, even to skin color, or a 'proof' of Ronan's verbiage earlier in the issue. They still know he's an outsider, as he's shown in chains at issue's end.

Gorgon and Karnak: Great setting- I wish we got a bit more of the character of Rigel and the Recorders. Maybe next issue?

Crys and Medusa: Is Madame Medusa Stepping Up or Acting Out? A bit of both, I guess. She's impressive-- but heavy-handed with her family. Pushing them, rather than confiding and teambuilding.

Loved the image of Crystal joyfully praising Lockjaw as they 'landed'. It's been literally years since I've seen that and it made me smile. Especially after she kicked him in SILENT WAR or somewhere fairly recently. That was wayyyy out of character.

Thundra's inclusion is way out of left field.

Medusa's slap was... interesting. A long time coming? Way over the top? I cringed at the 'smack'... more so at the verbal smackdown directed at one of my favorite characters by one of my favorite characters. "All your life you've done whatever you've wanted. Joining your earthling teams. Marrying outside your people. More Human than Inhuman.-- You just have to GROW UP!"

Ouch.

Interrupted by Thundra and her "But all differences are decided in the arena" line. (Straining credibility that she wouldn't recognize Medusa and her mane-- guess that mask really *was* effective!!)

Seems like a lot of loose ends to tie up in one issue-- but at least we know that this mini is leading to not-too-distant WAR OF KINGS. I just hope the transition is smoother than that of SILENT WAR to SECRET INVASION.

SI #7-- the last page... I hope this doesn't lead to what it looks like it will. The mechanization of how the character in question ends up in this position is quite interesting, involving elements from stories of the past.

But still...

This month's AVENGERS or NEW AVENGERS or MIGHTY AVENGERS-- why even bother to try to keep them straighy, since none of them feature characters from their actual, y'know, rosters!

-- some good scenes with Madame Masque ('bout time for her to change sides again, ain't it?)

-- the story behind The Hood's hood, involving a character with a well-known head condition of his own.

-- Giant Yellowjacket's received about 25 fatal blows and keeps coming back.

-- Is Veranke/Spider-woman dead?

-- The final issue-- will wrap up the war and tell us what's happened to all the original heroes? Too much to hope for that they'd be returned to Earth, too.

That's a tall order.

New Avengers was pretty good. I'm interested in the villains storyline. Agreed about Masque and good stuff with the Hood as well.

Secret Invasion # 7 had its moments.

I'm just waiting for the final issue where the Scarlet Witch comes back and says, "No more Skrulls."

Pete Wisdom already did that one.

[No, seriously. Go read Captain Britain & MI:13 #3.]

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #18--

And the AI Skrull (aside from Crusade) is...

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">Thor Girl, with Ultra Girl being the other main cast member under suspicion</span></span>

We meet some more Initiative teams:

-the FREEDOM FORCE in Montana (Skrull agent= Equinox)
-the CAVALRY in Georgia (darn it, I made up a superteam eons ago with that name!) The character in the spoiler was a member here, I think.
-the ACTION PACK in Kentucky
-the ORDER in California (which is one of two teams which the Skrulls were unable to infiltrate, we discover)
-the LIBERTEENS in Pennsylvania (we already knew that the Revolutionary was a Skrull)

This issue's story (though not the hurried, somewhat messy art) is what I actually expected the SI 'main' events would be-- lots of settings with several 'unmaskings' that were actually, y'know, unexpected.

I enjoyed Cloud 9's entrance in a cloud- and I even liked her effectiveness as a sniper/assassin. But her attitude, though justified in a war-type setting, seemed not like a shift in her personality, which would've been understandable, but like a whole new personality.

I don't much like her costume-- it looks like it should be worn by a speedster.

Ugh. I think I'll pass

I know this event has been hugely successful for Marvel, but I hate that they think that the numbers (of books sold) equal the quality of storytelling. The fact is they're always going to be able to exploit the emotional investment people have in their universe whenever they want to do something that only promises to be "important" regardless of how well they actually tell the story.

While I couldn't care less about Secret Invasion itself, Crystal fans will be pleased (I know I am) with her portrayal in Secret Invasion: Inhumans # 4. She hasn't been this well-written since her time in the Avengers.

This has been a good showing for Crystal, I agree.

