Secret Invasion Review – “Incredible Hercules #118-120”

Here’s the next “Secret Invasion” review. I’ll keep posting one per weekday until the reviews are caught up, which should be some time next week.

General Information

Title: Incredible Hercules #118-120

Author: Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente

Illustrator(s): Rafael Sandoval (pencils), Roger Bonet and Greg Adams (inks), Martegod Gracia, Dennis Calero and Raul Trevino (colours)

Cover Date: Cover dates range from August to October 2008

Cover Price: $2.99 US / $3.05 Can each

Detailed coverage of all applicable issues of all Secret Invasion related titles can be found at this address.

Premise

Athena has organized a squadron of Gods to fend off the invasion. The Skrulls are attacking due to their religious beliefs, so the Earth Gods band together to take on the Skrull gods, with the intention to destroy the Skrull faith and support system, dooming the Invasion to failure. Of course, with a Skrull in their midst, this may not work as planned.

High Point

Herc’s backup plan.

Low Point

The detour to face off against Nightmare seemed rather pointless. Also, the fallout from the arc should have been felt in the main title, but hasn’t yet.

The Scores

This is an original approach to one of these major events, with a plan based on undermining the enemy’s faith rather than taking a head-on assault. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork by Sandoval and company keeps things well in line with the tone of the issues. The action is in a rather ethereal plane, and the art is well suited to the abstractions that run rampant within. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is slowed by the detour when facing Nightmare, but otherwise it works well, revealing much of the Skrull religion that is driving the invasion. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization works well, revealing much for Hercules, developing him further than I’ve seen from his Avengers days. Amadeus and Snowbird had similar developments, but the other gods kept their single-dimensional characterization they’ve had since the original mythology. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response is good, filling in a lot of the Skrull background. So far, aside from the Avengers titles, this is the most relevant tie-in out there. I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow is interrupted only by the detour with Nightmare. I give it 4 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a decent tie-in, relating to the main event while moving its own story forward. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Incredible Hercules #118-120 receive 32 out of 42.

Secret Invasion Review Checklists

Background reviews:

Infiltration reviews:

Main Event reviews (including date the last issue should be available, or “complete” if they’re all out):

  • Secret Invasion #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7: October 22, #8: November 19, full series: November 19
  • Avengers: The Intiaitive #14-19: November 26
  • Black Panther #39-41: complete
  • Captain Britain and MI 13 #1, #2, #3, and #4.
  • Deadpool #1-3: October 8
  • Guardians of the Galaxy #4-6: October 15
  • Incredible Hercules #117, #118-120
  • Iron Man: Diretor of S.H.I.E.L.D. -35: November 19
  • Mighty Avengers #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, 17-20: November 26
  • Ms. Marvel #28-30: complete
  • New Avengers #40, #41, #42-47: November 26
  • New Warriors #14-15: Complete
  • Nova #16-18: October 29
  • Punisher: War Journal #24-25: November 29
  • Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #1-3: October 22
  • Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1, #2, and #3.
  • Secret Invasion: Frontline #1-5: November 19
  • Secret Invasion: Home Invasion (online only)
  • Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4: November 12
  • Secret Invasion: Runaways / Young Avengers #1-3: complete
  • Secret Invasion: Thor #1-3: October 29
  • Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?
  • Secret Invasion: X-Men #1-4: November 19
  • Thunderbolts #122-125: October 22
  • X-Factor #33-34, She-Hulk #31-33

Aftermath (Dark Reign) reviews:

  • Avengers: The Iniative #20-?
  • Dark Reign: New Nation
  • Invincible Iron Man #8-?
  • Ms. Marvel #34-?
  • New Avengers #48-?
  • Secret Invasion: Dark Reign
  • Secret Invasion: Requiem #1
  • War Machine #1-?
  • several unannounced titles, I’m sure

3 replies on “Secret Invasion Review – “Incredible Hercules #118-120””

  1. More Snowbird, please…
    I really enjoyed these issues. I always liked Hercules in Avengers, but I didn’t really care about him. With this series, he’s getting the treatment he deserves. With Cho along, we’re getting the opportunity to see what while he’s still mainly a brawler in action, he is actually thinking deeper thoughts than "Have at thee!" (This phrase, by the way, seems to apply equally to enemies, food and women.)

    Snowbird, too, has been under-utilized (like most of classic Alpha Flight – though I guess they’re all dead now?) over the years. Both she and Hercules are half-human, so there’s potential there if they decide to explore it by keeping her around a while.

    Overall, Secret Invasion has been a lot of fun.

    • Re: More Snowbird, please…

      …like most of classic Alpha Flight – though I guess they’re all dead now?…

      If you missed it, it was in the New Avengers "The Collective" arc that ran right before Civil War. Sasquatch then came back from the dead without explanation written by Bendis, and his head was seen in the Skrull catalog, so I’m betting he’s one of the Skrull infiltrators.

      • Re: More Snowbird, please…

        …like most of classic Alpha Flight – though I guess they’re all dead now?…

        If you missed it, it was in the New Avengers "The Collective" arc that ran right before Civil War. Sasquatch then came back from the dead without explanation written by Bendis, and his head was seen in the Skrull catalog, so I’m betting he’s one of the Skrull infiltrators.

        No, I did read it. I tend to change statements of comic book deaths as questions because, well, come on. :)

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