She-Hulk #33
In the latest chapter of She-Hulk, there is good and bad news. The bad news is that She-Hulk is still deeply entrenched in Secret Invasion. The other bad news is that Kl’rt, the original Super Skrull, is wearing this horrid new uniform instead of the sleek look he has been sporting in Marvel’s cosmic comics. The good news is that Secret Invasion finally comes to a close this issue, for She-Hulk anyway. Thankfully, this month Peter David delves into the secret history of Jazinda and her familial problems. David also provides an excellent reason for the rage Kl’rt has for his estranged daughter.
At the onset of Kl’rt’s appearance in Secret Invasion proper, I was a bit anxious to see how series writer Brian Michael Bendis was going to handle him. In the Annihilation War and its follow-up, Conquest, Kl’rt transformed into a conflicted hero – Kl’rt saved not just the universe but also his sworn enemies, the Kree specifically. So to see him in this event scared the life out of me. Mercifully, David was able to balance the Bwaa-ha-haa super villainy of his past with the warrior at odds with the hero he has become as of late. Peter David was able to use Secret Invasion as a way to flesh out Jazinda’s past, and for that I applaud him, because, to be honest, it is highly unlikely that Jazinda and She-Hulk could defeat the Skrull menace while the rest of the Avengers could not.
Deadpool #2
What Daniel Way has been unable to do in Wolverine: Origins he has achieved in Deadpool. This is an enjoyable read that captures the characters fundamental nature and maintain an amusing tale in spite of the convoluted continuity of Deadpool. Especially the first few pages that re-tell Deadpool’s past but to do so in a way that helps move the overall story along. Somehow, Deadpool manages to convince the Skrulls in charge to allow him to train and mold the next batch of Super Skrulls who just so happen to have his regenerative abilities.
In one regard, Deadpool succeeds in his training to the shock and dismay of his “superiors.” It is like teaching a group of chimps how to pick up and work with knifes. Sure, they can grasp and understand how to operate them but do you really want chimps with weapons? That is the basic problem here as Deadpool teaches them how to kill so well that they have all gone insane with bloodlust. Of course, this was all part of Deadpool’s master plan. The shocking part was seeing the very last page. Somehow, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and the rest of the free world cannot track down this particular guest star yet everyone’s favorite ‘Merc with a Mouth’ can. Apart from that strange little segment, this comic achieved humor where books like Spider-Man aspire to be funny.
Thunderbolts #124
I am not sure if the Thunderbolts’ creative team intends the book to be a dark comedy or a straight-up super hero book anymore. This issue felt all kinds of odd. Norman Osborn is calm and collective and is able to control and alter the moods of this “teams” most mentally unstable character. Osborn’s flashes of genius are the true stand out moments in this comic. To be honest though, to find out Andrea Strucker was who she appeared to be only to be killed that much faster was funny, but also pointless. It feels like Christos Gage was just finishing off previous plot threads established in his one-shots. The art does not help this title out much either, in particular when Radioactive Man detonates in outer space. Since when exactly could he breathe in space and why does he look like a Marvin the Martian on steroids?
Everything about this issue felt wrong. People’s powers were misinterpreted. People are displaying abilities far greater than they have ever been shown to posses. Swordsman taking out an entire Skrull ship was a bit farfetched and absurd. How does he go from getting the snot kicked out of him on a regular basis to being powerful enough to cause that much damage? The only person who felt remotely like they should was Osborn, hence why he stole the show. Osborn has never been one to turn down a good publicity stunt as he shows off for the crew of reporters; I thought the Skrulls commandeered all broadcasts, delivering a speech similar to the one in Independence Day. If the hints about Dark Reign and the cover of this issue are any indication, it looks as if Osborn’s role in the Marvel Universe is about to increase dramatically.
New Avengers #45
The House of M’s resurgence continues in New Avengers, as the Skrull Spider-Woman and Pym freak out over their newly formed reality. This may be a mutant’s utopia but this is the worst possible thing to happen to the Skrulls plans. We all know what happens in the House of M, so let’s cut to the part of this book that is important, namely the aftermath and how it all falls into this zealot’s master plan. The mutants have now been decimated which furthers along the Skrull Spider-Woman’s religious fervor that their mission is truly holy and what they do now is blessed by the God’s.
The two-page spread of the Annihilation wave by Jimmy Cheung is exquisite and explains how the empire got from point A to point B. It also paints the Skrulls in a similar light to that of Earth’s mutants. They both lost a vast majority of their race; both are without true homes; both with nothing left to lose. It is amazing they do not go into more detail the similarities of these two races, most importantly the history between Professor X and Cadre K, the Skrull mutants. Bendis masterfully builds a rapport between readers and Skrull Spider-Woman by this issues end. She truly believes what she is doing is right and will stop at no end. This reminds me of Iron Man in Civil War – both doing what they believe is for the best of all involved in the long run.
Nova #17
Nova continues the basic idea presented in She-Hulk this week as we open with Nova versus Kl’rt to kick things off. It is consistent and surprisingly at odds with a claim that She-Hulk made. As in She-Hulk, we clearly see that Kl’rt has mastered the combined powers of the Fantastic Four when he uses two of them in tandem to save Nova’s life so he can join the invasion and track down his daughter, Jazinda. What sold me on this issue was the reunion of Nova and his folks. Nova’s parents during his first return to earth after the Annihilation War basically gave him the old heave-ho. This time around, they are ecstatic to see the lone Xanadarian space cop back to keep them safe from the alien menace. This reunion in turn allows us to have a team-up we have all been waiting for – the return of Darkhawk, who just so happens to be in charge of security at Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., where Nova’s little brother works. We get the obligatory hero versus hero fight then as usual the uneasy alliance. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning play up Nova’s new-hardened battle expertise in comparison to Darkhawk’s still immature mindset as Darkhawk tries to impress Nova with some flash and pizzazz. Another much anticipated return in this book is the resurrection of a fan favorite hero who perished in the original Annihilation War. This is the most exciting Nova’s series has been. Forget the fact that this is a Secret Invasion tie-in as you have two fan favorites whom seemed destined to waste away in comic obscurity.
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Avengers: The Initiative #17
Avengers: the Initiative kicks all kind of arse yet again this month as everyone’s favorite Shadow Initiative reappears. Ant-Man continues to get caught up in all kinds of trouble as he continuously attempts to avoid it at all costs. More information concerning the identity of Mutant Zero is revealed, and more than ever I am convinced it is Typhoid Mary. First off, the red hair, then there’s the affinity for swords, the telekinesis and finally when Trauma goes to discover her biggest fear it turns out that she is afraid of herself. Typhoid Mary struggles with dissociative identity disorder and the base persona of Typhoid Mary hates her other two selves more than anything else.
Back to the story at hand, the Crusader gets another pep talk from Nick Fury – one cannot help but feel that they’re building him up to end in two possible ways, resulting in him being uncovered and killed or being embraced unconditionally at the stories end. The Skrulls yet again succeed in seeding dissent amongst teams as they get the Shadow Initiative to turn on Trauma. Finally, the issue ends with the new and improved Skrull Kill Krew picking up another two members to their ever-expanding roster – before we know it, the whole Marvel Universe, minus those featured in other tie-ins, will join their ranks. The only problem I have with this issue is it bounces around too much, never allowing any particular subplot to stand out on its own. Still, this has become the best out of the three main Avengers books over a short period of time.