Not crazy about the prospect of a Ronan/Crystal wedding, though. I hope events in WAR OF KINGS knock that little engagement off the social calendar.

I wish the mini'd been longer- as Thundra's part in it was really confusing. Wouldn't she have recognized Medusa, at the least? I mean, the queen was on hand for Thundra's first appearances, I believe. First in the FF, anyway.

And what was with the bowing to Crystal? That seemed a bit... odd.

Still, I appreciated her confronting her sister when she had to- and her willingness to do her 'royal duty' (as repugnant as I think she'll find it, if it comes to that...)

Hmmm- in light of that issue of NEW AVENGERS that revealed the interaction between Crys and Sentry, maybe this wedding will be a political event that's not followed by her living with the Accuser, but coming back to Earth (or whatever) with her family.

And Triton's excursion to a world where everyone looked just like him? That needed more exploration, as well.

I'm excited that the INHUMANS are getting a bigger role in things. And including them in the upcoming space epic(s) is fun and fitting, considering their origins.

The biggest downside was everything dealing with Maximus. None of what I read concerning him makes a lick of sense.

I wish he'd be killed or that he'd voluntarily move somewhere else and let the Inhumans develop a better, more entertaining main villain.

SI #8: An interesting issue containing some nice writing as well as some that is confusing.

On the plus side, the concluding spread featuring

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text"> the new head of SHIELD's replacement, Norman Osborn, gathering his new cronies-- Dr. Doom, The Hood, Emma Frost (!?) and Namor (!!!???)-- seems like I'm leaving someone out... </span></span>

indicates more interesting stories ahead.

Tony Stark receives probably his last comeuppance, and I think he'll be rebuilding his rep in the heroic community over the next couple of years.

Sadly,

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text"> there has to be an obligatory 'death'-- here, it's about the only founding Avenger who hasn't been dragged through the ringer, Janet WASP Van Dyne. She didn't really figure prominently in any SI stories, so I found this out of the blue. The format of this issue has someone telling the reader about Janet's last moments-- I would much rather have read them as if they were occurring. Her part of the plot seemed anticlimactic. In fact, I thought I'd missed an issue somewhere or other. Maybe I did- since there were plenty of tie-ins. </span></span>

It's hard to raise much ire about the preceding spoiler, since <span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text"> Hank, Spider-woman, Dum Dum Dugan, Jarvis, Countess and Mockingbird- yes, Mockingbird- among others, return home after their captivity. </span></span>

Another Bendis blunder for me. Lots of build up, but weak delivery, with a few great character moments throw in, it's a good example of why I'm not a Marvel reader these days.

The best moments for me involved Clint, but there's more to him later. And Thor's dressing down of Iron Man does a lot to advance Tony in my eyes. I'm still on the fence about Fury's sudden departure from the battle scene, but it feels more appropriate given the sudden arrival of more troops. But that's where I leave my praise.

This event started with a bunch of "heroes" emerging from a crashed Skrull ship, making folks wonder who is who. It ends...

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">with a group of heroes emerging from a Skrull ship, making folks happy to see them. Clint's just going to accept this Mockingbird because she said yes?!?!?!? I'm sure someone will tell the story of these returned heroes, but shouldn't it have been part of this book?</span></span>

The art has been good, but not great. Bendis raves about how the big fight scenes weren't glossed over with dust and shaded figures. And yet the opening two page spread features a pile of bodies, figures in silhouette, and glowing energy.

We're treated to a hero's death. Sure, it has to happen, and the potential for another character's growth (pardon the pun) is there, but...

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">Wasp's actually death and what Thor did to prevent her release of a bio-toxin is still unclear to me. Did he open a dimensional portal? Was she being disembodied in the process?</span></span>

The line ups for the Avenger books have shuffled. They won't all get along. Seeing as the tension between New and Mighty was the start of all this, that's not a big change. Since the end of Civil War and the hype of Secret Invasion, we've been living under a cloud of suspicion and paranoia, but...

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">With the Illumi-naughty and Dark Reign giving the villains some secret power and control, is it any different than the Skrulls and their hidden agenda and manipulations?</span></span>

Sorry but I can't say this was a success story for me. It doesn't make me want to read more books, rather drop the one Avengers title I do read (A:TI) to avoid any possible contamination with Dark Reign.