Thoughts on Secret Invasion

So Marvel has just wrapped up their latest "event" storyline, Secret Invasion. The Skrulls have been turned back, human civilization in the Marvel U. will go on, and The Green Goblin is in charge of the Avengers.

Huh?

All in all, I thought Secret Invasion was one of Marvel's better crossover stories. The Skrulls for a long time have been a joke, and it was nice to see one of the cornerstones of the Marvel U. reestablished as a serious threat, the most serious they've been since the Kree/Skrull war 40 years ago. The "death" of the Wasp (come on, not even Bucky stays dead anymore. If Uncle Ben comes back in Brand New Day, I quit) was handled in a exquisitely cold and brutal way, and the backlash from the heroes was masterfully done.

As Civil War tackled the idea of security over liberty and how it pertains to life in 21st Century America, I enjoy how Secret Invasion made s statement on how American society will take that freedom from whoever looks the part. Norman Osborn icing the Skrull queen and becoming grand poobah of national security only because it was seen all over television in the Marvel U. was a masterstroke, and I can't wait to see what the "Dark Avengers" have up their sleeve. Naysayers might argue it is insanity that the Green Goblin could be put in charge of national safety, but I would contend that believing a idiot cocaine and alcohol abuser could keep us safe in our universe is ridiculous as well. Norman Osborn has become the premiere villain in the Marvel U., and I can't wait to see how a trillion dollar budget is put to use torturing Spider-Man.

Speaking of douchebags in charge of our safety, what happens to Tony Stark? The man who has been King Douchebag since Captain America was killed has lost everything, and much like the "Demon in a Bottle" story, I'm curious to see how he'll pick up the pieces. All the Iron Man books have been written marvelously since Civil War, and I'm sure the creators are going to have a field day turning the former top cop into one of the vigilante's he was hunting. The fact that Thor and Cap still want nothing to do with him was beautifully captured at the end of Secret Invasion, and we'll see how many friends Tony Stark truly has left.

Lenil Yu's pencils were extraordinary, and I know some people have complained about Brian Michael Bendis' Avengers run, but looking back on how he set Secret Invasion up, weaving clues in here and there, I'd say he, Ed Brubaker, and Geoff Johns are the absolute best writers in comics today. There will be some headaches trying to weave characters who have been gone back into continuity (Mockingbird is back?), but overall, Secret Invasion was just as powerful and earth-shaking for the Marvel U. as Civil War. And Invasion actually came out on time! When the collected edition comes out, anyone who has ever read a Marvel comic should pick it up. 9 out of 10.