Avengers #21 – Review

Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan (Artists), Sunny Gho (Colorist)

The Story: The resistance against the builders gains a lot of momentum as the Ex Nihilii tries to create a miracle.

The Review: Infinity is cosmic done right. As Jonathan Hickman advances with his larger story in the main title, the books tied to it also deals with the main themes without letting it own go away, creating a symbiosis of sort in terms of storytelling. The threats are huge, the players numerous and the events occurring in the pages are simply gigantic in scope.

Readers who were fans of Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Keith Giffen cosmic corner shall find much to love here, as many a great things are referenced directly from their contribution to the larger Marvel cosmology. The Annihilation wave, Annihilus, Gladiator, Kl’rt the Super Skrull, Ronan, the Imperial Guard and Ikon the space knight all appears in some manner in this tale, adding to the large tapestry weaved by Hickman. Not all of them receive meaningful moments like Ronan or Gladiator, though, with most of them being set in the background or participating in the action silently. Still, fans of the older cosmic stories will probably feel like Christmas came early this year with how those elements are handled.

Another element that is handled in a very competent manner is the tone, which makes the actions and the setting even bigger than it seems. Most of the tone is set in the narration and the dialogue itself, which may comes a bit cold in some places, yet for the most part it really set the mood of war and the tides turning for the heroes. It’s a space opera, a war comic, a super hero comics and a cosmic one, which makes this issue works really well when it deals with its stakes and with grandeur.

Infinity #3 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Dustin Weaver, Jerome Opena (Artists), Justin Ponsor (Colorist)

The Story: After the attack of the Builders, Captain America decides he’s had enough. All the while, Black Bolt gives a definitive answer to Thanos about the tribute question.

The Review: Things gets dire before they get better. This is something that writers knows very well to do, as tension and drama adds much more to a story instead of an even-level or smaller happenstances. Considering the cyclical nature of most stories in our general culture and how superheroes comics really do stick out in terms of cycle, it rings even more true when it comes to events.

In the tie-ins and the main book, the war against the Builders and the arrival of Thanos on Earth had not exactly been without any struggle for our heroes, which built up the importance and the level of the conflicts rather sharply, which is good when it comes to event comics. However, something that many writers try to accomplish, with varying results, would be something I’d like to call the ”Oh snap!” moments. Those scenes are usually the result of build up, resulting in the payoff being immensely surprising or satisfying to the readers. While those moments are subjective to the readers, there are perhaps two of such moments that could very well be established as such in this issue alone.

However, to arrive at those moments of pure super heroic pleasure, Jonathan Hickman makes good use of the two fronts he has established with both of his titles. This time, the issue is divided exactly in two, with one portion completely devoted to the Builders cosmic war and the second half delegated to the Earth, with special devotion to the Inhuman side of the conflict. The pacing for both of those scenes is especially well done, as the comic has a forward momentum that never allows it to spin its wheel incessantly. There is a good balance between exposition, narration, development and action that do bring out the grandeur of this tale that unfolded in the pages of both Avengers and New Avengers.

Avengers #19 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan (Artists), Sunny Gho (Colorist)

The Story: Captain Marvel is captured by the builders as the Avengers and the Galactic Council rest after their battle, tending to their wounded. All the while, a traitor is in their midst…

The Review: It’s an usual and unfortunate thing that event comics drag some other titles in their large plot. It doesn’t always mean it’s a bad thing, but plenty of titles have seen their momentum being a bit lost as several elements of a story that isn’t integral to their own plot and subplots gets shoved in the way. This can destroy the flow and sometime even mean that the readers shall suffer through some plug-ins of other characters and elements alien to their book, which makes it much less enjoyable for those that don’t want anything from those events to begin with.
There are also those that are integral to the story structure, those that actually add something to the whole event or use them in ways that feel organic to the whole narrative. Those are rare, to be sure, but much appreciated, like Journey Into Mystery for Matt Fraction’s Fear Itself or Guardians of the Galaxy for War of Kings. Instead of having to contend with these elements, those stories included them naturally, making them that much stronger for the duration of the event.

What Jonathan Hickman has done with Avengers is even more rare, as he has built up a whole lot of plot points and conflicts throughout his tenure on the title, resulting in an event comics, Infinity. The event, having its own book, is split up in two fronts which are covered by the same author with each of them being in one of the two books. This has caused the main Avengers book to receive a much-needed shot in the arm after what was basically seventeen issues of foreshadowing as Hickman shows full cosmic actions in this title.

Continuing where the last issues of Avengers and Infinity left off, the team is divided in two as those with Captain Marvel are in captivity while the rest are with the Galactic Council. While the comic switch from two perspectives, it juggles very well with both plots at it manage to connect the two together. The pacing is good as there are multiple events in this comic, with many great development brought to the forefront as well as some good character moments.

Infinity #1 – Review

Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Jim Cheung, Mark Morales, John Livesay, David Meikis (Artists), Justin Ponsor (Colorist)

The Story: The Builders are wreaking havoc everywhere in the cosmos as the Avengers prepare to face them in order to defend Earth. However, Thanos might just see this as an opportunity in disguise…

The Review: Event fatigue is something very real for readers. The world can be in crisis so many times before we can get jaded and tired of the fact that Earth (or America) always seems to be the target for whatever catastrophe is coming. Skrulls, political unrest, old Norse gods and so forth have tried to change the Marvel universe in a permanent way, yet nothing real stuck out in terms of quality*, nothing that people really called as timeless or flawlessly executed. However, this one is written by Jonathan Hickman himself, a master of long-form storytelling capable of reaching a rather large scope in terms of stories and conflicts. Could he be the one to actually deliver a Marvel event that could very well be satisfying?

It is, of course, much too early to say, as this is solely the first issue, yet this is a very promising debut. Hickman picks up a vast number of plot threads from his Avengers and New Avengers runs to create something that is logical and organic to his stories. The Builders, the destruction of the infinity gems, the fact that the universe is undergoing a certain crisis, all of these elements are brought to the forefront to create a large conflict that seems to expand as the issue goes on. People that followed both ongoing by Hickman shall be thoroughly pleased by this introduction.

