Secret Invasion Review – “Mighty Avengers #17-19”

This gets the “Secret Invasion” reviews caught up until the new issues hit tomorrow. I still need to catch up on the “Buffy” reviews.

General Information

Title: Mighty Avengers #17-19

Author: Brian Michael Bendis

Illustrator(s):

Issue Pencils Inks Colours
17 Khoi Pham Danny Miki and Andy Lanning Dean White
18 Stefano Caselli Stephano Caselli Daniele Rudoni
19 Khoi Pham Danny Miki and Crime Lab Studios’ Allen Martinez Dean White

Cover Date: October – December 2008

Cover Price: $2.99 US each

Premise

Once more, each issue fills in more details between the pages of Secret Invasion. Issue 17 details a meeting between Skrull Dugan and Skrull Pym which takes place shortly before this Pym first appeared in Mighty Avengers. Issue 18 covers the last training exercise Nick Fury gives his Secret Commandos, leading right up to the invasion itself. Issue 19 reveals Marvel Boy’s actions just before the jailbreak, and then jumps to his meeting with Captain Marvel. It also covers the time between Captain Marvel leaving Thunderbolts mountain, until he meets Marvel Boy.

High Point

Fury trains his team.

Low Point

The Marvels issue. It’s the only one that doesn’t really seem to add anything we didn’t already know. It’s unfortunately, because issues 17 and 18 are two of the strongest crossover issues in any of the tie-in series.

The Scores

The original structure of the issues continues with the event. I particularly like issues 17 and 18. 17 is one of the best Hank Pym issues I’ve seen, and it’s not even really Pym! Issue 18 covers a new perspective on Fury, too. His combat skills were already established, but his training methods have been, let’s say, unrevealed. We’ve never seen him train like this before, but it seems completely in character for him to do so. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artists are always on track. These are very well drawn, with clear action and emotive characters. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is great in the first two issues, but weak in the third. That last issue seemed to contribute little to the big picture. It’s almost as if it was written strictly for the sake of those who didn’t read the leads’ respective miniseries or “Illuminati” leading up to the Secret Invasion. Those of us who did would find little that was new to us. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization is what made the first two issues great. The third had fair characterization too, but it’s very much of rehash of stuff we’ve already seen. I’d have much preferred to see the point where Jarvis was replaced. I assume that was during “Avengers: Disassembled” and that he was the one whispering in Wanda’s ear, but it would still be nice to know how long he’d been a Skrull. That would at least have covered ground we hadn’t already seen. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response was great for the first two issues, and then dropped off rapidly. I give it 4 out of 6.

The flow was smooth. It jumps a bit between issues, but without the displaced sequel issues the New Avengers title had, it’s not a huge problem. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, issues 17 and 18 should be sought out by anyone with even a marginal interest in the event. Issue 19 is easy to skip. I give the set 4 out of 6.

In total, Mighty Avengers #17-19 receive 31 out of 42.

Secret Invasion Review Checklists

Background reviews:

Infiltration reviews:

Main Event reviews (including date the last issue should be available):

Dark Reign reviews:

  • Agents of Atlas #1-2+
  • Avengers: The Iniative #20-22+
  • Black Panther #1-2+
  • Dark Avengers #1-3+
  • Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5
  • Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-
  • Dark Reign: New Nation: December 17
  • Deadpool -8+ (crosses over with Thunderbolts)
  • Incredible Hercules #127+
  • Invincible Iron Man #8-10+
  • Mighty Avengers #20-23+
  • Ms. Marvel #34-37+
  • New Avengers #48-51+
  • New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4
  • Punisher #1-3+
  • Secret Invasion: Dark Reign: December 10
  • Secret Invasion: Requiem #1: December 24
  • Secret Warriors #1-2+
  • Thunderbolts #126-130+ (crosses over with Deadpool)
  • Uncanny X-Men Annual #2: January 21
  • War Machine #1-4+
  • Wolverine Origins -34+