Secret Invasion Review – “X-Factor 33-34, She-Hulk 31-33”

This review is the next step in getting the Secret Invasion reviews up to date.

General Information

Title: X-Factor -34, She-Hulk #31-33

Author: Peter David

Illustrator(s): Vincenzo Cucca (She-Hulk pencils), Vincenzo Acunza (She-Hulk inks), Barbara Ciardo (She-Hulk colours), Larry Stroman (X-Factor pencils), John Sibal (X-Factor inks), Jeromy Cox (X-Factor colours)

Cover Date: Range from September to November 2008

Cover Price: $2.99 US / $3.05 Can per issue

Detailed coverage of all applicable issues of all Secret Invasion related titles can be found at this address.

Premise

X-Factor 33, She-Hulk 31, and X-Factor 34 take place just before Secret Invasion #1, and detail the attempts of Jazinda and She-Hulk to capture Nogor, an important Skrull religious figure, in order to turn the tide of the Invasion. Unfortunately, he’s disguised as an ally of X-Factor, so the two factions end up attacking each other. She-Hulk #32 and 33 continue the story after the events of Nova #16-17, and cover the plans that She-Hulk and Jazinda try to enact following the events of the previous story.

High Point

“Listen, obviously we’re operating at cross-purposes here. I see no point in pounding each other until we inevitably settle our differences and work together.”

Low Point

If the injury of a religous figure could stop the invasion, what about the implications of (the still unreviewed) Incredible Hercules story arc?

The Scores

This is not as original as some of the other crossovers. The “High Point” dialogue even acknowledges the standard and overused tropes that we come across in the course of the story. The last two issues cover some new ground, tying nicely to the events of the Annihilation event. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork is very different in the two series. The X-Factor art is harsh, with dark colours, sharpened corners, and heavy inks, setting a very dark tone. The She-Hulk art is light, smooth, and coloured with pastels, giving a very different tone. The two don’t blend together particularly well. I give it 4 out of 6.

The story is fairly well done, bringing the two teams together in a fairly natural way, but using a lot of standard devices to do it. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization is very well done, showing a lot of depth for all involved, including the Super-Skrull himself. I give it 6 out of 6.

The emotional response is better in this read than in the initial read. She-Hulk #32 came out the same day as Nova #16, and you really need to read Nova #17 to fill in the gaps between the two. Reading it as a distinct entity, it’s entertaining, and works well to keep the most famous Skrull occupied long enough to explain his absence from the main series. I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow is disrupted only by the aforementioned art team changes and scheduling issues. I give it 4 out of 6.

Overall, this is a decent tie-in, which moves the characters forward in their own titles, while tying up an obviously absent character from the main event. It’s predictable, but still entertaining. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, X-Factor -34 and She-Hulk #31-33 receive 32 out of 42.

Secret Invasion Review Checklists

Background reviews:

Infiltration reviews:

Main Event reviews (including date the last issue should be available, or “complete” if they’re all out):

  • Secret Invasion #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7: October 22, #8: November 19, full series: November 19
  • Avengers: The Intiaitive #14-19: November 26
  • Black Panther #39-41: complete
  • Captain Britain and MI 13 #1, #2, #3, and #4.
  • Deadpool #1-3: October 8
  • Guardians of the Galaxy #4-6: October 15
  • Incredible Hercules #117, #118-120: Complete
  • Iron Man: Diretor of S.H.I.E.L.D. -35: November 19
  • Mighty Avengers #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, 17-20: November 26
  • Ms. Marvel #28-30: complete
  • New Avengers #40, #41, #42-47: November 26
  • New Warriors #14-15: Complete
  • Nova #16-18: October 29
  • Punisher: War Journal #24-25: November 29
  • Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #1-3: October 22
  • Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1, #2, and #3.
  • Secret Invasion: Frontline #1-5: November 19
  • Secret Invasion: Home Invasion (online only)
  • Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4: November 12
  • Secret Invasion: Runaways / Young Avengers #1-3: complete
  • Secret Invasion: Thor #1-3: October 29
  • Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?
  • Secret Invasion: X-Men #1-4: November 19
  • Thunderbolts #122-125: October 22
  • X-Factor -34, She-Hulk #31-33

Aftermath (Dark Reign) reviews:

  • Avengers: The Iniative #20-?
  • Dark Reign: New Nation
  • Invincible Iron Man #8-?
  • Ms. Marvel #34-?
  • New Avengers #48-?
  • Secret Invasion: Dark Reign
  • Secret Invasion: Requiem #1
  • War Machine #1-?
  • several unannounced titles, I’m sure