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Secret Invasion (Secret Invasion)

by Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Francis Yu (Illustrator)

3.29 · rating details · 452 ratings · 46 reviews

SECRET INVASION IS HERE The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal - full-scale invasion In this collected edition, page-after-page unveils reveal-after-reveal and shocking moment-after-shocking-moment Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers an...more

Paperback, 200 pages

Published January 21st 2009 by Marvel Comics

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Jan 14, 2009

Andrew rated it

Shelves: yes-i-m-a-geek

Well it was better than Bendis' last big crossover event. The idea for this crossover was great, and the execution was pretty good. That is if you're reading both Avengers series alongside it. The conclusion needed some big events though. It felt more like throwing everything into a soup and then watching it drain. The big changes to the status quo felt kinda contrived as well. Well contrived isn't the right word. It just feels like they didn't properly justify it. As is typical for thes...more

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Jan 25, 2012

Mike (the Paladin) rated it

Shelves: graphic-novel

This is graphic/comic book that tells the story of the "Secret Invasion" by the Skrull of Earth. The Skrull Empire's planets have been devastated and they've been plotting this for some time make great (and extremely convoluted) preparations.

As I've noted elsewhere I date back to the Silver age of comics. I haven't kept up since than and am reading some of the collections and graphic novels of the updates and so on. My experience with the Skrull dates back to the Skrull Kr...moreThis is graphic/comic book that tells the story of the "Secret Invasion" by the Skrull of Earth. The Skrull Empire's planets have been devastated and they've been plotting this for some time make great (and extremely convoluted) preparations.

As I've noted elsewhere I date back to the Silver age of comics. I haven't kept up since than and am reading some of the collections and graphic novels of the updates and so on. My experience with the Skrull dates back to the Skrull Kree war comics (Avengers June 1971 through March 1972). The skrull and the Kree were both galaxy spanning races locked in a war and Earth was drawn in as a sort foot hold planet. A base both sides wanted so to speak. (I gather now that the Skrull are supposed to be from the Andromeda Galaxy??? Long trip.)We were introduced to the Skrull in Fantastic 4 in the person of Super Skrull who had the powers of all the fantastic four. He (and later 4 other Skrulls) could shape shift and look like anyone. Now apparently they can not only shape shift but mimic the powers of anyone (maybe anything).

This led to one of the reasons I drop this to a 3 star rating. For three quarters of the book we have panels and panels sometimes entire page sized panels of beautiful art work, mostly depicting battles. But for that 3/4 of the book you really have no idea who' who!! It's a truly secret invasion. Not only can the participants not tell who's who...neither can the reader.

A second reason for my lower than usual rating of the book I'll list below under a spoiler warning.

(view spoiler)

There are some good things here a little more insight into what started the "Civil War" that lead to Cap's shooting and few more insights as well. The art is beautiful and the cast of characters huge, we even have a guest shot of Galactus and the Watcher. All this is pretty good. I think that the writers just "out smarted themselves" a bit.

Okay, but not great. Hope the next one I try doesn't disappoint as much.(less)

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Jan 13, 2012

Mely rated it

Shelves: 2012-read-seq-art, comics

I read this just to catch up with what happened between volume one and volume two of Matt Fraction's Invincible Iron Man, so I am probably not the target audience for it. That said, it is easily the least interesting of Marvel's Big Event books I've read so far -- plot, fight, plot, wait, was there supposed to be characterization in there? fight, fight, plot, we've noticed the plot doesn't make sense, let's blame it on religion, plot, plot, plot,fight, the plot still doesn't make sense but sure...more

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Jul 05, 2010

Sophie rated it

Shelves: not-owned, e-book, marvel, comics

Secret Invasion is one of those big comic events. In this case, a race of shape-shifting aliens have long since begun invading Earth, replacing some of the heroes in key positions to prepare for the final invasion. Since this is the post-Civil-War-Marvel universe, where trust isn't exactly widely-spread in the beginning, it actually doesn't look too good for the people of Earth. But in the end, the day is saved, and everybody blames Iron Man. (No, seriously. They do.)