Avengers #15 – Review

By: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer (Writers), Stefano Caselli (Artist) Frank Martin, Edgar Delgado (Colorists)

The Story: As the signal is constantly sent from the Perth site in Australia, the Avengers tries to understand what it is as what it does as they try to stop the madness it causes.

The Review: I have to admit, it is refreshing to see this title being written differently in the past few issues. From what we could see, the pattern that had been seen was that we’d get some action, some exposition and a whole lot of teasing and hinting at something larger. Starting with the prelude to Infinity that began with the latest issue, the whole pacing and the presentation has changed, for the better.

Sure, we still get some exposition, teasing and action, yet the amount in which Hickman and Spencer does so varies by a large margin. Instead of showing quick glimpses of action and of the general situation, both writers focus on a single situation and allow it to develop completely as the Avengers tries to deal with it. It is a much more satisfying read as we can see the depth and the gravitas of what they have to solve.

Spider-Woman #3 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (art), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: Madame Hydra attempts to recruit Jessica once again.

What’s Good: Madame Hydra/Viper is certainly great fun to read and works as an excellent foil to Jessica.  If Bendis hopes to use her as the arch-nemesis of the series, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.  The chemistry is definitely there.  Viper’s voice is well-done by Bendis, a good mix of slimy, conniving villainy and rampant sociopathy.  It’s also clear that in the midst of her intelligence, a few screws are loose.  Several times I felt as though Viper’s dialogue wasn’t quite in-synch with her conversational context and surroundings.  It’s very subtle, but it definitely adds a nice tone to the character.

Overall, what this issue does is muddy the waters.  Jessica Drew hunting skrulls for SWORD is apparently, while fun, just too damned simple for a Spider-Woman comic.  Rather, the possibility of her working as a double agent returns and at the end of the issue in particular, her ethical limits will be tested.  Long-term, this issue looks to make things more interesting.

I also enjoyed the internal monologue quite a deal this month.  The repetitive self-pity and excessive quips of self-loathing that I’ve complained about in past are completely gone.  Instead, Jessica’s snarkiness has been raised, making her far more likable.

On art, Alex Maleev is still putting out an amazing looking comic.  His rendition of Madame Hydra looks almost as good as Jessica Drew, and that’s saying a lot.  It’s refreshing that for once, Jessica doesn’t stand head and shoulders above all the other characters.  Maleev’s drawings of the comic’s urban surroundings are also absolutely fantastic.  His scenery shots nicely break up what would otherwise have been a comic entirely of talking heads.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that barring one quick helicopter chase, this entire comic is essentially one long conversation.  That doesn’t make for the most thrilling reading, nor does it feel like particularly brisk storytelling.

Also, while I did say that I liked Jessica’s skrull-hunting occupation being made a little more complex, I am wondering if everything’s happening just a little too soon.  She’s only hunted down one skrull, and already she’s being approached by HYDRA?  She just became an Agent of SWORD, and it already feels as though Bendis was running out of ideas on the simpler skrull-hunting front, so decided to move onto the next thing.

It’s a shame too that older Spider-Woman continuity is already being brought in to play a major part.  I guess I thought this book was going to be a fresher start for the character than it is and I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

Finally, this isn’t Maleev’s strongest work either.  While the book is by no means bad looking, Maleev definitely goes overboard when it comes to re-using the same images over and over.  This is fine when it’s used for dramatic purpose or pause, but it’s clear that the only motivation here was cutting corners and saving time.  Changing the size or placement of a face does not mean that it’s a different image, and it’s thoroughly unacceptable on an ethical level.  I bought a comic to see illustrating, not copy/pasting.

Conclusion: I’ve really enjoyed Spider-Woman thus far, but this is issue is feels a little phoned in.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

 

Spider-Woman #2 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (art), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: Jessica Drew finds herself in a Madripoor prison and that’s never good.

What’s Good: As always, the first thing you’ll notice is the art.  Maleev’s art once again looks amazing and unlike anything else on the market.  As always, the modeled Jessica Drew stands alongside grimy, blurred surroundings and Maleev continues to work his magic when it comes to the bright lights, whether it be Jessica’s powers or the red tail-lights of a car.  This month brings some light anime influence into his already multi-faceted work, as Maleev draws a flying car that looks like something out of Ghost in the Shell.  Maleev also works a great deal with shadows and darkness this month, really capturing the mood and feel of the issue and the bowels of Madripoor.  The panel structures also continue to have a highly personal feel, from completely black panels reflecting Jessica’s coming to consciousness, to pages being structured around her face.

Everything continues to feel highly personal, as it did last month.  The narration remains highly self-conscious. Thankfully, the irritating little asides of self-loathing that troubled me last month have been scaled back.  Instead, we get the kind of thrilling chase sequence that Bendis and Maleev perfected in their Daredevil days, an action sequence that is pure art.

The book’s greatest narrative achievement, however, is how it deals with Jessica’s somewhat uncomfortable chemical powers related to men.  I’ve always felt that this power was problematic, always verging on some uncomfortable gender grounds.  Objectification, titillation, and the clichéd femme fatale are only a hair’s-breadth away.  Though Bendis almost falls into those waters at the start (the cleavage shot wasn’t necessary), he ends up succeeding in a very difficult area, and it’s all thanks to that internal narration.  Through it, the power becomes awkward and loathed by Jessica herself, as she hates herself for turning herself into that two-dimensional stereotype.  The power is also given a new kind of resonance: there is a genuine connection somewhere between Jessica and every man she cons, and that it’s artificial and forced is tragic, almost like a kind of rape.

What’s Not So Good: The art is nowhere near the level of last month’s issue.   Don’t get me wrong, it’s still excellent, flawless work, but it didn’t have the pyrotechnics of last month.  The work here is much more restrained and much darker.  While it reflects the book’s mood, after last month’s career-defining performance, it’s hard not to feel let down.  The highlighting of particular colors is gone, the larger images are gone, and the use of weather is gone.  It just feels like there’s a lot less going on and everything is taken down a level.

