COVER TO COVER: MORTAL KOMBAT VS DC UNIVERSE!
For months rumors circulated of an unlikely meeting between a certain American video game dynasty, and another prominent comics company. Despite being one of the worst kept secrets in gaming, the announcement yesterday of Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe came to the shock of many fans, myself included.

It was largely DC's noteriety for being zealously protective of it's icons that kept me sceptical, not to mention the creative distance between the inimitable style of Mortal Kombat, and the superhero world of the DC heroes.

Series co-creator and custodian, Ed Boon, was quick to admit the unliklihood of fans rallying to the licensed crossover. It comes as no suprise to hear immediate confirmation of a tamed T rating and the corresponding loss of MK's trademark gore and murderous finishers -- just one of the factors sure to cause serious doubt in the purses of longterm fans everywhere.

Given Mortal Kombat's infamy in most circles, it's hard to really gauge what DC gets out of the meeting. A history of sub-par video games seems unlikely to change with the always unusual cramming of these adventuring characters into the stop-start storytelling of the beat 'em up video game. Even with mid-tier writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray on board, this overdue employment of writers seems like just one of many advantages to the MK side.

With only the most obvious characters confirmed; Batman, Sub-Zero, Superman, and Scorpion; no doubt we'll be spending a lot of time speculating and discussing more to do with the game. Though incredibly sceptical about the content, I'm a fan of both brands, so a degree of [critical] interest in inevitable. Street Fighter might have the market share of the site when it comes to video games, but we're no stranger to Mortal Kombat. To kick things off, we take a look back at those infamous features, as well as some of the DC content that might interest MK fans!

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #4 (October 1994)
Marshall/Rolo
MK vs DC has fans of the games asking a lot of concerned questions, but this isn't the first time a marriage of gaming and comics has been cause for alarm. Flash back to 1994; just a year after the release of the highly respected sequel, Mortal Kombat II.

Comics were just on the cusp of the final downfall associated with the end of a collector's market that sponsored million dollar sales through the late eighties and early nineties. With strong conceptual overtones from the comics that influenced MK co-creator John Tobias, it seemed perfectly logical to expect MK to enter print. Alas, these literal four-colour characters struggled under the transition from interactive fist-fighting, to the over-the-top artistic directions of the decade. In this issue, Scorpion and Sub-Zero come to blows, but the much anticipated rivalry fails to impress under mediocre writing, and erratic pencils.

Mortal Kombat: Blood & Thunder #5 (November 1994)
"Tao" Marshall/Chansomone
Despite the promise of a Sub-Zero/Scorpion rematch on this graphically thrilling cover, the characters spend very little time in proximity. Having suffered a fatality in the last issue; the ninja spectre Scorpion returns to continue is pursuit of the tao te zhan, a mystic book of riddles that promises the beholder limitless power.

While the series takes it's cues from the cultural phenomenon of the early games, they lack the measure that came to be associated with the dense storytelling in the MK universe. Revelations, such as the death of the original Sub-Zero in the first game, is lost in this story that slips somewhere in the cracks of the gaming canon. Raiden, long before his ethereal makeover, appears in mortal guise to engage in less than mortal combat. Though fun to see these characters in action, one always wonders what might have been, and what might yet emerge from the alliance between Midway and DC comics.

Steel #20 (October 1995)
"Lethal Tendencies" Diaz/Flores
Through television and cinema the DC pantheon has engendered the goodwill of many casual fans. The Mortal Kombat fanbase is no exception, with the comic booky references and overtones of the games preparing fans for the transition to comic books. Granted, many of the inspirations of the MK characters come from Marvel comics, but that's not to say there isn't a middle ground.

I myself am a true sceptic about the creative value of the upcoming game, but I thought it would be nice to pick out some of the Infinite Wars features that might present a compromise to outraged MK fans. Like this peculiar '95 issue of Steel, which pairs the armored hero with one-time-only character Lethal against the demonic dealings of would-be restauranteur, Felipe DeClaude. If you think French pretentions are frightening enough, just wait until you see what's on his menu, and how the heroes pick up the cheque!

Batman #621 (January 2004)
"Broken City" Azzarello/Risso
Since we already know Batman will feature prominently in the game, it seemed logical to focus in on the dark knight. Having defined the grim and gritty asthetic of the eighties, it was very tempting to hone in on Frank Miller's Dark Knight issues, but if you aren't already familiar with those, you can probably track down plenty of coverage of the hard-hitting adventures of a distopian Batman.

Both Azzarello and Risso take cues from Miller's work in Broken City; the story that suffered harsh criticism from fans in the wake of the Hush series that spanned a top-selling year in the Batman schedule. Though not typical of many Batman stories, this mature noir romp through Gotham City has fast become one of my all-time favourite Batman stories. This review doesn't necessarily show it to it's fullest extent, but the jaw-breaking violence of this story, suffered particularly by Killer Croc, should make a lot of sense to MK fans.

Superman/Batman #15 (February 2005)
"What Price is Freedom...?" Loeb/Pacheco
To finish things off the character that's caused the most stir - Superman. So often misrepresented as a worthless alien too strong for his own good, Superman gets a chance to show off another dimension in this tale of another universe where Batman and Superman have become Earth's dictatoral protectors.

Wonder Woman, another shoe-in for the MK/DC video game, gets a great showing as the Amazonian warrior she deserves to be in the modern age. This one will endure to the violent sensibilities of the MK fanbase, who should delight in the lethal swordplay that endures, as well as the brutally honest retribution dealt by a Superman no longer restrained by an impossible code of conduct. It might not bridge the distanced nature of both franchises, but I'd be surprised if this doesn't provide at least some sort of cause for discussion.