I have to say, I...moreSecret Invasion is one of those big comic events. In this case, a race of shape-shifting aliens have long since begun invading Earth, replacing some of the heroes in key positions to prepare for the final invasion. Since this is the post-Civil-War-Marvel universe, where trust isn't exactly widely-spread in the beginning, it actually doesn't look too good for the people of Earth. But in the end, the day is saved, and everybody blames Iron Man. (No, seriously. They do.)

I have to say, I'm starting to understand what "event fatigue" means. I limited myself to the stuff that really interested me (which were both Avengers teams, the Initiative, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor and the Young Avengers. In retrospect, I could've skipped the Initiative and Iron Man, but that's with hindsight being 20/20), and even that felt a little too much. The events that take place in this book take place in a relatively short period of time, while the two Avengers books supply the backstory. I do have to say I liked the way this was all set up - the way hints were planted very early in New Avengers etc. But it does make it a bit awkward to read, because the way I read it (pretty much in publication order) meant there always was a break in the main event and that took a bit of the momentum out of it.

I'm also not too fond of the basic mood in the universe - Civil War was bad enough, and now everybody hates Tony (most of all Tony himself, I'm guessing) while Norman Osborn is top cop of the world. The story itself is not uninteresting, but I hate what it does to the characters and their relationships (same goes for Civil War. I just like it when the heroes are friends with each other. That's why I love the Marvel Adventures stuff and Tiny Titans.).

And the thing is, if I want to read about my favorite characters/certain books, I pretty much don't have a choice. I could skip the main event, but in the case of the New Avengers, that leaves me with the book not making much sense. Which is the point, I guess, but it's kind of annoying.

At the end of the day, I'm grateful for my Marvel Digital subscription, because while this was fun enough, it's not a book I need to have on my shelves. Even though it has Nick Fury in it, doing stuff that led to me having *very* unchaste thoughts. TMI? You're welcome!(less)

· see review

Oct 17, 2009

Brad rated it

Shelves: comics, marvel

This is a pretty good story that draws on some interesting bits of Marvel history. It's a lot more fun, less serious, and less divisive than Civil War, and it leaves the Marvel universe in a better place (though the obvious new villain at the end of the book could get tiresome.) The big death toward the end of the book seems completely senseless, but I'm not too annoyed since it's not a particularly large character.
Unfortunately, Brian Michael Bendis uses this main book as the guidepost ...more

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Oct 24, 2011

Nicolo Yu rated it

Shelves: collected-comics

This is the trade paperback collecting the 2008 Marvel Comics event. This reprints the entire eight issue miniseries but none of the tie-ins. The numerous tie-ins have their own trade paperback collections. It features the work of Brian Bendis, Marvel’s top writer and Leinil Yu, one of the “superstar” artists under exclusive contract with the publisher.

The main villains here are the Skrulls, a shape shifting alien race that used their abilities, along with advance technology and mysti...moreThis is the trade paperback collecting the 2008 Marvel Comics event. This reprints the entire eight issue miniseries but none of the tie-ins. The numerous tie-ins have their own trade paperback collections. It features the work of Brian Bendis, Marvel’s top writer and Leinil Yu, one of the “superstar” artists under exclusive contract with the publisher.

The main villains here are the Skrulls, a shape shifting alien race that used their abilities, along with advance technology and mystic arts to infiltrate strategic positions within the Marvel Universe, including the ranks of its myriad superhuman protectors.

This storyline is notable as it is the fruit Bendis harvested from the subplots and hints he has seeded in his work, particularly from his acclaimed work on New Avengers and even before that, from his Secret War miniseries. He maximizes the payoff by using a companywide crossover event instead of it unfolding in his monthly New Avengers title.

Secret Invasion has a different flavor from the different crossover event I have followed, by giving the villains a religious motivation. The Skrulls believed that Earth was the promised homeland for their dying race based on a prophecy as interpreted by a zealot cult. This religious tone gives it a semblance of relevance as America was embroiled in an ideological and covert war with Islamic terrorists at the time of publication.