Also, while the self-loathing asides were scaled back, the little references to Secret Invasion and her being tortured by the skrulls were pretty damned grating.  Thankfully it vanished in the book’s second half, but whenever Jessica talks about how bad she’s had it or how this is nothing compared to her past, it’s nails on a chalkboard.  It’s just pure telling when we can just as easily have the showing and it’s beating us over the head with what we already know about her.

Conclusion: It didn’t feel quite as fresh or jaw-dropping as last month, but that’s more to do with how good last month was.  And hey, the price is dropped down to $2.99!

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Spider-Woman #1 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (art), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: Jessica Drew gets recruited by S.W.O.R.D., heading to Madripoor for her first mission to find a Super-Skrull.

What’s Good: In my opinion, this is some of Maleev’s best work.  It’s just gorgeous, gorgeous stuff, sporting photorealistic detail not only in the photo-referenced Jessica Drew, but also in the often very intricate backgrounds.  Even faraway buildings are laden with little windows and cracks.  However, Maleev’s work here is not just that of a detail workaholic; there’s also a tremendous sense of a style here, an odd blend of gritty film noir and dark superhero science fiction unafraid to getting a little creative or abstract.

Maleev also shows outstanding shading and use of color.  He often illuminates an environment by making certain items stand out, such as in a simply gorgeous scene involving Jessica’s yellow umbrella.  He also makes use of his colors and shading to give the best sense of lighting that I’ve seen in a comic in a long time.  A dark room is cloudy and mysterious.  A rainy day is murky and noirish, but oddly romantic.  A night in Madripoor is dense and seedy.  A sunset on the water in southeast Asia is autumnal glory.  The weather and lighting of every scene dramatically changes how the comic looks.  Only enhancing this are Jessica’s powers, which add a weird, sci-fi glow into the mix.

Maleev makes the choice to use a model for Jessica, but it’s a total success, with Jessica coming off as completely natural.  Her looking so life-like actually made me connect with her more.  While not referencing the other characters makes Jessica stand out, it’s appropriate, as this book is about Jessica, front and centre in her isolation.

So far, Bendis is also doing his job well.  It’s clear that he’s in love with this character, and he establishes quickly a very unique, recognizable, and nuanced voice, weighed with a ton of baggage but not without a rye sense of humor that smacks of his work on “Powers.”  This comic mostly works on establishing that voice, and it’s mostly a success; I can say Jessica has a voice all her own and that after this issue, I feel like I’ve gotten to know her a little better.  It’s a very close, intimate comic book, at times claustrophic in its introspection.

When Bendis focuses on her paranoia and her obsessive-compulsive habits, she is at her most human. When she comments on the dirtiness of her hotel bed, she’s instantly likable, almost a friend.  Abigail Brand is also a promising character that I look forward to seeing more of, acting as a more wisened, “been there before,” guide figure.

What’s Not So Good: This comic is a real downer.  In fact, it may be the biggest downer Marvel’s putting out right now.  That’s not a bad thing at all, but Bendis is walking a fine line here with Jessica’s self-loathing.  Her considering suicide was one of the high-points of the book, but I could do without some of the throwaway, snide little remarks within the narration.  I get that Jessica hates herself, but a little more subtlety could’ve been exercised.  Does she really need to use every available opportunity within her narration to throw a little jab or insult against herself?  Towards the end of the book, in Madripoor, it began to feel a little much, bordering on contrived.

Conclusion:  An artistic master-piece with deeply introspective writing.  This is the definition of promising.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. #2 (Motion Comic) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Script) and Alex Maleev (Art) w/ voice work by Nicolette Reed (Spider-Woman/Jessica Drew/Madame Hydra) and Anthony MacKenzie (Detective Chong)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I enjoyed the first Spider-Woman motion comic quite a bit. It was easily worth the cheap asking price, especially considering that it was something that actually felt pretty new.

The Story: Jessica Drew wakes up in a Madripoor prison and, after using one of her powers to secure a way out, she finds herself being rescued by Madame Hydra.

The Script: While Bendis’ script definitely scores points for effectively giving the new series a distinct tone and cool twists, it gets bogged down by the fact that it feels almost too friendly to new readers (well, viewers in this case). Because Jessica Drew’s recent (New Avengers, Secret Invasion, etc.) past has been pretty screwy, I understand the need to get people caught up on her powers and all that. That said, I’m fairly certain that those interested in Agent of S.W.O.R.D. already have a pretty good grasp on the character. Therefore, the script for the second Spider-Woman motion comic isn’t as satisfying as it could be because it largely feels as though the storytelling is still firmly in the “exposition” phase. Sure there’s some action and the plot (which seems to be covering some familiar territory) goes forward, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that everything is moving forward at a slightly slower pace than it should be.

The Artwork: Alex Maleev’s art is fantastic and really one of the big reasons to check out the whole motion comic thing. Gritty, violent, and perfect for the way the story is being told, I really don’t have any real complaints. Seeing his work in action is rather impressive and adds a lot to the overall presentation of Jessica Drew’s story.

The Voice Acting: Once again, the voice acting in Spider-Woman is uneven. While Nicolette Reed handles Jessica Drew well, her Madame Hydra nearly comes across as a mustache twirling cartoon villain. While that would totally work for a comic with a less gritty, serious tone, it feels really odd in Agent of S.W.O.R.D. #2. As for Anthony MacKenzie, his Detective Chong comes across a lot like Reed’s Hydra. The character would work, but the accent is really distracting.

The Motion-Comic Effect: The motion comic effects once again elevate Maleev’s artwork when they are being used in a subtle way. When they aren’t however, the “CG look” proves to be pretty bothersome and sticks out in a negative way. I’m all for chases and explosions, but they’d be a lot more effective if integrated into the artwork in a better way.

Conclusion: While it’s pretty entertaining as a whole, the Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. #2 motion comic is held back from a higher score by a couple of major annoyances.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. #1 (Motion-Comic) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Script) and Alex Maleev (Art) w/ voice work by Nicolette Reed (Spider-Woman/Jessica Drew), Stephanie K. Thomas (Abigail Brand), and Geoff Boothby (Spider-Man)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Since the Spider-Woman motion-comic is quite a bit different than your average comic, I’ll be reviewing it by breaking down each of its different elements before tackling the motion-comic as a whole. Let me know what you think of the format in the comments section. If it’s requested, I’ll tinker with the formula before the next chapter hits Itunes.

