Post by goldenfist on May 1, 2008 9:44:06 GMT -5
Ign.com review's New Avengers #40.
In my review of Secret Invasion #1, I pointed out how the first chapter of Brian Michael Bendis' recent epic felt extremely similar to the three-hour pilot of Battlestar Galactica. The current New Avengers tie-in issue only strengthened that feeling. The issue stars various Skrulls and focuses on their latest attempt to invade Earth, and it was almost impossible not to feel the similarities between it and one of Battlestar's Cylon-centric episodes. There's one sequence in particular – a scene where two opposing factions of Skrulls argue over their differing philosophies – that had me half-expecting Number Six to show up with a bunch of Centurion Guards to put an end to the debate. The important thing is, when I made my initial comparison of Secret Invasion to Battlestar, I meant it as a compliment to Bendis' story, and I stand by that evaluation. So far, Secret Invasion feels like Ronald Moore's sci-fi epic set in the Marvel Universe, and that, my friends, is definitely a cool sight to behold, even if it isn't Bendis' intention.
While we're on the topic, I should point out that the main difference between Bendis' current story and that of Battlestar is the fact that, unlike Cylons (so far?), the compromised Marvel heroes of Secret Invasion are always fully aware that they are imposters. In fact, it's that fundamental difference that has so many continuity buffs terrified of what Bendis and his story might do to past storylines and long established – and beloved – characters. Suffice it to say that those worriers won't find much in these pages to ease their minds, even if Bendis uses this flashback issue to subtly cover his own rear-end and flesh out the personality of a Skrull character who goes on to impersonate a major Marvel hero. By making this character relatively sympathetic, it seems like Bendis is at least trying to justify why and how a character that was always in fact a Skrull acted the way he or she did in other books.
Overall, the dramatic power of the issue's story rests in the way Bendis mixes recognizable moments in Skrull history (like Galactus's most infamous meal) with the subtle development of the Skrulls' latest plan for invasion. Like Geoff Johns over at DC, Bendis is an expert at transposing his stories over previously established continuity, and here his ability to use past storylines as fuel for a current opus is on full display. Because of its historical context in Marvel's fictional history (as well as one particularly shocking and gruesome scene), the Skrull's latest plan becomes all the more daunting. They mean business this time, and for good reason.
I've made no secret of my distaste for Leinil Yu'sketchy style of art, so you can imagine how pleased I was to see Jimmy Cheung's crisp, clearly defined work between these covers. Cheung's art perfectly captures the evolution of the Skrulls from goofy little green men to physically imposing badasses, and there is never a moment where you'll find yourself giggling at the sheer silliness of the Skrull characters, which cant be said of most of the stories in which they appear.
Review Score: 8.7 Great
In my review of Secret Invasion #1, I pointed out how the first chapter of Brian Michael Bendis' recent epic felt extremely similar to the three-hour pilot of Battlestar Galactica. The current New Avengers tie-in issue only strengthened that feeling. The issue stars various Skrulls and focuses on their latest attempt to invade Earth, and it was almost impossible not to feel the similarities between it and one of Battlestar's Cylon-centric episodes. There's one sequence in particular – a scene where two opposing factions of Skrulls argue over their differing philosophies – that had me half-expecting Number Six to show up with a bunch of Centurion Guards to put an end to the debate. The important thing is, when I made my initial comparison of Secret Invasion to Battlestar, I meant it as a compliment to Bendis' story, and I stand by that evaluation. So far, Secret Invasion feels like Ronald Moore's sci-fi epic set in the Marvel Universe, and that, my friends, is definitely a cool sight to behold, even if it isn't Bendis' intention.
While we're on the topic, I should point out that the main difference between Bendis' current story and that of Battlestar is the fact that, unlike Cylons (so far?), the compromised Marvel heroes of Secret Invasion are always fully aware that they are imposters. In fact, it's that fundamental difference that has so many continuity buffs terrified of what Bendis and his story might do to past storylines and long established – and beloved – characters. Suffice it to say that those worriers won't find much in these pages to ease their minds, even if Bendis uses this flashback issue to subtly cover his own rear-end and flesh out the personality of a Skrull character who goes on to impersonate a major Marvel hero. By making this character relatively sympathetic, it seems like Bendis is at least trying to justify why and how a character that was always in fact a Skrull acted the way he or she did in other books.
Overall, the dramatic power of the issue's story rests in the way Bendis mixes recognizable moments in Skrull history (like Galactus's most infamous meal) with the subtle development of the Skrulls' latest plan for invasion. Like Geoff Johns over at DC, Bendis is an expert at transposing his stories over previously established continuity, and here his ability to use past storylines as fuel for a current opus is on full display. Because of its historical context in Marvel's fictional history (as well as one particularly shocking and gruesome scene), the Skrull's latest plan becomes all the more daunting. They mean business this time, and for good reason.
I've made no secret of my distaste for Leinil Yu'sketchy style of art, so you can imagine how pleased I was to see Jimmy Cheung's crisp, clearly defined work between these covers. Cheung's art perfectly captures the evolution of the Skrulls from goofy little green men to physically imposing badasses, and there is never a moment where you'll find yourself giggling at the sheer silliness of the Skrull characters, which cant be said of most of the stories in which they appear.
Review Score: 8.7 Great
