Marvel Comics: Secret Invasion: Front Line TPB...

[fajrdrako]

I'd never read a comic by Brian Reed, though I've been seeing his name, and wondering. Read one yesterday. Secret Invasion: Front Line.

I wasn't sure what to expect, though I've been filling in the gaps of the past couple of years in the ongoing Marvel storylines. I knew about the Skrull invasion, but had only seen the introduction to it. It was intriguing. I've always liked Skrulls -if only because the comic that made me a lifelong fan was Fantastic Four #18, "Return of the Super-Skrull". Shapechangers. I like shapechangers. Skrulls are possibly my favourite Marvel aliens.

This story compiles the five issues of Secret Invasion: Front Line, which is a Ben Urich story. Do you know about Ben Urich? One of my favourite Marvel characters. A hero - though he wouldn't say so - but not a superhero. He's a creation of Frank Miller in Daredevil, a reporter with a conscience, who occasionally has to make some terrible decisions. Another progagonist in a trench coat.

This story follows Ben Urich on the day the Skrulls attacked Avengers HQ. It's the story of a man and his daughter caught on the top floors of a high building; of a bunch of street thugs who shoot a taxi driver; of the difficulty of a crisis when phone lines, television and radio are silenced and people fear for their lives. It's also about Ben Urich, his career, his marriage, and the decisions he makes.

It was a good story. A thoughtful and interesting story. Not really an exciting story, though it certainly had scary moments. It reminded me of Marvels.

I'm off to the library now, to get more comics I've missed. And maybe see what else they have by Brian Reed.