New Avengers #43

The readers of both Avengers books are quite aware that these titles have a quirky purpose in the Secret Invasion crossover. Specifically, these books tell the stories of Skrull infiltrators who have done away with human counterparts and replaced them. The reaction to this device has been tepid at best, perhaps because of how beautifully both Mighty and New Avengers were sailing before Secret Invasion.

Here we learn the story of the Captain America Skrull. However, as we know, there can be no back-story about how Captain America was eliminated. Rather, this is the story of how Ka-Zar, Shanna, and Spider-Man prove that the 1980's-style Captain America introduced to us in the last few months of Secret Invasion books is in fact a Skrull. Moreover, we learn why this Skrull infiltrator believes himself to be human.

The story is told in a more straightforward, matter-of-fact style than the preceeding stories featuring Electra and others. Frankly, this made for a more enjoyable issue. The little bit of banter between Ka-Zar, Shanna, and Spider-Man was quite entertaining, and it provides me some hope that this phase of the Secret Invasion crossover is finally moving forward. Although others have complained that the books are stuck in the Savage Land, I would be delighted to see Ka-Zar be a critical character in the remainder of the Secret Invasion saga.

Congratulations are due to Billy Tan, whose art, while not mindblowing, is quite good in this issue. Perhaps less impressive is the inking by Danny Miki, as the lines are really inconsistent from panel to panel. This pair should consider a strategy session to decide whether they wish to pursue a broad-line, expressionist style, or a fine-line, realistic approach, rather than flipping from one to the other in what seems like an arbitrary fashion. Still the art is good enough not to distract in any way from the story.

In closing, I would like to reinforce the point that Bendis's storytelling has finally brought me back to this saga. I cannot wait to find out what happens when Ka-Zar, Shanna, and Spider-Man reach the citadel (whereever that is) and time begins to move forward. I might not have been able to say that last week.