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Secret Invasion: Dark Reign review
Main story script by Brian Michael Bendis
Main story art by Alex Maleev
Review by Ryan Stevens
Reader Be Warned. If you have yet to read Secret Invasion #8, it will be thoroughly spoiled by this review. Please read the final issue then come back here afterwards. Don’t worry, we’ll still be here. .
As the sun sets on “Secret Invasion”, Marvel’s latest earth-shaking crossover ( I believe the 3rd in as many years. Marvel Earth must be pretty shaken right now), many questions still linger about how that story ended, as the Marvel Universe now faces a very uncertain future. Norman “Green-Frikkin-Goblin” Osborn has been given the keys to the kingdom in the Marvel U, and what does he do with this new-found power? He calls together a meeting with Loki, Emma Frost, Doctor Doom, Namor, and The Hood (Not a spoiler; it’s on the cover!). The majority of this issue is Osborn laying out his business plan with his new partners, explaining to them how things will work in his new world order. While Osborn seems to have the perfect plan, this issue does a great job of reminding the reader that these are, in fact, VILLAINS. Early cracks start to show in the alliance as sub-factions form, one member’s resolve appears questionable, and Osborn, the man in charge, is shown to be nothing short of completely insane, taking the life of an up-and-coming character without much thought. While it’s certain the Marvel heroes will eventually take this “cabal” head-on, the question of how bad the fight will be is partially answered in this issue, and the answer is “VERY bad.”
While Bendis does very well laying the groundwork for things to come this issue, there are a few problems. The most glaring error is Bendis’ treatment of Namor, who’s dialogue makes him sound like a buffoon, and nothing like the regal, if hot-headed, ruler he is usually portrayed as. Now that I think of it, this cabal, as written by Bendis, is a bit like an evil Breakfast Club. Emma is the goody-goody, Namor’s a dumb jock, The Hood is the trouble-making problem child, Loki is the crazy chick, Doom is a stuck-up snob, and Osborn is the cool guy. Bendis has a very unique style of dialogue, and it lends itself well to “talkies” like this one with almost all talk and no action. This may annoy some fans, but this reviewer enjoys plot development only slightly more than fisticuffs. Besides, this is a set-up issue, so fighting this early would have been out of place.
The art by Alex Maleev is a mixed bag. On the plus side, Norman looks suave enough to almost trust…until the Goblin comes out to play near the end. Loki looks like a complete psychopath, as a Goddess of mischief should , and Doom looks as menacing as usual… from the neck up, at least. There is an instance where Doom’s arms seem to be covered in thick gray fur rather than plated armor, and it was so jarring that I honestly stopped reading and thought, What’s wrong with his arms?. This kind of thing really distracts and detracts from the main story. Also, Maleev has a penchant for stray lines, further muddling the story’s art. Yet again, Namor gets thrown under the bus, being drawn as a drunk and a bum, complete with haggard stubble. The Hood also looks a bit drug-addled and pudgy, which is not normal for the character. Furthermore, there is a full-page image of one of the most constipated faces I have ever seen, and I’m pretty sure that was not the intention in Bendis’ script.
The issue is filled out by three previews of upcoming series: Secret Warriors, Agents of Atlas, and War Machine. They were each fairly nice “taste tests” of each series, and will probably garner some new customers. As for the main story, it is true that very little happened outside basic set-up for the new MU status quo. Namor was grossly mishandled by both Bendis and Maleev. The art was a mixed bag of good, ok, and bad. Overall, this is a very nice epilogue to Secret Invasion and I mildly recommend it to anyone looking to get in on the ground floor for the next chapter of the Marvel Universe.
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