REVIEW: Secret Invasion - 3

Secret Invasion has up until now, been a brilliant rollercoaster ride - keeping fans and casual readers happy alike. But now that issue 3 is out, is the series starting to drag a little?

Hell no!

Issue 3 offers up some of the tastiest treats so far, with utterly superb artwork from Leinil Francis Yu, and a twisting, turning rollercoaster of a script delivered by Brian Michael Bendis.

***SPOILER ALERT***

The issue starts off on the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier, with Jarvis (of all characters) requesting agent Hill's full and total surrender, and quickly runs over to Captain Marvel throwing Venom halfway across Colorado before sitting down over a drink with Norman Osborn.

Interest piqued much?

Battles shift between locations throughout the issue, but ultimately come to rest in Times Square, with heroes falling left right and centre (including a grisly death), until a forgotten friend steps into the limelight to battle the Skrulls...

As you might expect, this issue is a great book - but its impact will be lessened to those not picking the series up monthly. It is however, a perfectly good book to get you up to speed on where things are at the moment - so if this is your first Secret Invasion book - you'll be well looked after.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(well worth the price of admission)

REVIEW: Secret Invasion - 2

It's here - issue 2 of Secret Invasion is out - and just how does it measure up to the shock ending of issue 1?

***SPOILER ALERT***

Well - it isn't a huge surprise to hear that it's another powerhouse issue, with an excellent script from Bendis and spectacular artwork from Yu - but what does comes as a surprise is the sheer weight of nostalgic heroes that have emerged from that crashed spaceship.

Doing a really quick rollcall we have: The Invisible Woman, Iron Man, Phoenix, Scarlet Witch, Ms. Marvel, Emma Frost, Captain America, Vision, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Mockingbird, Spider-Man, Hawkeye and Thor - all with a funky 70s styling to them - all confusing the pants off both groups of Avengers.

As you'd expect, with that many skrull-perheroes and superheroes staring at each other, a bit of a shakedown kicks off. At the end of the fighting, there is one (possible) confirmation that a 70s hero (or heroine) isn't a Skrull, but I won't spoil that reveal for you - as it's a genuinely warm moment in the book, giving one Avenger some much needed good news.

Most of the story focuses on the Savage Land confrontation - but the tail end of the book showcases the beginnings of the not-so-secret-but-rather-all-out Skrull invasion, with a mother ship landing just outside of the Baxter Building and introducing the earth to the new Super Skrulls...

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(as I've come to expect from any recent Marvel crossover - this book delivers in all areas - recommended)