This religious tone was enhanced by the return of Thor, a character based on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s take on Norse mythology, to the Marvel Universe proper. This character was killed off in another Avenger-centric event called Disassembled a few years back orchestrated by Bendis, though he was not the writer on Thor’s monthly title. He has since returned in his own title but was isolated for a year and was not interacting with the rest of the Marvel Universe.

Another major character that returned was superspy Nick Fury, who has fallen off the grid since the events of another Bendis miniseries. Along with Thor, Nick Fury represents another character that Marvel was positioning for a return to relevance.

Bendis ties up loose threads from this past work and creates new ones for future storylines and spin-offs. This work should satisfy a lot of Bendis’ fans. He has a lot of readers as his monthly titles are among best sellers every month.

This is also artist Leinil Yu’s best work, creatively and financially since the individual issues were top sellers on the months of their release. He gets to illustrate a lot of splash and double splash pages showing a crowd and action scenes. He doesn’t do crowd scenes as well as George Perez but renders each character recognizable. His work here is looks more finished than his previous work, which is indicative of the talent of his inker and colorist. This is the first time he headlines a project that features almost all of the characters in the Marvel Universe and he is up to the task.

As a graphic novel it doesn’t have a definite ending, although it has an epilogue, it only opens a new can of worms. No spoilers here, but it does provide a new direction for stories and a theme for another crossover event. If you are a casual reader, it would feel incomplete. But if you are regular Marvel reader, you are provided with an enriched reading experience.

Best moment: The Avengers Big Three reunite to fight a common enemy.
Best line: "Yeah? Well my god has a hammer!” – Nick Fury.(less)

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Dec 03, 2011

Sketching Girl rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, 2011-novel-reading, favorites

This was BRILLIANT! I loved it! I got very excited when I read the first New Avengers graphic novel, the Civil War storyline felt epic, but now I know what truly epic is! FANTASTIC! For a comic book geek it is cool having just about every Marvel Superhero appear in one book, it is cool and fun, yet has a strong story running through it, and keeps you guessing who's who right through it. It never fails to please. There are also amazing comic book covers throughout, which give a nice pause a...more

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Feb 15, 2011

Simone Sarasso rated it

Molto rumore per nulla. Il solito mediocre crossover Marvel dove succedono un sacco di cose senza far capitare nulla. Arrivano gli Skrull e non si capisce bene da dove. Spariscono gli eroi e vengono nascosti e imprigionati (prima di essere rimpiazzati con mutaforma) invece di essere fatti fuori.
Un gran casino di nomi, facce ed esplosioni per trasformare tutto nel prodotto preferito dalla Casa delle Meraviglie: una mega rissa collettiva.
Già visto centinaia di volte.
Che Bendis s'andasse a imparare...more

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Aug 09, 2011

Ernest rated it

As a standalone trade paperback, it was epic enough to be worth a read. Casual readers may enjoy the plot, the fights and the dramatic artwork, but it is only long term readers that will gain the full value of the story through the numerous tie-ins. Unfortunately, it has been said that one needs many tie-ins to fully appreciate (and some say understand) this story and this is a weakness, for a standalone Marvel-wide story of this magnitude should be able to stand by itself without requiring too ...more

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Apr 04, 2011

TJ Shelby rated it

Shelves: marvel

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It probably isn't worth four stars but when you go in expecting a 2 star and get a 3 star, it somehow becomes a 4 star book.

This event led to all of the series reboots...and then some. Chronology is always an issue with these things. There were a few compilation graphic novels i should have read AFTER this, instead of before, but ce la vie.

I don't know how well it does as a stand alone if you have been following some of the ...more

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Jun 30, 2011

Mark Johnson rated it

· review of another edition

By itself, this is very quick and enjoyable read. However, as the culmination of over a year (or 5 if you believe Marvel's hype) plotting, scheming, and forshadowing it's kind of a let-down. The Skrulls' master plan falls apart pretty quickly and the elaborate conspiracy boils down to a pretty standard superhero slugfest that takes up the bulk of the last three issues. Despite that, there is a lot to like: some humorous touches, some pretty clever twists, and a welcome and unexpected call back t...more

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Nov 06, 2011

Fizzgig76 rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels-and-trade-paperbacks

Reprints Secret Invasion #1-8 (April 2008-January 2009). The Avengers have uncovered that the Skrulls are among us. Now no one can be trusted. As the Skrull make their attempt to grab the planet, the heroes of the world must unite after the Civil War in the hopes of stopping the Skrulls before Earth is overcome.