The Story: Jessica Drew, still reeling emotionally from having her world turned upside down by the Skrulls, is offered a job to be an agent of S.W.O.R.D. by Abigail Brand.

The Script: The script by Brian Michael Bendis is a bit predictable and fairly standard as far as first issues go. It works well enough, but it feels like a whole lot of time is spent capturing Jessica Drew’s mindset and getting readers up to speed about how things got where they are. While the expository stuff is necessary and expected, it leaves the first episode of Spider-Woman: Agent of Sword feeling a bit dry. A little bit more action would have gone a long way, though I will say that the one action beat effectively captures the emotion that Bendis is clearly shooting for.

The Artwork: Alex Maleev’s gritty artwork is very impressive. It effortlessly captures the tone, mood, and emotion of Bendis’ script. The best thing about the art though, is the fact that it’s in no way overpowered by the motion-comic effects. The effects compliment the work far better than I had expected. From the glowing signs of Madripoor to the brutal action scene, a chance to see Maleev’s work in motion is almost worth the price of admission alone.

The Voice Acting: The voice acting is, in a word, uneven. Most of the time it’s good, but every once in a while there’s a snag that serves as a reminder that a comic script works a bit different than a cartoon or live action one. Nicolette Reed does a fine job as Jessica Drew, especially since Reed’s accent fits Drew so well. My only real complaint is that a few of the more emotional moments seem a bit forced. Stephanie K. Thomas effectively captures the no-nonsense style of Abigail Brand, but something about her delivery left me wishing for a bit more. Geoff Boothby is, quite simply, a great Spider-Man. Out of the three voice actors, Boothby is the only one that delivers lines flawlessly.

The Motion-Comic Effect: Since it isn’t overpowering or intrusive, I have no problem recommending the motion-comic format. On a personal note, I think that Marvel’s motion-comic works far better than the Watchmen motion-comic did back when it was first released. The voice acting is better and the effects blend with the artwork more effectively. I realize more was put into Spider-Woman, but it’s hard to avoid comparing the two.

Conclusion: Since it’s only $0.99, I recommend giving the first issue of Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. a try. It’s a bit slow, but there’s definitely a lot of potential. And while it takes a bit to get comfortable with the format, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 – Review

By Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Sean Chen (Pencils), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inks), and John Rauch (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While Dark Reign: Fantastic Four feels stretched a bit thin even though it’s only a five issue mini-series, it’s still worth checking out for the high-concept story and slick artwork. The Dark Reign tie-in also gives fans of Marvel’s first family a taste of what’s to come when Jonathan Hickman takes over the F.F. ongoing after Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch finish up their run.

The Story: After completing his exploration of possible realities, Reed Richards comes to terms with who he is. Johnny, Sue, Ben and their alternates fight a bunch of Venomy, Skrully aliens while facing the collapse of space-time. Meanwhile, Franklin and Valeria deal with Norman Osborn and Venom/Dark Spider-Man.

What’s Good: Though it has a few weak points (which I’ll get to), Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 is the best issue of the mini-series yet. In particular, it’s a big improvement over the last issue, which was basically just a rehash of the second chapter. Clever, funny, and full of action, the fourth chapter of the Fantastic Four Dark Reign tie-in makes me glad that I stuck with the mini.

Jonathan Hickman shows that he’s really gotten into a groove with the characters and it goes a long way towards making up for some of the pacing issues. Reed’s revelation is delivered with an arrogance and gravity that works quite a bit better than I had expected. Also noteworthy is how well Hickman handles Norman Osborn. The character’s confrontation with Franklin and Valeria, a highlight of the issue, is equal parts humorous and intense. That’s a tough combination to effectively pull off. The king of Dark Reign is written with a menace that’s been lacking since his climb to the top of the Marvel political ladder, while Franklin and Valeria are written in a way that mixes youthful enthusiasm, humor, and intelligence into an effective blend.

Sean Chen and his art team add a hell of a lot to Hickman’s story and character work. The artwork is clean, stylish, and, when it needs to be, awesomely chaotic. There are two particularly strong segments: the bizarre “Venomy, Skrully” alien scene and the scene that makes up the bulk of the confrontation between Reed’s kids and Osborn and Venom. The first scene is hectic, violent, and badass thanks to Chen’s take on the “Venom” look. The second scene is funny, tense, and loaded with personality.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 is somewhat complicated to explain. In one sense, the story seems to be stretched pretty thin, leaving the whole thing feeling a bit light and somewhat repetitive (it seems as though D.R. F.F. #2-#4 all have the same type of plot trajectory). But in another sense, the story seems to be leaving a lot of territory totally unexplored. Reed’s search for information seems rich with possibility and, oddly, underdeveloped. It makes me wonder if the true conclusion to the Fantastic Four Dark Reign story will end not in the fifth issue, but during Jonathan Hickman’s run on the Fantastic Four ongoing.

Conclusion: While it’s not all that it could be, I still recommend the latest issue of Dark Reign: Fantastic Four. It looks great, reads well, and runs on a number of cool ideas.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 – Review

By Jonathan Hickman (Script), Sean Chen (Pencils), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inks), and John Rauch (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be honest with you and admit that I had completely forgotten about the Dark Reign: Fantastic Four mini-series until this week’s shipping list reminded me about it. That probably says a lot about the first two issues even though I gave them solid grades.

The Story: The third chapter of Dark Reign: Fantastic Four begins with Sue, Johnny, and two versions of Ben on an air-ship that’s about to be boarded by Skrull pirates. That situation doesn’t last long as space-time collapses and the group is thrust into another version of reality…and then another….Meanwhile, Reed Richards continues to search alternate realities for superhuman peace by using the supercomputer known as “The Bridge.” As for Franklin and Valeria, they remain in the Baxter building while they await the arrival of Norman Osborn and members of H.A.M.M.E.R….

What’s Good: From the airship battle to the wild-west showdown and the alternate reality Illuminati sequences, Sean Chen, Lorenzo Ruggiero, and John Rauch do a great job of visually bringing Jonathan Hickman’s high-concept story to the comic page. The effort makes Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 the best-looking book in the mini-series so far. It’s a good thing the visuals do a lot of heavy lifting, as the character work and the concept are barely engaging.

