Taking a different approach than previous ‘Frontline’ installments, Secret Invasion: Frontline #1 contains one 23 page story rather than multiple serialized stories. Given this, the story chronologically flows more smoothly than in the past, covering a period of time from shortly before the Skrull invasion to 22 hours after it has begun.
Written by Brian Reed and penciled by Marco Castiello as part of a ‘GG Studios’ art team with Giuliano Monni, Barbara Ciardo and Amerigo Pinelli (and sporting a Juan Doe cover), this ‘Skrulls Take Manhattan’ story offers a street-level view of Marvel Heroes such as Spider-Man and the Avengers, through ordinary characters such as a high-school girl whose parents are getting a divorce, a taxi driver having a bad day who’s in need of a divorce, and an overly inspirational, take charge ER doctor who could moonlight as a supermodel, all of whose lives are interrupted by the Skrull’s frontal assault on the streets and sidewalks of New York. Reed cleverly presents an Avengers contribution to city tourism, as well as the little considered impact non-registered heroes can have on regular folks, also including a familiar face in Ben Urich, who, as usual, is in the thick of things.
The art is a more than adequate surprise, with the colorists, while using an ‘animation style’, not afraid to use contrasting colors like a comic book can support. Of the book’s 9 advertisements, more than half are full page ‘house ads’ promoting other Marvel titles.
COVER BY: JUAN DOE
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS: GG STUDIO'S MARCO CASTIELLO
Rated T+ …$2.99
Review by Steve Raker