Secret Invasion was penned by New Avengers and Mighty Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by Leinil Yu (Mark Morales inked the story). Secret Invasion was a ma...moreReprints Secret Invasion #1-8 (April 2008-January 2009). The Avengers have uncovered that the Skrulls are among us. Now no one can be trusted. As the Skrull make their attempt to grab the planet, the heroes of the world must unite after the Civil War in the hopes of stopping the Skrulls before Earth is overcome.

Secret Invasion was penned by New Avengers and Mighty Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by Leinil Yu (Mark Morales inked the story). Secret Invasion was a massive seller for Marvel and turned into one of the biggest comic events of the year.

To put it bluntly, I don't like Secret Invasion (nor did I like the previous "big crossover event" Civil War). The story is confusing as hell and has no direction for most of the arc. I am also not a fan of Yu's art. It looks underdeveloped, blocky, and with the inking and coloring it looks like everyone has pink-eye. Civil War at least had a solid first issue, Secret Invasion starts out with most of the characters acting like asses (and Bendis' dialogue is horrible) and the big climatic fight reminds me of the lame fight in the mud puddle at the end of Matrix Revolutions. It was a big build up to a bad fight (that also took out the Wasp for some unknown reason).

The problem with the big crossover style is that writers like Bendis have forgotten the point of a limited series. The series is suppose to make sense in the context of the series. Secret Invasion makes no sense unless you are reading the New Avengers and Mighty Avengers and all the associated titles. Marvel's original Secret Wars is a great example of how a big series should be done. It had tons and tons of tie in comics, but they were stand alone and enriched the plot without being necessary to readers. They drove readers to the Secret Wars storyline instead of away from it. Abnett and Lanning get that with their space crossovers, but Bendis still doesn't seem to follow it. A great example is the waste of time for the Captain Marvel Skrull. He had a big premiere and limited series that ran in conjunction with this series and then gets wasted unceremoniously...negating any point of reading the Captain Marvel limited series and confusing the hell out of people who didn't.

I love Powers and I loved Alias, but besides that Bendis I feel has really struggled with the Avengers titles. It is a bad sign that the company keeps putting faith in him to make these big epics with lasting effects. I get that he is trying to make the teams grittier, but Jessica Jones is a great example of how his attempts to turn characters "gritty". She was great in Alias but here in Secret Wars (and The Pulse) she loses her edge. Much like Bendis writing...plus it is "Whom do you trust"...not "who do you trust"...get your slogan right.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011

Dima Yakovenko rated it

Shelves: 2011, best-2011

Довольно неплохая история, интересная, хорошо нарисованная, с хорошими диалогами и большим количеством персонажей. Разве что чуть чуть подкачал финал, мало того что все очень быстро и банально закончилось, так все оборвалось на самом интересном месте. Что же задумал Озборн?

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Jul 26, 2011

Eric rated it

I feel like this story would have worked better as more of a conspiracy book and less of an action one. The big problem is that the action scenes are so big and the pace fast, that you have no time to catch up with the characters. Too much is happening. The entering of Thor and Captain America should be an awesome moment, but falls apart and doesn't really pick up.
I know Bendis was trying to give us a good motivation for the Skrulls to be attacking, but really, just claiming God and the need of...more

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Nov 08, 2011

Scott rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, marvel, own

I haven't really expected much from any Marvel event for a while. But this was surprisingly good. I really enjoyed the story Bendis crafted here and also the implications it had on other stories I've already read (what this reveals would make a re-read fun). I read New Avengers Deluxe HC's vol 1-4 and then this in about a week, so that tells you the gripping factor that it has on the reader. Good story.

· see review

Mar 13, 2011

Braxton rated it

Shelves: comics

This series wasn't terrible. It is just kind of disjointed and hard to follow if you aren't also reading the tie-in books. I think that if marvel is going to do these event's with the tie in books, they should make sure that the core series can still be enjoyed on it's own. Most people can't afford to buy the majority of the comics that a company puts out for a half year span, just so they know what is going on.