What’s Not So Good: The overarching story feels like it’s stuck in neutral. In short, D.R.: F.F. #3 feels a hell of a lot like #2. Ben, Sue, and Johnny bounce around alternate realities as Reed sifts through alternate realities looking for nuggets of information. Meanwhile, Valeria and Franklin sit around the Baxter Building thinking about what to do in case the rest of their family doesn’t return. Those same things happened in issue two and, as a result, issue three feels disappointingly repetitive and somewhat boring.

Conclusion: Pick up Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 at your own risk. It looks nice and has some solid moments, but it feels far too much like the last issue to warrant a recommendation.

Grade: C-

-Kyle Posluszny

Deadpool #9 (Magnum Opus Pt. 3) – Review

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: If you take a minute to check out our “Best and Worst of ’08” feature, you’ll find that “Magnum Opus” was one of my most anticipated things of 2009. Now, with half of the crossover finished, I have to say that it is almost living up to expectations. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s action-packed, and the conflict between Deadpool and the Tbolts makes for some extremely entertaining reading. The only real problem is that I would much rather have the old Thunderbolts (more effective?) team facing Deadpool as opposed to the new one. I’ve got to say though, the new team is starting to grow on me.

The Story: Deadpool, while attempting to score points with Black Widow II, teams up with the Taskmaster to take on the Thunderbolts. I wish there was more to it then that, but there really isn’t. There is a variety of attempts at different types of humor, a lot of action, and a healthy dose of violence…in other words, business as usual.

What’s Good: The highlight of Deadpool #9 is how Wade Wilson interacts with both Taskmaster and Black Widow II. The exchanges he has with both are, in my opinion, downright hilarious and they are made even funnier by the ever present voice inside Wade’s head. Simply put, Daniel Way brings the funny in the third chapter of the “Magnum Opus” crossover.

Also of note is how great the whole book looks. Paco Medina’s cartoony style is a perfect fit considering the tone and his action scenes are just a lot of fun to look at. Juan Vlasco’s inks and Marte Gracia’s colors deserve to be mentioned as well, because the visuals really are the total package.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as Deadpool #9 is, both as a visual experience and a reading experience, it definitely has a few flaws worth mentioning. One of them is that everything just feels extremely basic, like Daniel Way is just going through the (very funny) motions. If it wasn’t for the Thunderbolts, the latest Deadpool would feel very much like any other. In fact, it still does, though in nearly any other context that wouldn’t be a bad thing. I guess it’s just that it’s something of a shame to see a crossover so loaded with potential lean so heavily to one side. Also, and I know I can’t be the only one, I continue to be disappointed with how rather easily Deadpool is dealing with his enemies. While it’s fun to see Wade get the upper hand, it also undermines the effort being made to try and have the Diggle Thunderbolts fill the very big shoes left by the Ellis Thunderbolts.

Conclusion: Deadpool #9 works better as an issue of Deadpool than it does as the third chapter of “Magnum Opus.” I found it to be extremely entertaining (hence the high grade), but couldn’t really shake the fact that it didn’t lend itself well to the whole crossover thing. It just seems like “Magnum Opus” could be (or should have been) so much more.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion: War of Kings – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier & Bong Dazo (Pencils), Rick Magyar & Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Wil Quintana & Mike Kelleher (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Guardians of the Galaxy #8 definitely piqued my interest in the War of Kings. In addition, the Inhumans mini-series that tied into the Secret Invasion left me wondering about how Black Bolt and company would carry on in the aftermath of the Skrull’s plot. However, I figured it’d be probably worth checking out seeing as how the War of Kings one-shot is helmed by the creative team behind the excellent Guardians series and tells a story about the Inhumans.

The Story: Secret Invasion: War of Kings takes place in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. With Black Bolt back as the driving force behind the Inhumans, the Kree science projects decide to finally take the fight to those that have wronged them. The Skrulls, the Kree, and the Shi’ar Empire all get a taste of what’s to come in a one-shot that provides all the action and exposition necessary to get readers ready for the War of Kings.

What’s Good: As cool as the Secret Invasion tie-in was at times (loved the way Black Bolt dispatched of his Skrull torturer), I never really “got” why many consider the Inhumans to be so cool. Now I do. They re-establish themselves in a big way throughout the action-packed (extremely colorful) one-shot and it definitely leaves me wanting more. Long story short, I’ve got to hand it to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for getting me hooked on an event I had almost zero interest in less than a month ago.

What’s Not So Good: The Inhuman Crystal’s narration throughout the book comes off as a bit too melodramatic and heavy handed for my taste. While I understand that the new Inhuman status quo is literally shaking the group to its very core, a little bit more subtlety would have been welcome. Also, while the artwork looks quite well-done for the most part, it suffers from an annoying lack of detail from time to time. And that’s something I find quite surprising considering the impressive work most of the team has done on the Guardians of the Galaxy series.

Conclusion: Secret Invasion: War of Kings works as an entertaining, action-packed prologue to the War of Kings event. While it has a few flaws, I really enjoyed my time with it. If you are a fan of the Inhumans or are thinking of investing in the cosmic crossover, consider it a must read.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

New Avengers #48 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Billy Tan (Pencils), Matt Banning (Inks), and Justin Ponsor (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It’s about time! While I enjoyed the Secret Invasion stuff for the most part, I am definitely glad that New Avengers is back on track. I look forward to see what the series will be offering in light of Dark Reign.

The Story: In the aftermath of the massive Invasion battle, Captain America discreetly calls for a meeting of the “underground” Avengers. The group meets the next day, but the gathering is cut short when Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Carol Danvers show up in a panic looking for people to help find Danielle, the daughter of Cage and Jones that was last seen in the care of Jarvis, the butler now known to be a Skrull. With little hesitation, the New Avengers (with a slightly different lineup) are off in search of the baby and any Skrulls that may know the whereabouts of the one that was posing as Jarvis.

