Mighty Avengers: Secret Invasion Book 2 (Brian Michael Bendis) collects issues #16-20 of Mighty Avengers, five single-issue stories each serving to illuminate a character or situation from Secret Invasion.
It's an uneven collection. Three of the stories are quick character sketches, heavy on swordfights or explosions but light on plot. One issue shows how Elektra was captured by the Skrulls and her doppleganger took control of the Hand ninja clan. Two very similar issues depict Skrull sleeper agents becoming overly influenced by the personalities they're attempting to replicate, and ultimately getting cut down by their own kind. Reading these vignettes, one can't help but wonder if Bendis stretched himself just a little too thin between the main Secret Invasion mini, his pair of Avengers titles (and the Dark in development), Powers, etc. There are some fascinating moments here, and snatches of typically Bendis dialogue (which I love), but they read a little like official Secret Invasion fanfic. They're drabbles.
The Nick Fury issue is stronger, another preview story for the new Secret Warriors. We learn what it's like to be a super-powered teenager in training with the world's oldest, grumpiest master spy. It made me wish that the actual Secret Warriors book was written this tightly and hope that it will be, once Jonathan Hickman has a little more time to settle into the concept.
But it's the final story that makes the whole book worth the price of admission. Hank Pym (a.k.a. Ant Man a.k.a. Giant Man a.k.a. Goliath a.k.a. Yellowjacket, soon to be the new Wasp [MPD much? - RD]) returns from Skrull captivity to face a radically new Marvel universe. He wasn't there for House of M or Civil War or World War Hulk, and even the Secret Invasion was over when he finally stepped out of that Skrull spaceship.
His friends have turned on each other, torn the superhero community apart, and his wife (Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp) is dead. Of course it's at the funeral that he finally breaks down, lashes out inevitably and inappropriately. His grief, coupled with the way in which Thor steps in for his friend, quite literally put tears in my eyes. Granted, anyone who knows me will attest that's not entirely rare, but even so, it's an outstanding and moving story. Plus, we get to see Clint Barton drop the F-bomb (okay, technically the "*$#%!"-bomb) on Norman Osborn in a church. What's not to love about that?
- JC
It's an uneven collection. Three of the stories are quick character sketches, heavy on swordfights or explosions but light on plot. One issue shows how Elektra was captured by the Skrulls and her doppleganger took control of the Hand ninja clan. Two very similar issues depict Skrull sleeper agents becoming overly influenced by the personalities they're attempting to replicate, and ultimately getting cut down by their own kind. Reading these vignettes, one can't help but wonder if Bendis stretched himself just a little too thin between the main Secret Invasion mini, his pair of Avengers titles (and the Dark in development), Powers, etc. There are some fascinating moments here, and snatches of typically Bendis dialogue (which I love), but they read a little like official Secret Invasion fanfic. They're drabbles.
The Nick Fury issue is stronger, another preview story for the new Secret Warriors. We learn what it's like to be a super-powered teenager in training with the world's oldest, grumpiest master spy. It made me wish that the actual Secret Warriors book was written this tightly and hope that it will be, once Jonathan Hickman has a little more time to settle into the concept.
But it's the final story that makes the whole book worth the price of admission. Hank Pym (a.k.a. Ant Man a.k.a. Giant Man a.k.a. Goliath a.k.a. Yellowjacket, soon to be the new Wasp [MPD much? - RD]) returns from Skrull captivity to face a radically new Marvel universe. He wasn't there for House of M or Civil War or World War Hulk, and even the Secret Invasion was over when he finally stepped out of that Skrull spaceship.
His friends have turned on each other, torn the superhero community apart, and his wife (Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp) is dead. Of course it's at the funeral that he finally breaks down, lashes out inevitably and inappropriately. His grief, coupled with the way in which Thor steps in for his friend, quite literally put tears in my eyes. Granted, anyone who knows me will attest that's not entirely rare, but even so, it's an outstanding and moving story. Plus, we get to see Clint Barton drop the F-bomb (okay, technically the "*$#%!"-bomb) on Norman Osborn in a church. What's not to love about that?
- JC
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