General Information
Title: Secret Invasion 2
Author: Brian Michael Bendis (writer)
Illustrator(s): Leinil Francis Yu (colors), Mark Morales (inks) and Laura Martin (colors)
Cover Date: July 2008
Cover Price: $3.99 US, $4.05 Can
Detailed coverage of all applicable issues of all Secret Invasion related titles can be found at this address.
Premise
Picking up exactly where the last issue left off, the heroes fight each other in an attempt to somehow determine which group is the real deal and which group is the set of Skrulls. Iron Man starts to do what he does best, and the only team left in New York to deal with those problems are the Young Avengers.
High Point
That final two page spread.
Low Point
An immense amount of forward momentum was gained in the first issue. This seems to have slipped for a lot of that, given how much time was spent on one big fight.
The Scores
This chapter doesn't feel terribly original, as all but the last few pages could have been predicted based on the final spread from the previous issue. That doesn't mean it's not fun, though. I give it 3 out of 6.
The artwork is fairly well done. I'm not a great fan of Yu's work, but with Morales on inks, a lot of what I dislike is severely muted. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story, predictable though it may be, needs to be told. This is a direct and unavoidable consequence of what happened in the previous issue, and can't be ignored. I would have preferred more of the global perspective we saw in the first issue, but I'm guessing we'll see more of that in the issues to come. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization is good, with the reactions of all characters in the Savage Land being in line with what we know of them, as well as the reactions of the Young Avengers to what they see. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response is pretty good. Yes, I could have guessed most of what happened, but it's still fun to see it play out. I give it 5 out of 6.
The flow works pretty well, with the story flowing smoothly from one segment to the next. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, it's a solid second issue, and well worth picking up. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, Secret Invasion #2 receives 31 out of 42.
Additional Notes and Comments
Still to come tomorrow: Mightly Avengers #13.
