General Information
Title: Captain Britain and MI 13 #2
Author: Paul Cornell
Illustrator(s): Leonard Kirk (pencils), Jesse Delperdang (inks) and Brian Reber (colors)
Cover Date: August 2008
Cover Price: $2.99 US, $3.05 Can
Detailed coverage of all applicable issues of all Secret Invasion related titles can be found at this address. It's not clear at this point exactly what background will be needed, so major updates will probably wait until more of the event has elapsed.
Premise
After a hero is lost, Pete Wisdom pulls the rest of his team together to enforce the the mutual protection treaty signed in the "Wisdom" miniseries. They travel to a magical realm to find Excalibur, which seems to be the only major magical totem the Skrulls haven't gotten their hands on.
High Point
The Black Knight's reaction to the end of issue 1.
Low Point
The seeming path towards a storyline very, very similar to one that spun out of Civil War. In fact, I didn't believe the end of issue 1 was what it appeared to be because I assumed they'd go a different direction this time. Not so.
The Scores
This feels very unoriginal. So far, it's feeling like a story that spun out of Civil War, which had far better execution. I give it 2 out of 6.
The artwork is excellent, thankfully. We've got emotion, nice lettering for a unique voice, consistent damage to attire, and a clear "amalgam" at the tail end with aspects of all of the totems identifiable in the Marvel universe. I give it 5 out of 6.
The story is well told, but not as well told as the similar story from the previous event. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization is well done, with unique voices for all of those involved. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response is dulled because it feels like we've done this before. The Black Knight has a good scene, but that's about it. I give it 3 out of 6.
The flow is smooth, as the issue probably elapses in the span of a few minutes. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, it's a decent issue, but not one that knocks my socks off. It just feels like we've been through this before. I give it 4 out of 6.
In total, Captain Britain and MI 13 #2 receives 28 out of 42.