What’s Good: As the first issue of New Avengers to truly feel like an issue of New Avengers in quite some time, #48 definitely does not disappoint. In fact, I’d even say it manages to bring back a lot of fond memories about my experience with the very first New Avengers arc. That’s a very good thing considering how visually impressive and entertaining that turned out to be.

While it deals with some of the ramifications of Secret Invasion as it ties directly into Dark Reign, the book feels surprisingly fresh for a number of reasons. For starters, the dynamic between the characters (new or returning) is handled extremely well thanks to how Brian Michael Bendis uses the fallout from the Invasion as a means to force everyone to become reacquainted and reestablished. It makes the book quite friendly to new readers while at the same time reminding hardcore fans that the dangling plot threads will not only be accounted for, but also addressed. Couple that with the fact that the team lineup is still somewhat up in the air at the book’s fairly shocking conclusion, and you have more than enough reason to put New Avengers back on the pull list.

Also worth noting about New Avengers #48 is how impressive it looks. Billy Tan’s pencils look better than they ever and show that he obviously wants to make the most out of his work on one of Marvel’s biggest titles. There is some room for improvement, however, but I like what I see so far and look forward to what he has in store for the series.

What’s Not So Good: There are really only two things that nagged at me while reading. The first is that the relationship between Ronin (Hawkeye) and Mockingbird doesn’t really seem to jive at all with last week’s Dark Reign: New Nation one-shot. I understand that New Avengers: The Reunion is not coming out until a bit farther down the road, but I hope Bendis takes some time to address why Mockingbird’s stance towards Hawkeye is so icy in The Reunion as opposed what is shown in New Avengers #48. The other thing that bothered me a bit is the way Matt Banning’s inks seem to almost overpower some of the artwork. While only a minor annoyance, it is noticeable enough to warrant mentioning.

Conclusion: To all of those that decided to take a break from New Avengers while it worked through Secret Invasion, it’s time to get back on board. As for those that have never checked the series out, now would be a great time to give it a look.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Avengers: The Initiative #19 – Review

By Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage (Writers), Harvey Talibao & Bong Dazo (Artists), and Jay David Ramos & Chris Sotomayor (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Normally, I would be quite a bit disappointed with the fact that the latest issue of one of my favorites is still tagged with the Secret Invasion banner even after the event has reached a conclusion. However, that’s not the case with Avengers: The Initiative #19. The reason being mostly because of the Skrull Kill Krew and the entertaining battles being fought by the Initiative teams. I actually look forward to a bit more before I finally put Secret Invasion behind me in order to get ready for the series during Dark Reign.

The Story: The various state Initiative teams battle the Skrulls over the fate of Earth. I wish I could go into more detail, but since much of the issue relies on telling the story by checking in on locations all over the country at a rapid-fire pace, it is difficult to really explain much with ruining individual segments. That said, it is rarely confusing and it brings Initiative‘s Invasion arc to a satisfying close.

What’s Good: Dan Slott and Christos Gage once again manage to write some great character moments despite the frantic pace of the story. Each battle taking place is loaded with personality, so much so that it’s almost a shame more time isn’t spent on them. To add on, the artwork does an extremely admirable job keeping up with chaos happening on every page. The issue could have easily turned into one giant mess of action in less capable hands, so I give all the credit in the world to the art team.

What’s Not So Good: Despite how well all the chaos is handled, it is almost a bit too much at times. Good luck trying to keep up with the details regarding all the stuff that goes on. As for the story, I found it to be handled a bit too comically considering how things played out in previous issues.

Conclusion: Avengers: The Initiative works best when the creators are really playing in the Marvel sandbox. The latest issue is a prime example of why that is. Worth checking out, even if you’ve had your fill of Skrulls.

Grade:B

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion: Front Line #5 – Review

By Brian Reed (Writer), GG Studios (Art), Marco Castiello (Pencils), Barbara Ciardo (Colors), and Amerigo Pinellio (Asst. Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: After an extremely promising start, the latest installment in the Front Line series has sort of stumbled to the finish line (sounds like the main Invasion series more than a little bit eh?). And to be honest, I’m not exactly sure why that is, considering that the characters and situations have been compelling enough to hold my interest. I suppose my main complaint is that the story just hasn’t captured the situation as well as I’d hoped it would. With that said, I am still very interested in seeing how Brian Reed and his creative team handles the street level reaction to the main event battle in New York.

The Story: With only a few brief shots of the gigantic Secret Invasion battle, the final chapter of Front Line mostly deals with the aftermath of the event and the personal toll it has taken on the survivors. Journalist Ben Urich finds himself suffering from writer’s block while coping with the loss of his wife and the rise of someone he has written about. Melanie Crane deals with the trauma of losing her father. Officer Bill Dawson takes a desk job and pursues a relationship with fellow survivor Lisa Dobson.

What’s Good: If you can deal with the approach the book uses in regards to the event it is tied to, Front Line #5 proves to be a surprisingly powerful read. With Ben Urich’s emotionally charged narration driving a story about loss and the steps people take to move on after traumatic events, Brian Reed manages to effectively (and realistically) capture an often ignored segment of the Marvel Universe. As such, I find myself extremely satisfied with a comic I really didn’t expect a whole lot from.

What’s Not So Good: While the artwork is more than serviceable, it never really rises above being average. Then again, it doesn’t really need to, considering the story being told. So ultimately it is a very minor complaint. Also, I must mention that I was a little bit irked by how quickly the major battle was glossed over. I understand why the story heads in the direction that it does, but a little bit more time with the heroes might have gone a long way.

Conclusion: While the latest Front Line series is a bit hit-or-miss as a whole, the conclusion is definitely a homerun in this reviewer’s opinion. It hits all the right notes and manages to bring some much needed subtlety and realism to an otherwise bombastic event.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion #8 (of 8) – Review

By Brian Bendis (story), Leinil Francis Yu (pencils), Mark Morales (inker), Laura Martin (colors)

Once again, Brian Bendis (one of my favorite comic book writers) fumbles the ball on yet another Marvel event. If you thought House of M and Secret War was lame, well, feel free to lump Secret Invasion right along with those titles. Sure, the series had some great highs, but the conclusion is so anti-climatic and uneven that I couldn’t help but shake my head the entire time. What a waste.

