Secret Invasion Review – “Incredible Hercules #117”

This one isn’t bad, but given the technical successes in character selection and art, it should have been more interesting than it actually was.

General Information

Title: Incredible Hercules #117

Author: Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente

Illustrator(s): Rafa Sandoval (pencils), Roger Bonet (inks) and Martegod Gracia (colors)

Cover Date: July 2008

Cover Price: $2.99 US, $3.05 Can

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Premise

Athena has volunteered Hercules to lead a squadron of human gods in war against the Skrull gods to avoid their own destruction. This is not a decision that Hercules is pleased with.

High Point

“As the brawler, the roustabout! I was never the leader!”

Low Point

That final panel was too easy to predict, particularly since the “reveal” was visible in the previous issue and in the Hulk vs. Hercules one shot.

The Scores

This is an original premise for the crossover, drawing on the pantheon of established gods in the Marvel universe to use them during the invasion to reveal an aspect of Skrull culture not previously revealed. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork is very well done, with very expressive character faces and poses. Considering the amount of conversation here, that’s an important aspect. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is set up well enough. The “surprise” wasn’t surprising for the reader, and shouldn’t have been surprising for the characters here, given that they are, after all, gods. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization is well done, nicely showcasing Hercules, Snowbird and Athena while quickly introducing some of the others. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was rather weak. I’m interested in the mission presented, but this issue was all about getting the characters in place to tell the story, and not yet into the story itself. I give it 3 out of 6.

The flow works well enough. It’s mainly one long conversation with several introductions. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, the details are there, but it just somehow seems like less than the sum of its parts. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Incredible Hercules #117 receives 31 out of 42.