Being friends with Brian Michael Bendis has its perks. Just ask actor / comedian / occasional comics writer Patton Oswalt:
Brian’s already let me read the first three issues of SECRET INVASION, which is Marvel Comics’ big summer dust-up.
After COUNTDOWN and CIVIL WAR, I was going to take a break from these big summer crossover thingies. But this SECRET INVASION…holy sh**.
This is not a big, disposable, multi-issue donnybrook. This is a blitzkrieg from page one. Bendis basically worked out a remorseless, nothing-but-business tearing down of the Marvel Universe. And it’s clear the story has been set up…for…years. And the deaths are treated so off-handedly, with no appeal or remorse — and this is three issues in.
So far, each issue has also ended with a sh**-your-pants, ’Wait, what in the F***?!” moment…after, of course, about three or four what-the-f*** moments tossed off during the course of each story. As it stands right now, someone’s holding a possible key to stopping the Skrulls, and it’s the LAST person in the Marvel Universe you’d want with that info. And no, it’s not Dr. Doom.
Bendis is sending me issue 4 tomorrow morning. I can’t wait to post it over at Huffington.
“A remorseless, nothing-but-business tearing down of the Marvel Universe”? Uh-oh. Release the Internets!
(Via Kevin Church)
As it stands right now, someone’s holding a possible key to stopping the Skrulls, and it’s the LAST person in the Marvel Universe you’d want with that info. And no, it’s not Dr. Doom.
So Howard the Duck then?
Comment by justme — March 18, 2008 @ 9:15 am
Osborn’s the guy I’d want to have that the least.
Comment by Matt D — March 18, 2008 @ 9:37 am
Dead Captain America has the key. So Brother Voodoo resurrects him as a zombie setting up the fall event of “Skrulls v. Zombie”.
Comment by Boyd — March 18, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Yawn.
Comment by Simon DelMonte — March 18, 2008 @ 9:51 am
I was gonna say Spider-Ham justme but Howard the Duck is better.
Comment by Jesse — March 18, 2008 @ 10:04 am
I’d buy it, but I blew my load being Steve McQueen with a skull face… or was that a Skrull face?
UH OH.
Comment by Erech — March 18, 2008 @ 10:33 am
The more I hear about this story the more I don’t want to read it. I will probably be pissed off with who they kill.
Comment by matchkitjohn — March 18, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Patton Oswalt wrote the introduction to the second Justice League hardcover.
I think that says more than enough about his critical faculties.
Comment by Ji Coyle — March 18, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Man, you guys are downers. I’m excited!
Comment by Matt — March 18, 2008 @ 11:14 am
This was my fiance’s response:
http://awesomedbycomics.blogspot.com/2008/03/bloodthirsty-skrullssuckers-for-romance.html
Comment by Evie — March 18, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
While I can see why there is so much hate for some of the things that have come out of these big events in the Marvel Universe (I’m with you), I don’t understand the hate for the events themselves. They have actually been entertaining and interesting, and I think the sales numbers back me up on that.
I haven’t felt excited reading one of the DC events since Identity Crisis.
Comment by Monkey Attack — March 18, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
I have to say, as far as sales pitches go, “a remorseless, nothing-but-business tearing down of the Marvel Universe” sounds like a hell of a lot more exciting reading than “It starts with Anthro and ends with Kamandi (GET IT, ISN’T THIS SO CLEVER?)”
At least we can say Oswalt’s better at conveying his excitement than Gail Simone.
Comment by Dave — March 18, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Seeing as how the former is the first boy on Earth and the latter is coincidentally the last yes it is rather clever.
Comment by Will — March 18, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Unless you’re like me and only vaguely aware of the existence of those two characters. So really it tells me, “Casual DC readers beware”.
Comment by Corey — March 18, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
“And the deaths are treated so off-handedly, with no appeal or remorse”
Oh, so it’s just like everything that was wrong with Avengers: Disassembled? I’ve been enjoying Marvel’s mega-crossovers, but these comments are NOT making me excited for this book.
Comment by Jason Green — March 18, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
From Anthro to kamandi is just a naming of two characters. If you’re getting the “casual DC readers beware” signals from there, then Casual Marvel Readers, like me, should be saying the same thing about SI since it involves characters that aren’t just Wolverine, Hulk and Spider-man. Let’s face it, the rest are a bit less well known.
Unless there are introductions and the writers write this for new readers as well as for older ones…which both writers are and have been capable of…
Comment by Jim — March 18, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
Sweeping event comics aren’t really for casual or “new” readers, are they?
Comment by Kevin Melrose — March 18, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Kev, tell that to Civil War…
Comment by Zero — March 18, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
Civil War and I are no longer on speaking terms.
Comment by Kevin Melrose — March 18, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
Eh, I’m reading for my own personal enjoyment and could care less if casual fans are turned off. There are plenty of books that are good reads that require little to no prior knowledge. Final Crisis and Secret Invasion seem to me a reward to those who have been reading their respective company’s books the past few years much like the later seasons of Babylon 5. were a reward to the stalwart and a punishment to the johnnyy-come-lately.
Comment by Will — March 18, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Will, you’re right.
ALL of the novels, comics, movies, TV, and whathaveyou is for my personal enjoyment.
If I don’t enjoy it, I pick up something else or go to something I enjoy. It’s that simple.
Comment by Matt Ellis — March 18, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Comics would do better just telling stories instead of doling out rewards for loyal fans. My two cents and all.
Comment by Matt M. — March 18, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
“As it stands right now, someone’s holding a possible key to stopping the Skrulls, and it’s the LAST person in the Marvel Universe you’d want with that info. And no, it’s not Dr. Doom.”
Its going to be Sally Floyd. BMB lost a bet with Jenkins…
Comment by LurkerWithout — March 19, 2008 @ 3:17 am
Never concern yourself with the fans, it is just their money you want spent on the product.
Would not those of you that have and continue to like this stuff be a somewhat considered fanbase that is being written to in some measure?
SI - Sports Illustrated, not Secret Invasion.
But I have all but left the company that once held my love of comics.
Comment by Hatcher — March 19, 2008 @ 8:29 am
If I was that into the Marvel MU, the prospect of watching it be all smashed up and lots of characters die with their deaths “treated off-handedly” would not encourage me.
It’s like they’re saying “all those toys you really like? We are going to come in and stomp them flat! Won’t that be cool?”
Comment by Marionette — March 19, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
The story will work itself out and by the end everyone will be in a wow state of mind. I am enjoying this event especially seeing each heroes suspecting the who is a Skrull is even better.
Comment by David — April 26, 2008 @ 1:31 am