REVIEW: ‘Secret Invasion,’ Issue #2

Secret Invasion #2 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Ryan North, art by Francesco Mobili, colours by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Joe Caramagna. With Maria Hill now aware of the Skrulls being on Earth, she turns to the Avengers for help. But first, she needs to test if they are all who they say they are.

One of the questions in a previous review is answered very quickly in the second issue. The first Skrull invasion is definitively mentioned and recapped, highlighting the Earthwide nature of the event. This iteration at present seems smaller in scale, slowly working its way outwards. Issue #2 is slow yet intense, focussing on the test of the Avengers and working out which one is the Skrull. That tension is released by a brilliant, multiple-page fight, kept inside an enclosed space and filled with energy. From there, a plan unfolds, starting to rattle off those that are safe. The smaller scale of these early issues is great for finding out the first strands of a massive thread. This series is also much more in the vein of a spy thriller, perhaps to be closer in tone to the upcoming Secret Invasion miniseries on Disney+. The ending was not a huge surprise as it was practically set up for a twist, but North still finds a way to add something unexpected.

Secret Invasion #2 brings many more heroes into the mix by focusing on the Avengers in this issue. It is a broad team gathered, bringing in more than what could be considered a current roster (in fact, at least one is dead). But for a universe-wide book, they are all needed. Hill is the focal point of the series so far, and it is great to see her back in the spine of a comic. Her defiance in the face of superheroes will always be awesome. She is a fantastic leader due to her strong personality. The other heroes get glimpses of their personas, but at this point, they are mainly pieces in a puzzle. The Skrulls are back to their manipulative, sneaky best, and it will be interesting if Hulkling and his empire play any role whatsoever.s

The art is terrific. The Skrulls are ominous and superbly rendered by Mobili. There is so much detail in each of their faces, with scars and lines. In the prologue, there is a double-page spread of the original Secret Invasion, jaw-dropping in its magnitude. The heroes in the present are all magnificent, sat aside one another. Then comes a fluid, sequential fight that is incredible. It involves almost everyone in the room and is absolutely ingenious in its construction. It blends the action of a spy comic with superheroes and magic, moving at speed as the violence erupts.

The colours are stunning as Bellaire demonstrates why she is possibly the best colourist in the business. There is so much depth and specificity in the shades, present in almost every millimetre of the panels. Bellaire brilliantly blends the dark colours of Hill and her world with the vibrancy and brightness of the Avengers and their more adventurous escapades. The lettering is an odd font that can sometimes be tough to read.

Secret Invasion #2 is a fantastic mix of aliens and espionage. This is Secret Invasion from a different angle, and so far, it is intense and full of intrigue. A creative team full of superstars is crafting a story that perfectly sets the tone for the live-action series whilst being superb on its own. Its relationship with mainstream comics can be sketchy but license sometimes has to be taken to give a standalone book the materials it needs to excel.

Secret Invasion #2 is available where comics are sold.