EW.COM PREVIEWS FIRST TEN PAGES OF SECRET INVASION #1

**MattBrady** · 03-26-2008, 09:42 AM

In a first for a Marvel comic event, Entertainment Weekly has posted the first ten pages of next week’s Secret Invasion #1 on its website. The largely spoiler free preview sets up the eight issue miniseries which will run through the remainder of the year.

The first ten pages set up the remainder of the issue, that is, the roots of the Skrull’s fascination with earth and, presumably, the invasion itself; Tony Stark seeking help from Hank Pym and Reed Richards after revealing the Elektra-Skrull to them; and a Skrull ship crash-landing in the Savage Land with the New Avengers and Mighty Avengers gearing up to respond.

Entertainment Weekly’s coverage also includes an interview with Secret Invasion writer Brian Bendis, who, after acknowledging that the story of a “secret invasion” does carry more weight after 9/11, answered the question of “why Skrulls” with:

“They don't invade because — 'Muhahaha! We need the Earth!' — but actually on a deep, religious level they already believe Earth is part of their empire. In the past, they were written as laser-gun toting, spaceship aliens. [But] they are shape shifters. Just think about what that means — they [could] infiltrate us and feed off our existing fears and paranoia. And it isn't government or religion that stands in their way, it's the people who have the physical [super]power to step up. Once the Skrulls announce their intentions to the world, they say, 'You're destroying your world, the way you live. One of you will live in excess right next to someone who's starving, and none of you do anything about it. Our system works. Our system is complete. We're coming to give it to you.' For some people, that's a damn attractive offer. They don't feel like they're being invaded. They think, 'Finally someone's here to save us.' So what's right or wrong?”

Click the links above for the preview and interview, and come back and let’s hear what you think.

rwe1138 · 03-26-2008, 09:49 AM

Jarvis is so just about to clunk Spider-Woman in the back of her head with a frying pan.

Stormbreaker · 03-26-2008, 09:57 AM

Well, color me impressed. I know they're dialogue and back-story pages, but they still piqued my curiousity. So count me in! However, the main series is all I'll get. I don't plan on picking back up the Avengers titles any time soon.

The Phazer · 03-26-2008, 10:00 AM

Well, that pretty much confirms Mr Annonymous spoilers and that Marvel_b0y is a plant then.

Phazer

Simon DelMonte · 03-26-2008, 10:01 AM

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

chap22 · 03-26-2008, 10:05 AM

i realize and fully admit i'm not exactly an unbiased critic of Bendis's, but....come on. what happened to his "realistic", super-awesome wonderful dialogue?

"you're just like one of the all-time greatest agents of SHIELD ever."

seriously? and it's not like that's the only example. ugh.

**MattBrady** · 03-26-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon DelMonte

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

But the entire Marvel Universe was created with metaphors to the real world intertwined throughout, from the space race to the cold war to aliens standing in for Soviet Agents, the perils of new technology, and many, many more...wasn't it?

MattB

KoozyK · 03-26-2008, 10:05 AM

more like 8 pages, a cover and a cryptic quote.

looks ok. when's this out?

doesn't reed already know about the skrull body from illuminatti 5? why does he act so surprised?

Moosarama · 03-26-2008, 10:05 AM

"What do we got?"

Bad English, captain!

johnwayn10 · 03-26-2008, 10:07 AM

WOW, looks great! Can't wait.

The Mirrorball Man · 03-26-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon DelMonte

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

When did that happen?

Moosarama · 03-26-2008, 10:10 AM

By the way, when in Skrull form, do Skrulls usually possess long wavy jet black hair? Was this Skrull chosen to pose as Elektra because she already had the hairstyle covered?

ausuran · 03-26-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon DelMonte

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

And that would have been when? Fiction has always been a metaphor for something in the real world. At least, good fiction. In my opinion.

ClaudioPozas · 03-26-2008, 10:12 AM

Why couldn't Leinil Yu do art like this when he did Superman: Birthright?

(not that the writing there helped *at all*, but still...)

Question86 · 03-26-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormbreaker

Well, color me impressed. I know they're dialogue and back-story pages, but they still piqued my curiousity. So count me in! However, the main series is all I'll get. I don't plan on picking back up the Avengers titles any time soon.

Ditto for me

lockheed12 · 03-26-2008, 10:18 AM

wasn't too enthused to pick this up (esp. following those teaser posters...) but now could be tempted...!

