Looks like the X-Men moved to the city by the bay just in time. The Skrulls are moving in bigtime (can you blame them? Its a nice place to live), so someone has to fend them off…

via CBR

Once again Front line shows up the man on the streets view of a current Marvel Universe crisis.

via ComicsContinuum

Looks like Carol’s still kicking NYC Skrull ass. I know she wanted to step into being Earth’s Mightiest hero and all after M-Day etc, but I’ve never seen her quite this tough before. Then again I don’t know if I’ve ever read her at war…

Johnny, Ben, Franklin, Valeria and Lyja have to stage a prison break to get some mad scientist level assistance to get themselves and the Baxter Building the hell outta the Negative Zone and back to the hot zone that is NYC. Frying pan, Fire.

Newsarama has been running a feature that helps explain the Secret Invasion in issue-by-issue, play-by-play style… Here is the most recent column plus the three previous discussions. If you want to readthem in their entirety, please click the “read the rest of this entry link at the bottom of the post.

The Mighty Avengers #16: Holy crap, Elektra’s a Skrull! Oh wait . . . Anyway, this issue skips way back down the line to fill in some gaps. Elektra hired Electro to crack open The Raft? Check. One, no two, no three Skrulls went after Elektra before she was taken down? Check. And Skrullektra drawing the wrath of the New Avengers down upon her was intentional? Okay, that’s a little surprising. I’m guessing that the plan wasn’t actually for Skrullektra (Skrull name, Pagon) to die, or was it? Was the plan to replace Elektra and then sacrifice that piece to alert the heroes in order to sow dissention? It certainly made the New Avengers think that Stark was a Skrull. Then again, maybe that particular piece of paranoia would have played with their heads more if the Mighty Avengers had quit letting them go whenever they had them cornered.

The Incredible Hercules #119: Of all the Skrull betrayals, the revelation of Kirby the pup hurts the most. Because coyote puppies are cute. Especially those with cyborg enhancements. Skrullby creates confusion among the God Squad as they attempt to take the fight to Kly’bn, God of Skrulls. Snowbird is seemingly lost defending her allies in time for Kly’bn to appear. And that’s okay, because he loves you, man.

The New Avengers #43: Unlike many recent issues of the core Avengers titles, this one’s sort of happening in “real-time”, concurrent with the Secret Invasion mini. Captain America from the crashed ship confronts Spider-Man and the Marvel Legends SDCC-exclusive set of Ka-Zar, Shanna, and Zabu. The group clashes, and Cap punks Zabu twice. For a second, you wonder if it IS Cap, because if there’s a lower-powered guy in the 616 who could whip the ass of a sabretooth tiger, it’s Cap Classic. But no, a couple of well-placed native darts and Captain Skrullerica goes down frothing.

Ooops. Spoke too soon. We are now officially in the Flashback Zone (one zone over from the Negative Zone, the former home of Annihilus and current home of a few regular posters). The clock turns back to Skrull World Satriani . . . wait a second, Satriani? Does it have moons named Vai, Malmsteen and Eric Johnson? Anyway, we see the now familiar ritual as Skrull Pitto Nili becomes “Cap”. We also get a motivational breakdown for the invasion by the Queen that answers a lot of questions as to the “why” of the plan. Unfortunately, the Skrull Cap doesn’t answer enough questions for Shanna, as she spears him in the throat. (Interesting note: The sound that a spear makes is Chuck. Oh boy.) Shanna gets her anger at Spider-Man, but they’re interrupted by a Six Budda salute, no doubt courtesy of a nearby Black Widow.

So to wrap-up: Savage Land landing Classic Cap=now dead Skrull.

Avengers: The Initiative #15: The 3-D Man plot picks up as he confides to Confirmed Skrull Crusader that they may be the only two humans left on the base. Why? Because in a panic to remain undiscovered, Crusader had messed with 3-D’s goggles, a move that in turn makes 3-D see everyone but Crusader as a Skrull. In a hurry to get out and warn others, 3-D’s craft goes down in New Mexico.

For the rest of the issue, Crusader comes to the fore as we get a flashback about his origins and how he became a human sympathizer (via the usual channels: candy, movies, and women). He finds himself in the midst of the New York battle from SI #3 and winds up confronting an old comrade. After Crusader kills him in battle, he renounces his shape-changing and declares (albeit in narration) that he’s now and forever remaining in Crusader form.

Thunderbolts #122: This issue finally catches up to the scene of Mar-Vell bursting into the mountain HQ we saw in Secret Invasion #1. The first part of the book does something that seems pretty Skrully to me: they bring in a supposedly cloned Andrea Strucker, but man, is my Skrulldar singing. Soon after, Mar-Vell creates a new door and beats down the T-Bolts. As you’ve seen elsewhere, Norman forestalls him with an offer of a drink and a chance to “talk about it.” And that’s pretty much that.

New Warriors isn’t selling very well! Quick, add a red sky! Er… a single Super Skrull for a 2 page battle and a panel of the Skrull fleet, and we’ll call it a Secret Invasion tie-in! It’s the new hotness!