· see review

Feb 16, 2009

Puno rated it

bleh.

The story was too much. Remember Mission Impossible II where Tom Cruise constantly used the face mask to conveniently defeat the bad guy. It's like scooby doo for the Marvel Universe.

Stories where super heroes are paranoid all the time ended up feeling like a bad trip.

Although I'm still wondering who were the 5 that could save the Earth?

· see review

May 10, 2009

Tiny Librarian rated it

Shelves: ggn10

Great art and dialogue, as a casual follower of the Civil War story arc, this part of the story kind of blew my mind. I'm not sure, however, if people who have not read any of the Civil War stuff is going to really understand the depth of the Skrulls treachery or the intimacies of the relationships between all of the characters that make appearances in this book.

· see review

Aug 22, 2011

Lord rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics, marvel

I loved House of M, I even liked Civil War but Secret Invasion is an invasion on every reader's intelligence. It's messy, stupid, pointless and I'm glad this whole Skrull thing is over. One good thing regarding Bendis: He's a good writer and it's very improbable he's ever gonna write anything worse than this.

· see review

Oct 24, 2011

Michael rated it

· review of another edition

I read all of the Avengers side-stories before I read the actual SI series. I'm surprised at how little happens in the main book, but that seems to be the norm for Marvel's big events now.

Also, why on earth would Nick Fury use the phrase 'all y'all' ?

· see review

Feb 05, 2010

Adam rated it

Shelves: comics

Overall I thought this Marvel Universe "event" was ho-hum. Skrulls are stupid-looking. They are literally "little green men," and their appearance hearkens back to a simpler and wackier time (the '60s). Unfortunately, they're treated with deadly seriousness by writer Brian Michael Bendis. This would have been fine if we'd mostly only seen them in their chameleonic human forms, and the whole story had been about paranoia and distrust. A lot of it was, and those sections worked...more

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Jan 21, 2009

Dufour rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

I maintain that Bendis has officially jumped the shark with all this Marvel craptacular. Aside from a couple funny Spider-Man gags, this overhyped series was a big fat bowl of bullshittery and douchebaggery. Ugh. Sorry, Marvel. You suck.

· see review

Jun 04, 2010

Steve rated it

Shelves: comics

Lots of splash pages of fight scenes that completely didn't interest me. A great deal of the dialogue comes across as one-note and out of character. The book had a good concept but its execution didn't quite live up to that promise.

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Jan 18, 2012

Adam rated it

Skrulls, Skrulls, and more Skrulls. The Skrull Empire has hatched a plot to invade the Earth. Who's a Skrull? Who's not a Skrull? A little light on drama, but a heckuva fun read. Especially if you dig Skrulls!

· see review

Apr 22, 2010

Trish rated it

Shelves: graphic-novel-comics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 14, 2009

Alex rated it

One of the most convoluted and unrewarding comic stories I have ever read. The ONLY good thing about this book is the art, and even then the panel layout and visual pace is disorienting and feels rushed.

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Jan 21, 2010

Anne rated it

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2010

Whoa! Is there some way I can rate this higher than five stars!?
It was AMAZING! This might be one of the best things I have ever read...really.
Wow! I don't even know what else to say. Wow!

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Sep 11, 2009

Esteve rated it

The story is just fine, with the usual stuff involving alien invasions in the Marvel Universe. The art is uneven: sometimes awesome, sometimes disappointing, as usual in Yu's work.

The overall result is a story arc readable but forgettable, better for the things to come than for the story itself.

· see review

Aug 25, 2009

Michael rated it

Shelves: comics

Really interesting idea, really poorly executed. So much is going on at times, with so many characters, that I had trouble having any idea what was going on. Or why I should care.

· see review

Mar 03, 2010

Michael rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

Really well put together with Bendis' narrative and Yu's artwork, this is fresh and exciting. While this isn't particularly inventive or original, this is good. Love it.

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About Brian Michael Bendis

A comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.

Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction seri...more

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