Right from the get go the on-going narrative/conversation speaks to the reader in past tense. The war is over by all accounts and the plot moves along, connecting the dots as if Bendis is running down his checklist of things to scratch off. The fate of The Wasp? Check. The rescue of the captured humans? Check. Tony Stark made the scape goat? Check. The rise of Norman Osborn and the most ridiculous status quo change to ever hit the Marvel Universe? Check. Oh yeah, and all this goes down in one day. This wasn’t a war or invasion. It was a skirmish.

It’s amazing to see how far Marvel has fallen over the last year. With continuity problems running amuck, the screwing of Spider-Man’s marriage, and now the undoing pretty much everything Civil War set up (not to mention the inevitable cover price increases to $3.99), well, let’s just say I’m at the edge of my rope here. I think it’s time Joe Quesada stepped down and Marvel put some editors in place who won’t let writers run wild with ridiculous ideas. Secret Invasion started off with a bang and ended as a farce.

Sorry guys but Dark Reign is an incredibly stupid idea.

Grade: F (FAIL)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

As I have mentioned a few times before, Secret Invasion is really my first experience with an event series. As such, I don’t have any lingering disappointment from something like House of M or Civil War to compare my thoughts about the conclusion of Secret Invasion to. That said, I am disappointed with Secret Invasion #8…just not to the extent my colleague Jason is.

Deep down, the fanboy within me wants to address and argue every single negative about the book mentioned in the main review. I woke up this morning to find the review and instantly thought to myself “it can’t possibly be that bad.” And you know what? It really isn’t. But that doesn’t change the fact that my critical side actually agrees with nearly every point that Jason makes above. In many ways the event’s conclusion is a big disappointment from start to finish. Now, after reading that I imagine many of you are wondering what’s with the fairly good score then. Allow me to explain.

While S.I. #8 mostly fails as the conclusion to a big, bloated, far too lengthy event, I believe it really succeeds as a mechanism for riling up the masses for the new status quo of the Marvel Universe. Truth be told, outside of a few new books set to launch (especially the Jonathan Hickman/Stefano Caselli Secret Warriors title), I really didn’t have a whole lot of interest in Dark Reign prior to today. Now, I simply can’t wait to see what happens next. That is why I absolutely must give credit where it is most definitely due. It is far from perfect, but it also does what was needed extremely well. And that counts for something.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4 – Review

By Joe Pokaski (Writer), Tom Raney (Pencils), Scott Hanna (Inks), and Guru eFX (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The Inhumans Secret Invasion tie-in has for the most part, been quite successful. It tells an engaging, cosmic chapter in the Invasion story while, at the same time, working to re-establish the Inhumans within the current Marvel Universe. I have had my issues with the series from time to time, mostly concerning the inconsistent artwork and unnecessarily complex storyline, but I look forward to seeing how the Inhumans are going to be situated for the future.

The Story: The Royal Family works to obtain the items necessary to save Black Bolt from the Skrulls trying to make him into the ultimate weapon. Meanwhile, the Skrulls continue their attempts to make Black Bolt crack.

What’s Good: I never thought I would say this but, thanks to the way this particular Invasion story ends, I now find myself interested in the War of Kings. The main reason? The last chapter of Secret Invasion: Inhumans is full of surprisingly effective character work that finally made me feel some emotional investment in the characters and their future. Couple that with some good looking artwork (including a few fantastic full-page shots) and you can consider me happy to have checked out the return of the Inhumans.

What’s Not So Good: The inconsistency in the artwork once again pops up, though it isn’t quite as distracting this time around because it’s kept to a minimum. To be honest, that is my only real complaint with this one.

Conclusion: It’s tough to criticize something that succeeds in doing everything that it needs to do. Definitely check out Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4 if you are planning to follow the War of Kings event.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion: Thor #3 – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Doug Braithwaite (Artist), and Brian Reber (Color Art)

The Story: With the baby safely delivered as promised, Dr. Donald Blake returns to Asgard to find a Super-Skrull on the rampage. Blake soon touches the hammer and the Skrulls quickly find themselves on the defensive as Thor teams with Beta Ray Bill as they fight to restore peace to Asgard.

What’s Good: The conclusion to Thor’s Secret Invasion story proves that there is still a little bit of life left in the tired tie-in formula. The whole book aims for an epic feel and absolutely nails it. Matt Fraction’s writing gives the battle some much needed narrative weight, while Doug Braithwaite’s visuals (with color work by Brian Reber) prove to be a perfect compliment.

What’s Not So Good: For those that are completely sick of the Secret Invasion, there is little chance that this book is going to change any minds. It follows a fairly familiar formula and has very little impact on the larger scheme of things.

Conclusion: Secret Invasion: Thor #3 is pretty much everything you might expect from the title alone. That said, it proves to amount to more than the sum of it’s parts, thanks to the writing and artwork. It works for me, but it is far from essential.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Avengers: The Initiative #18 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage (Writers), Steve Kurth (Pencils), Drew Hennessey (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

The Story: The Skrull Kill Krew continues to go state-by-state eliminating all the Skrulls that have infiltrated the Initiative program. Meanwhile, Ant-Man continues to spy on a group of Skrulls as he tries to figure out some way to get the information he has learned into the right hands.

What’s Good: As always, it is a blast watching the creative team on this series play in the Marvel sandbox that is the Initiative program. The Skrull Kill Krew storyline provides the perfect opportunity to feature a variety of characters, provide some interesting reveals, and show loads of classic superhero action. Simply put, this is a fun book that makes the most of the Secret Invasion framework.

What’s Not So Good: Although most of the artwork is well-done in this book, it lacks the kinetic energy and vibrant colors that this story is known for. While not exactly deal breakers, the visual hiccups (like weird facial expressions) and muted colors keep this one from being all that it can be.