Yup, that’s all that happened in New Warriors #14 that’s Skrull related. Oh, and the old New Warriors are taking on the New New Warriors, cause they think Night Thrasher is a Skrull (he’s not). Mooooving right along…

X-Factor #33 kicked off a crossover, and a crossover. The team just moved to Detroit, and now they have to deal with Skrulls and She-Hulk. Darwin and Longshot have teamed up and are palling around together. Darwin is trying to get to Professor Xavier, and thought Longshot’s luck powers could get him there. X-F Investigations is hired to find the instantly-evolving lad by his father. Their paths cross, but not before She-Hulk’s partner (and Skrully daughter of Kl’rt the O.G. Super Skrull) Jazinda finds the duo. Why is she looking for them you ask? Well, hold your horses, I’m getting there! Turns out, Longshot is… drumroll please… A Skrull!

As Jaz clashes with Skrull-shot (Long-skrull was too porn-y/pirate-y sounding) and She-Hulk clashes with our favorite Detroit-resident Mutants, we move directly into She-Hulk #31. Despite Monet’s pleas (and later Madrox’s) to forego the super-hero team-up cliché of fighting before realizing they have a common goal, She-Hulk decides to just duke it out a bit. As she does, readers find out the backstory behind the events of this issue. Skrull-shot is actually Nogor, a “talisman” of the gods. Essentially, in order for the Skrulls to go to war and have the blessings of the gods behind them, Nogor must be present first. Every Skrull can feel this presence, hence Jazinda’s sudden awakening in #30. Jaz also reveals to Jennifer that she’s known about the invasion for years, but didn’t think it would actually happen. She says if they can take out (or kill) the Talisman, the invasion can’t go further, as the troops will be so demoralized. Back in the present moment, She-Hulk continues to fight when she should be (and knows she should be) talking it out. She recognizes this, and likes feeling a bit more, shall we say, Savage? Anyway, as Jazinda tries to convince Darwin that Longshot’s a Skrull, he mentions casually that if Longshot WAS a Skrull, Darwin would just evolve an ability to drop the Skrull’s disguise and reveal his true nature. Which, of course, then actually happens the moment Darwin touches Nogor. With that, we pause until X-Factor #34, where the story concludes.

SKRULLS! is the most obvious name for a tie-in one-shot award winner this year (congratulations, Marvel!), and is essentially a Skrull-y Handbook. As such, it doesn’t contain any information that helps the story along at all. It’s a nice introduction (and an extremely thorough one at that) to the Skrulls for new readers, or for people that just want to know more about their previous appearances.

Whew! That’s a lot of Skrulls. Remember, Kly’Bn loves you, baby.

(more…)

I am SO hoping that this is the real thing… Steve Rogers alive and well. But, Captain America fight people who shoot at him with machine guns. I don’t think the real Cap would be taken down by Savage Land natives with blowdarts. As much as I don’t want it to be so, my guess is he’s a Skrull.

Hmmm. Now Marvel knows people gossip and make jokes often… in fact they make a few themselves such as changing As(s)guardian to Wiccan after he came out. Which leads me to wonder… Would they name Jerry Sledge, who is a big strong shirtless beefcake character “Stonewall” and NOT make him gay? I hope not. The Marvel Universe could use a few more of us. I hope his comment isn’t a ‘phobe joke. Having a character like the new Stonewall be gay could be a wonderful effort on Marvel’s part to give gay youth a hero.

I’m going on the new sobriquet and some pronoun confusion I vaguely remember from his first jail cell appearance (cannot find the issue at the moment - will keep looking and perhaps update this article). But if you have that issue and a scanner - send me a 450 pixel wide image of Daisy getting Stonewall outta jail! I’ll give you a shout out.

Just in case some of you have NO idea why I might think the name suggests he’s one of us… read all about the 1969 the Stonewall Riots and thank your predecessors for our strides in Pride since then.

There was a previous Marvel character named Stonewall who was part of the “Freedom Force” (X-men foes Brotherhood of Evil Mutants as government flunkies + a few hero stooges from the 50’s), but he’s dead.

One of the best things to come out of Secret Invasion is Captain Britain and MI-13, the new hit series stars a team that is spontaneously forming to defend the shores of the British Isles and nothing less than the fate of all magic from them damned dirty Skrulls.

In “The Guns of Avalon” the latest chapter in the dramatic saga, all looks lost as the Skrulls have laid siege to Avalon and stolen the power of many important mystic relics. But it is always handy to have a speedster around. Spitfire can get the gang to safety and it looks like Pete has a plan. Well SOMEONE has to resurrect Captain Britain (Its not called Pete Wisdom and MI-13).

