Secret Invasion Inhumans #1 (OF 4)

I just realized something, well, shocking, I have somehow, someway, become an Inhumans fan.  It didnt happen suddenly, but it did happen.  It all started when I was shopping for some good trades and picked up Son of M, written by David Hine.  I got the trade more for my love of the ex-Avenger, Quicksilver, more then anything.  Hell, at the time i couldnt tell you anything about the Inhumans, other then mabey that they live on the moon, couldnt even tell someone the name of their King if they asked.  But I was blown away by Son of M, and quickly become fasinated by the race of beings that live in a city on the moon.  By the time i picked up its sequal, Silent War also by David Hine, i could not only tell you the name of the King (Blackbolt) but several more members of the elusive race (favorites include Gorgon, Triton, and of course, Lockjaw)  Silent War was just as good as Son of M, focusing more on the plight of the Inhumans and added more political intruge with Blackbolts crazy cousin, Maximus, gaining the throne.  After reading the mini-series i waited for...something, a follow up that never came.  David Hine going to write Spawn and then suddenly Blackbolt appearing in World War Hulk just to get beat up, made it seem like we would never know what was going on up on the moon.  Hell i was becoming convinced that Marvel was going to ingnore Hines two series.

Blackbolt being revealed as a Skrull did change somethings.  It put the Inhumans on the path to becoming an improtant part of the big cross over event, Secret Invasion.  Hearing that a new mini-series Secret-Invasion Inhumans, written by Joe Pokaski was also being created made me alittle happier, but I was still fearful of them ignoring the whole Maximus becoming King plot.

After reading the first issue of the mini, i learned i didnt have to be scared at all.  First of all the cover is great.  Medusa holding the empty Blackbolt suit while crying really is a sight. 

The intro is nicely done, setting up new readers it both the creation of the Inhumans and why they are a threat to the invading skrulls.  We then see Medusa, Crystal, and Iron Man over the body of the Blackbolt skrull, tying in the Illuminati mini greatly into this series.  Some very cool lines between Medusa and Tony Stark really put some tension into the crucial opening, and asks some important questions, just how long was Blackbolt a skrull?  Was it days?  Months?  All the way to Illuminati 1?  Personaly i have my theorys.

Next we go the the moon, in the middle of a council meeting and the first tid-bit of conversation is about the events that transpired in Silent War! Alas they wont ingnore the past events, and oy! what is that Maximus is still King.  And intersing enough, he seems bored with his new job.  I bet to him all this politcal talk is boring, exspeically when it was all war before with him.  But before long, Medusa arrives with the body of the skrull.  She demands that they go to war with the Skrulls, and that they need to find Blackbolt.  Maximus shoots her down with an obvious statement, Blackbolt is dead, why would the Skrulls keep such a powerful enemy alive?  But he takes the threat of the skrulls seriosuly, taking control of the Inhumans in a very Papatineish way, saying that the threat of skrulls imposters is all around them and dissvolves the council.

The next several pages are mainly of the main Inhumans character reaction to the skrully news.  Gorgon is drinking his woes away, claming that it is his fault in the capture of Blackbolt, being the Leader of the Royal Guard and all.  Meduasa is fearful that her husband is really dead.  Karnak scans the dead skrull body, hopeing to find a weakness.  He instead finds little Luna hiding from Toros, proclaiming that he changed!

Gorgon is soon attacked by two skrulls at the bar, and quickly it becomes an invasion!  As imposters appear everywere!  Including a really neat super-skrull with the power of the Inhumans royal family.

Now the ending page has a real money shot, the real Blackbolt had captive on a modified skrull ship, who seem to be harrnising his powers into a weapon!

Now i have to say i love this book, this might be tainted by my love for the Inhumans, but i think it is defintly a good tie-in to the Secret Invasion.  The art by Tom Raney was also very good although not the best stuff ive seen.  His characters in the group sinces not really being very diverse as the Inhumans should be

This was a great follow up past two mini-series, and will defintly get the next issuies when they come out.  Plus i hear new that another Inhumans mini is coming out next year too! 

All in All ill give it 5 for story and 3 for Art