Conclusion: Avengers: The Initiative is at its best as a series when the creators truly embrace the concept of the Initiative program. That is exactly what is happening in the Secret Invasion issues and I really couldn’t be much happier with the result. Visual complaints aside, this is one of the best Invasion tie-ins on the stands.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

New Avengers #46 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Billy Tan (Pencils), Matt Banning (Inks), and Justin Posner (Colorist)

What’s Going On: One month ago, after defeating him, the Hood starts busting his cronies out of SHIELD detention. Only the agents that are holding Madame Masque turn out to be Skrulls. The Hood drags the last surviving Skrull back to his hideout, where he and his evil minions torture the Skrull in an attempt to unveil the secret invasion plans.

What’s Good: Think the Secret Invasion is running out of steam? Did you see the Hood getting involved? I didn’t. And I sure didn’t foresee the power behind him rearing its ugly flaming head in the last panel.

What’s Not So Good: Enough with the homage covers already! Admittedly, this “Bring on the Bad Skrulls” painting is pretty cool, but enough’s enough. Also, of course we still have the problem that with months of infiltration into the highest levels of Earth’s organizations, the Skrulls still seem to have no more sophisticated plan than to sic a bunch of Super-Skrulls on Manhattan. Shouldn’t they have infiltrated our nuclear missile silos, at least?

What It All Boils Down To: This being Bendis, the issue is mostly tough guy talk, which Bendis loves. It works well, for the most part, though you’d think the Hood would be a little humbler now that the Avengers have kicked his ass once already. Like most of these Secret Invasion flashbacks, it’s solidly entertaining. And I still have faith that the eventual wrap up of the invasion will be worth the years we’ve waited for.

Grade: B

– Andrew C. Murphy

Thunderbolts #125 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Christos N. Gage (Writer), Fernando Blanco (Artist), and Frank Martin (Colorist)

The Story: The Thunderbolts finish off the Skrulls they were facing and head off to join the main Secret Invasion battle in Manhattan. This gives Norman Osborn the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills (while giving him an opportunity to raise the influence of his power) should he survive the battle.

What’s Good: This final chapter of the Thunderbolts event tie-in may ultimately prove to be an essential piece of the post-Invasion Marvel universe. With so many tie-ins proving to be inconsequential, this book’s a refreshing surprise. The ending creates some interesting questions for the future, especially considering that a new creative team takes over next issue.

Also good is the writing by Christos N. Gage and some of the artwork by Fernando Blanco. Gage successfully carries on the themes used by Warren Ellis to great effect by incorporating the media coverage of the event into the storyline. Longtime readers will love Norman’s use of the media to further his agenda and it’s complimented by Blanco’s amusing facial work.

What’s Not So Good: Most of the artwork. Blanco’s character work is ugly (and inconsistent) throughout the book and the muddy colors by Frank Martin only add to the problem. Also, the shots of the big Invasion battle are lacking when compared to the fantastic work done for it in Secret Invasion #7, which is still very fresh in my mind.

Conclusion: Invasion fans and those concerned with the future of the Marvel Universe will definitely want to pick this one up. It goes extremely well with the seventh chapter of the main event and hints at what the future holds in store.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Secret Invasion #7 (of 8) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Leinil Yu (Pencils), Mark Morales (Inker), Laura Martin, and Emily Warren (Colorists)

The Story: The penultimate chapter of the Secret Invasion is all about the action. Heroes and villains from throughout the Marvel universe come together for an epic battle against the Skrull army. But this isn’t just a straight forward fight, the final seeds planted months ago by writer Brian Bendis finally come to fruition.

What’s (very) Good: The action. The artwork here is absolutely phenomenal. Each panel packs a punch and it seems as though every character involved in the fight gets a chance to shine. There is a LOT going on in this comic and the art team pulls it off spectacularly. As far as action goes, this is one epic fight that manages to live up to the hype. Hats of to Leinil Yu for delivering the goods!

What’s Not So Good: The dialogue. I know that I may sound a bit too critical here, but most of the battlefield dialogue just simply doesn’t work for me. The banter and catch-phrases, while (admittedly) fun, take away from the seriousness and scope of the battle at hand. I held on to some hope that the encounter would somehow be able to transcend above its summer blockbuster status, but it doesn’t. It is all very fun, but considering how seriously some of this story has been taken, I can’t help but feel the tone is a bit off. It just seems like some of the characters involved are having way too much fun.

Conclusion: For all out Marvel superhero action, you really can’t get much better than this. It doesn’t try to be something it’s not. Whether that is a positive or a negative is up to you, the reader, to decide.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

As short-changed as some might feel, this book doesn’t need the dialogue. Why? Because there’s really not much of a story here. It’s a full blown brawl fest — Marvel porn at its finest. Finally… finally some of those New Avengers and Mighty Avengers stories that were dismissed as “throwaways” make sense and carry more weight. The concept of Wasp being chosen to be the doomsday weapon is a bit silly, though. And why only infect her when you can infect others as a contingency plan? That logic throws me off a bit, but whatever. This once dreaded invasion is showing signs of fatigue. At least I now know why Marvel released that Marvel Boy hardcover a couple of weeks back.

At this point I just want this series to be over.

Grade: C

– J. Montes

Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3 – Review

By Joe Pokaski (Writer), Tom Raney (Pencils), Scott Hanna (Inker), and Guru eFX (Colorist)

The Story: Medusa, Crystal, Karnak, Triton, Gorgon, and Lockjaw make a risky visit to the Kree in order to set up an alliance that will help the Inhumans find the captured Black Bolt. Meanwhile, the Skrulls get ever closer to unlocking Black Bolt’s emotions in order to use his power as a weapon.

What’s Good: This visually attractive book seems just as interested in re-establishing the Inhumans within the Marvel universe as it is with being a piece of the Secret Invasion puzzle. It is a nice change of pace from the more action oriented tie-ins. In addition, Joe Pokaski does some nice character work and clearly understands what must be done in order to ensure the Inhumans remain relevant, following the event they are being tied to.

What’s Not So Good: By the end of the issue, the plot seems needlessly complex considering that there is only one chapter left in this arc. I sense a rushed, messy conclusion in the near future. Also, while Tom Raney’s pencil work is attractive, there is some facial inconsistency that proves distracting on more than a few occasions.

Conclusion: Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3 scores points for doing something different, but it is still a fairly average book all around. Worth checking out if the characters interest you or the future of the Marvel universe is a concern, but not exactly what I would consider a must-read.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny