I’ve been reading discussions online regarding the recent Secret Invasion. Needless to say, a lot of the discussions are of the “Who is a Skrull” variety. Regardless of the big shocks in issue 1, you know there’s got to be a few other big names lurking in the wings to be revealed later on.

A lot of the speculation is centering around the ship of Marvel characters from the first issue. Most people seem to be agreeing that its unlikely that they’re all genuine or all Skrulls, and it’ll be a mix. So who’s likely to be a Skrull and who’s real?

Well, one big name being floated around that I agree with is Luke Cage. Luke Cage has been Brian Bendis’ pet project for the last few years, building him from a D-list to A-list character. Having him turn out to be a Skrull (and the one from the ship the real deal) would be high on the shock list, and I think quite likely as a result. Granted it throws a lot of Brian Bendis work on the character out of the window, but there’s some big story points as a result. Jessica Jones must suddenly deal with the fact that her husband wasn’t who she thought he was. Their child is half-Skrull (presumably), and, most importantly to the post-Civil War Marvel Universe. The leader of the biggest anti-Registration names (The New Avengers) turns out to be a Skrull. That’d be huge.

Captain America from the ship has to be a Skrull. Anything else would throw a spanner into Ed Brubaker’s story and that’s just not on. I’ve mentioned before how good his run is, and to ruin it for the sake of a big crossover would be unthinkable. Can’t see it happening.

Indeed, with a lot of characters from the ship, revealing them to be the genuine article would be a nightmare. You’d wreck havok with past stories going back 20/30 years.

So (while I think its unlikely) I’d like to see Spider-Man from the ship revealed as the original. Think about it. His continuity is already a mess thanks to One More Day. He’s (effectively) been retconned back to his 70s incarnation anyway. Plus you’d have the advantage of a 70s Spider-Man unencumbered by any dodgy, satanic deals.

The other suggestion I read which I thought was interesting was Hawkeye. Have the Clint from the ship the original, but have the current one not a Skrull. Basically the Skrull-Hawkeye was killed during Avengers Dissassembled, and when Wanda resurrected him during House of M, as she didn’t know he was a Skrull sleeper agent, that part got left out.

So you’d then have two Clint Barton’s running around. One of whom as Ronin, which would be quite appropriate given the backstory to that identity.

So, for a good while now, I’ve been a DC man.  I can’t really say when it happened.  Used to be big into Marvel when I first started getting into comics.  I bought Spider-Man during the Clone Saga (which I enjoyed - but I’ll agree it went on far longer than it should’ve), Iron Man, Deadpool, Heroes Reborn.   But at somepoint (well, for Spider-Man, it was when Aunt May was resurrected and Amazing #400 retconned) I slowly drifted over to DC.  But a good friend of mine is still a true believer and keeps me up-to-date with the goings on at Marvel (although I’ll admit to reading all Brubaker’s run on Captain America.  That’s comic book gold).

So, with the hype around Secret Invasion, and the artwork I enjoyed so much in Superman Birthright, I thought I’d check out the competition Final Crisis has.

Grant Morrison better have something special up his sleeves.   I’m a DC guy, but that was a phenomenal read.  Even as someone who hasn’t read much Marvel lately (albeit someone up-to-date on the current goings-on) even I was picking my jaw off the desk at some of the twists.

I’m definitely on board for the whole 8 issues (glad to see 8 issues and not 7 - recent events, *cough*Infinite Crisis*cough*, felt too rushed at 7 issues).

Of course, many recent events have proven that writing a killer first issue is only a fraction of the battle.   The afore-mentioned Infinite Crisis had a dynamite first issue as well (”This looks like a job for Superman!”), but fizzled out badly as it went on.   If Secret Invasion can maintain this level of quality though, DC should be a bit concerned.

My only concern: I looked at the checklist for tie in titles at the back and shook my head.   I’m intrigued to pick up some of them (both Avengers books at a minimum I’d have thought), but there’s no way I’m buying them all.  I fell into that trap with Infinite Crisis, and if the story can’t stand on its own 8 issues, then I’ll have a problem with it.