REVIEW: Avengers: The Initiative - 14

Woah. Looks like Dan was holding out on us with issue 13... This book's a complete belter. And when you read it alongside Mighty Avengers 15... Well... Damn.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Just as The Mighty Avengers did, the Initiative issue 14 takes a look at the work of the Skrulltastic Henry "Hank" Pym, and how he's been using his connections to get other Skrulls into some highly strategic positions. Strategic positions such as - one on every single fifty-state Initiative team.

Dan Slott has done a top notch job with this issue's script, making you wonder what he was upto a month ago, and why it took a tie-in to inject a little life into the book following the original team's departure.

That minor dig aside - Stefano Caselli crafts some truly magical scenes, leaving you genuinely surprised by some sequences, and truly impressed with his stylistic accomplishments.

A marked improvement, worthy of your cash.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(much better than the previous issue - worth picking up)

MEANWHILE: No Skrulls here...

REVIEW: Ms. Marvel - 28

What an absolutely excellent issue.

One of the hallmarks of a good comic is how quickly you get through it without missing any dialogue. I absolutely consumed this book. Were there seconds available, I'd be coming back around now, reading plate in one hand, spoon in the other.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Brian Reed does a fantastic job of creating a truly memorable Ms. Marvel tale that sits in the heart of Secret Invasion, with Adriana Melo showcasing a truly wicked side of our heroine (a person who delights in the death of an enemy, and loves the heat of battle). Oh - and the ending? Well, if that doesn't bring you back for more - I'm not sure there's anything we can do for you.

Truly brilliant stuff.

Happily - I think I can safely carry on recommending Ms. Marvel for awhile...

Pete's Score: 5 out of 5
(brilliant - another perfect jumping on point for Secret Invasion - just like New Avengers 42)

REVIEW: The New Avengers - 42

Wow. What a stark difference to Final Crisis issue two.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Finally, Brian Michael Bendis has given us what we've all been crying out for - what happened to Spider-Woman, and what she's been upto since she became all Skrull-tastic.

To say that this issue has some surprising moments (the Skrulls' three main priorities for example) is an understatement. Jim Cheung effortlessly portrays some amazing moments, and some truly man-tastic scenes (naked Jessica Drew on a table).

Unsurprisingly - this is the best book in the Secret Invasion saga thusfar.

Pete's Score: 5 out of 5
(if you're looking for a good jumping on point to the Marvel Universe, and / or Secret Invasion - this is it)

REVIEW: The Mighty Avengers - 15

What a great book. Since the start of Secret Invasion, there's been a big old 'how did Henry Pym get swapped for a Skrull' question looming - and now, finally, its being answered.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Cast your minds back right to the dawn of the New Avengers, somewhere around the 'Breakout' storyline. Dr Pym is a lecturer on advanced genetic analysis, and his eyes fall on a girl... Janet and Henry break up, and naturally, our good Dr Pym runs to said woman's arms, only to learn (much later down the line), that he ran to a Skrull...

As you might expect, Bendis does a truly fantastic job on the script. He interweaves plot moments from past issues of The New / Mighty Avengers effortlessly, and showcasing the more sinister intent of Henry, as he has been drifting through storylines almost unnoticed.

John Romita Jr (in partnership with Klaus Janson and Tom Palmer) does nothing less than you would expect in delivering a truly brilliant book, including a particularly grim moment in a student bedroom (you'll know it when you see it).

Event in its spinoffs - Secret Invasion isn't stopping to take a breath. It's just ploughing on - creating quality all the way.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(very very very close to being a full score - thoroughly recommended in every sense)

REVIEW: The New Avengers - 41

Now here's an interesting little book. Secret Invasion has piqued my interest over the past few months, and has managed to keep me pretty hooked in between issues thanks to excellent complimentary storylines within books like The Mighty Avengers, Ms Marvel and in this case - The New Avengers.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Remember waaaaaaaay back in issue 6 of The New Avengers, the team travelled to the Savage Land, only to see a bunch of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agents strip mining vibranium?

It was one of those dangling plot lines that Bendis had left in the back of readers minds - and now it looks like we know why. They were Skrulls ladies and gentlemen - damn dirty Skrulls.

Most of issue 41 is told in flashback from the perspectives of Shanna The She-Devil and Ka-Zar, around the time of the Breakout storyline. The issue fills in some interesting gaps - all of which will make you wonder about the next issue of Secret Invasion - and just how far back Bendis has been laying seeds in the Marvel garden...

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(Bendis doesn't fail to deliver - and Billy Tan reminds us all why he's such a brilliant artist)

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)

REVIEW: The New Avengers - 40

One word can sum up this entire issue.

"Woah".

This issue will have an impact on anyone reading just The New Avengers series in isolation, but will have an even greater impact on readers who have been picking up recent issues of The Mighty Avengers, Avengers: Illuminati, and Secret Invasion.

Before I get to the crux of why this issue can be summed up in one word (and I will) - it's worth mentioning the wonderfully crisp artwork served up by Jim Cheuno within the book. Jim has obviously put a great deal of effort into the issue, lovingly capturing the beauty within Princess Veranke, whist painstakingly outlining every little detail within the rocks under her feet.

Truly beautiful stuff, his effort shines through and compliment Brian Michael Bendis' outstanding storyline perfectly.

But anyway - what's the big deal about this issue?

***SPOILER ALERT***

The book takes a slight 'diversion', of sorts, choosing to take us away from the team, and back to an Avengers: Illuminati storyline (where Iron Man, Mr Fantastic, etc were captured, then fought their way to freedom), picking up around the resulting plots / plans put in place by the Skrull empire to rebuilt and conquer.

So - being a Bendis book - there are a few twists and turns within the story. New Avengers 40 sees a shift of main character that makes a nice nod to Marvel universe history, some back story to how the Secret Invasion began (including a minor insight into how it's possible for Skrulls to be hidden so effectively on earth), and a big question mark placed over a superheroine (major spoiler coming)...

***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT***

It looks like Spider-Woman may very well be a Skrull after all - and possibly none other than Princess Veranke - the leader of them all...

"Woah".

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(big things happening in this issue - it will no doubt be essential to give you an insight into the later issues of Secret Invasion)