Bugaboo-X · 03-26-2008, 10:20 AM

It'll start off strong and then fizzle down to suckitude two-thirds into the event. Marvel is consistent in that way, at least.

Snikkas · 03-26-2008, 10:21 AM

my arm might just have been twisted around enough to buy this next month

cookepuss · 03-26-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

Comics were always metaphors. Teen angst. Puberty. Racism. The space race. Cold War. Hedonism. There's always been a message. Secret Invasion is no different.

In a post 9/11 America, there's still a fundamental fear of localized terrorist cells and sleeper agents. The notion that somebody with an anti-American sentiment and the technical skills or physical wares to wage terror on home turf is still very real. Time and again, we've learned that home grown "sleeper" terrorists don't have to look like any one stereotype. They can be your friend at work, your next door neighbor, or just about anyone.

The idea of a secret invasion is an appropriate metaphor for the current political climate and the fears of homegrown terrorism, as stimulated by outside forces. It is an equally logical extension of Marvel's use comics to portray the Iraq war and the various opinions on it in their own "Civil War" event. The idea of registration in that event is not so different than the real government's increased security measures. The massacre at Stamford was a clever fictionalized version of the WTC bombings.

As somebody who lives in NYC, I can tell you that the "secret invasion" idea seems highly topical. Even the subway notifications tell us to keep an open eye out for trouble. The implication is that anybody around you - regardless of race, color, creed, or economics - could be "out to get you" in some form or another.

Let's face it, we're so far beyond Orwell's 1984 that it's not funny. We're encouraged to narc on our neighbors. We've got agencies spying on us, against common logic or even the laws themselves. We're subjected to random, unconstitutional searches. Civil liberties are suspended - in the name of security - so that the government play "Where's Waldo" (spotting the homegrown terrorist).

You can be black, white, hispanic, or whatever. You can be Catholic, Muslim, an Atheist, or a Jew. You an be rich or poor - a scientist or a stripper. Secret Invasion isn't a good metaphor? C'mon. In 2008, everybody's a suspect. Everybody's potentially "skrully" in the government's eyes.

It may be a bit blunt in its matter of fact execution of an idea, but Secret Invasion is a great metaphor. It continues the Marvel tradition. It isn't subtle, but it's appropriate. For Marvel, it's business as usual.

Comic are as much about entertainment as they are social commentary.

Blanket-Man · 03-26-2008, 10:23 AM

Yuck, I was actually looking forward to this series, not realizing that Leinil Yu was penciling it. His art does absolutely nothing for me. It looks a little better here than his recent Avengers work, but it's still sloppy and hard to follow, IMHO. Such a sharp contrast to recent Avengers artists like Finch, McNiven, Bagley, Cho... Not all of those guys are suited for an action strip (I'm thinking of Frank Cho), but at least I can tell who's who and what's going on in all of their work.

Question86 · 03-26-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

But the entire Marvel Universe was created with metaphors to the real world intertwined throughout, from the space race to the cold war to aliens standing in for Soviet Agents, the perils of new technology, and many, many more...wasn't it?

MattB

Exactly

X-men - Race riots of the 1960s

Simon DelMonte · 03-26-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

But the entire Marvel Universe was created with metaphors to the real world intertwined throughout, from the space race to the cold war to aliens standing in for Soviet Agents, the perils of new technology, and many, many more...wasn't it?

MattB

But those old comics were fun. These are as depressing as the newspapers. I want a little escapism in my escapism.

Simon DelMonte · 03-26-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookepuss

And a "secret invasion" is not?

You miss my point. I agree it's a metaphor. I just don't want to have it my super-hero comics. I also live in NYC, and it's hard enough dealing with life since 9/11 without seeing every Marvel comic (and many DC comics) throwing it back in my face constantly.

Dragavon · 03-26-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon DelMonte

But those old comics were fun. These are as depressing as the newspapers. I want a little escapism in my escapism.

Then go read the Johnny DC stuff.

Unicron78 · 03-26-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon DelMonte

Anyone else miss the days when comics weren't all meant as metaphors for the real world?

I miss the days when people didn't need to shoehorn "contemporary" metaphors into alien and capes stories. Comics have fallen into this mode of trying to justify their existence/relevancy by forcing ties and parallels to the 'real world' for people when sometimes they aren't really there.

The idea that SI in any way mirrors real life issues in any serious manner is......cute.

Oh, and I am referring primarily to mainstream Marvel/DC comics, not the largely indie ones that really do make intelligent observances about society around us.