And, oh yeah, Its not just you. Spitfire is a freaking vampire (well what do you expect with vampiric Baron Bloods for an uncle AND a son). But I’m guessing she’s a good one or she and the new member won’t be getting along. More on that later today…

via CBR

We know at some point the King of the Inhumans, Black Bolt, was replaced with a Super Skrull. We’ve seen (in New and Mighty Avengers) how Yellowjacket and Spiderwoman were replaced by Skrulls, but no explanation has been given yet as to what happened to the man who can decimate cities with a whisper.

In the coming August released Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1 we see Tony Stark turn over the Skrull Black Bolt to the Inhumans. Lets just say Medusa is NOT pleased. The art looks amazing.

via CBR

BMB has a lot to say about Nick Fury and his new team of Untouchables. I was a bit surprised they didn’t go with Howling Commandos, but I see why they would want to use Secret Warriors… it ties into the recent Skrull Secret Invasion AND reminds longtime Marvel fans of the old favorite Secret War.

via Newsarama

I’m loving these backstories revealing how people were replaced and this week we get to findout when the PymSkrull took out Hank. looks like it may take the dangers of rebound sex to a new level.

So we FINALLY get to find out WHEN Jessica Drew was replaced…that and Hydra is under Skrull control.

Johnny and Lyja bring domestic violence to a new level with the fate of the Fantastic Four (or at least 2 of them + the kids) hanging in the balance. I loved the first issue and this one looks great so far. I’ve wanted to see a real showdown with these two for awhile. Will Johnny defeat her in battle, or will his charm warm the cockles of Lyja’s heart again?

Read what Brian Michael Bendis has to say about the latest installment of the appropriately epic Secret Invasion! Topics include: JarviSkrull’s confrontation with Maria Hill, Captain Marvel’s attack on Thunderbolts Mountain, YellowjacketSkrull sending the Initiative into a trap, Why the SuperSkrulls ignored Hulkling’s words, Spiderwoman confirmed as a Skrull, what she says to Iron Man, What was that purple blast the Skrulls nailed everyone with, who died, the new Howling Commandos, and BMB’s final thoughts on the issue.

via CBR

Five stories from across the Marvel Universe, revealing secrets of the SECRET INVASION! The issue include stories starring the Skrull Captain Marvel, Noh-Varr a.k.a. Marvel Boy (no relation), Wonder Man vs. the Beast, S.W.O.R.D. Agent Abigail Brand, and Namora and the Agents of Atlas.

via ComicBookResources

Dudetube posted this great shot of an enthroned Spider Woman / Skrull Empress (or is she? Jessica Drew was already a double agent, wouldn’t put it past her to be a quadruple agent) from a variant cover for Secret Invasion 3.

And as usual Dudetube finds the hottest clips from xTube…



via DudeTube

Ka-zar strolls into the fray in New Avengers 41. Should have seen that coming, duh! it IS the Savage Land! If I hadn’t been so distracted by the skrullapalooza I’d have expected him to show up before this. Especially since I just read he had a fling with Mockingbird when she was plain old S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Barbara Morse! From the line up down the the Savage Land, Bendis loves confusing triangles.

I’ve always been partial to Ka-zar, and its not just because he is an English nobleman turned jungle lord with the recently waxed body of an underwear model, fabulous hair with no product for miles and his own giant prehistoric sabertooth tiger. OK, maybe it is, but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway he’s showing up in Secret Invasion next Thursday (DON’T FORGET MEMORIAL DAY DELAYS SHIPPING).

He’s looking fine as always. Oh yeah, he brought that woman he’s always with. His beard, Shanna the She-Devil (well in my version anyway).

CBR has solicits for Marvels X-Men titles being released in August. A few that look ESPECIALLY interesting to me are… X-FACTOR SPECIAL: LAYLA MILLER ONE-SHOT, X-MEN ORIGINS: JEAN GREY, X-FACTOR #34, UNCANNY X-MEN #501 (looks like Pixie is part of the team, albeit in distress already) and SECRET INVASION: X-MEN #1 (of 4)

Lucas Siegel over at Newsarama pointed out an X-Men story arc in 1999 has some connotations in the present Secret Invasion. Excerpt below, full article here

In a 1999 Alan Davis story arc, the X-Men were taken from their home and shot through multiple dimensions, chasing a super-charged Juggernaut. After his defeat, in X-Men #89, they were sent to none other than the Skrull homeworld, with the time being just prior to Galactus’ arrival. The strange thing is, there was a simulacrum of 1970s NYC there, populated by facsimiles of all of Earth’s heroes. They even had technology that mimicked the various abilities of these heroes. These faux-heroes spend their days studying hours of Earth news footage, hoping to learn the ins and outs of the heroes they mimic. Professor Xavier even says, “They’re a legion of alien soldiers committed to apparently infiltrating our world…”

from Newsarama article by Lucas Siegel

This is the story that results in Galactus devouring the homeworld so they remember it. But If that story happend when the X-Men were sent into the past, Wouldn’t it have happened BEFORE the iluminati attck on the skrulls that pissed them off so? Or were the Illuminati really active that far back?

Gage Talks “Thunderbolts” with CBR