New Avengers #44

Hmm ... based on the previous two reviews, it seems I may be alone in finding this to be an excellent book.  I'll be the first to admit there has been too much Skrull backstory fluff floated our way; leaving many of us feeling cheated after parting with our hard earned $3.  However, I don't think we can lump this issue in as just backstory fluff.

The few panels where the Illuminati first realize something is not kosher with proceedings were outstandingly entertaining.  Stephen Strange straining to summon the Eye of Agamotto and then muttering, "um ... it's not working" was classic.  Even down to the details of his furrowed brow and nervous drops of sweat running down his face.  Bendis crafted it so that the heroes and the readers (or at least this reader) both had the "aww #@*$!" lightbulb moment at the same time.  This followed with Reed realizing his powers are not working; nobody having detailed memory of their Skrull ship escape; and Namor's barking at Professor X (basically the whole orderly scene melting in to complete chaos) was vastly enjoyable.  Perhaps, as Charlie Brown trying to kick the football, I should have caught on to this ruse quicker, but you got me Mr. Bendis, fair and square (tip o'the hat to you sir).

The other element this issue brought out was just how insidious the Skrull can be, in getting what they want.  The ways they found to torture Reed, beyond just physical pain, was startling.  First making him watch as Sue and Franklin replicas got gunned down.  Later, using more "loving" versions of the replicas to extract the information.  Is Bendis trying to draw modern day, real life parallels to our own "enhanced interrogation techniques"?  I don't know, but this is powerful stuff.  Bendis also does a good job portraying the Skrulls as 3-dimensional figures, including their own internal drama and politics.  The look on the face of the Skrull that just back-stabbed his way to a higher spot on the totem pole was priceless, once he realized the consequences also inherent in the position (as was the "screw you" smirk of the Skrull that just got demoted)

Is this a throwaway issue in terms of the overall story? Not really, we now know how the Skrulls were able to find a way to mask their true identies from the supernatural and technological means of the humans (an important open plot point).  To the critics, who may say that the "cloned" Reed should not have the same intelligence as the "real" Reed, we need to remember these are comic books.  We need to suspend some level of disbelief to enjoy just about any superhero story.  We are talking about little green men in spaceships here, so I don't think its adding much to overly nitpick small details.  We are talking Skrulls (little green men); which are not too far off from Smurfs (little blue men).  Let's not over analyze it.

I was tempted to give this book (story) a 4 because I almost never give out a 5.  But reflecting on the experience of reading it, that "aww @#$*!" moment that I mentioned above, reminded me why I bother to read comics in the first place ... because they are just plain fun.