CHUN-LI versus BIRDIE
Round. 1 (UDON/Capcom/Shinseisha)
Where: Street Fighter Alpha Vol.1 When: 2007
Why: Masahiko Nakahira How: Masahiko Nakahira

The Story So Far...
The legend of Ryu's defeat over the Muay Thai champion Sagat has spread across the globe, but for the wandering world warrior the victory has come at a terrible cost.

Working as a bodyguard for drug smugglers; Ryu finds himself despondent after the glory of defeating one of the world's most popular fighters. However, unbenknownst to the world, Ryu is also plagued with doubt, having resorted to a power forbidden by his master, Gouken.

Working in Thailand with fellow street fighter and British thug, Birdie; Ryu is about to become the subject of an anti-narcotics sting launched by Interpol. Over zealous intervention inevitably escalates to violence, and when the battle is done, this night of fighting is destined to change Ryu's life forever...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Birdie 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Chun-Li 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Chun-Li 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Chun-Li 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Chun-Li 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Power: Chun-Li 3 (Explosives)


- A skilled student of the Tai Chi style, Chun-Li trained under the martial arts master, Gen, before becoming the Chinese fighting-dynamo of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

After her father's death, Chun-Li is motivated to hunt and destroy the international crime syndicate, Shadaloo, when she learns it's leader, Bison, may have been responsible for the murder. Her pursuit for justice brings her into the company of US Air Force soldier, Guile, who is also seeking justice for Bison's murder of his best friend, and undercover agent, Charlie. Their

Chun-Li is an incredibly fast and agile fighter, whose greatest asset are her powerful legs. Trademark attacks in her offensive arsenal include the Kikouken chi fireball, spinning side kick aerial attack, and Hyakuretsu Kyaku; better known as the flurrying combo, lightning kicks!

- Hailing from England, the former pro-wrestler turned punk rocker, Birdie, is an undisciplined fighter with aspirations of joining the international crime syndicate, Shadaloo. In an effort to get noticed, this wannabe thug partakes in petty crime on the streets, while using his trademark chain as a weapon in street fights.

Birdie eventually used his reputation to reach the ranks of Shadaloo, but when the temptation of power leads Birdie to devise a plan to use M. Bison's psycho-drive as a means of overthrowing him, a subsequent team-up with Balrog leads to Birdie's undoing, and the alleged collapse of Shadalooo.

The Math: Chun-Li Ranking: Chun-Li (#170)

What Went Down...
In a leaky tugboat off the coast of Thailand; Ryu, Birdie, and a group of smugglers that have acquired their services find themselves sitting ducks as a cruiser and helicopters descend on them for a sting run by the Narcotics Squad of the International Criminal Police Organization -- Interpol!

Keen to get her man, new recruit, Chun-Li, descends from the hovering helicopter onto the tiny vessel. She informs the men on the boat of their situation, but the young woman fails to intimidate her prey. One of the smugglers grabs a knife from the bow and charges -- big mistake!

The smuggler gets a face full of foot for his troubles, and a bloodied nose at no extra charge. The explosive kick shows the smugglers exactly what they're dealing with, leaving the fight in the hands of the burly Brit, Birdie!

Despite her lightning quick attack and proficient legs, Chun-Li finds herself with yet another unintimidated opponent. The world weary Birdie takes a playful position with the Interpol agent, but suffers for it as she hones in on a weakness in the big man's stance!

With a devestating sweep she knocks the punker off his feet, taking full advantage of his lack of lower defense. Off balance, Birdie's ripe for the picking as Chun-Li again launches her fast and furious feet, this time with the devestating combo-hit of the lightning kick!

The gang leader summons Ryu, his hired bodyguard, to come to Birdie's aid, but instead gets a lesson in the honorable etiquette of the fight. Something both he and Birdie share, despite their many differences in life and philosophy.

As it happens, things aren't looking too bad for Birdie, who, despite toppling like an oak, is able to whip his chains out in an offensive maneuver. The big man wraps the danty Interpol officer up in their metal grip, using the vice to launch her into an assault that brings her crashing mercilessly down like a piledriver!

Enthused to hear the spirit of the warrior still inside the Japanese fighter, Birdie pauses to revel in the moment of battle, leaving himself open to sniper fire from the hovering Interpol agents. A trigger happy soldier opens fire, prompting Ryu to throw himself between his friend and the ammunition!

Ryu takes two slugs to the chest, falling limp in an instant.
A grizzly end to the inconclusive fight.

The Hammer...
... So, in a shocking twist, the battle comes to a draw!
It's kinda cheating, but I feel compelled to offer a secondary victory to Chun-Li for her thorough dismantling of the thugs, an event not technically involved in the fight with Birdie, with a very decisive end.

Across the blogosphere a cosmic deity seeks nourishment of a black and white kind! That's right, we're sharing the B&W mayhem as Bahlactus celebrates a full year of Friday Night Fights! Chances are we'll be revisiting the scene of this crime, as well as dipping into the B&W pond for other features that might otherwise be less likely to beat out some of the coloured competition. Yay comics!

Last month we had mixed feelings about the latest in the wave of new additions joining the cast of Street Fighter IV; El Fuerte. [Street Fighter Alpha Vol.1]
The conflict continues as news leaks of not only the eagerly anticipated return of Vega, and the expected but disappointing return of Bison; but also the emergence of a new character that might just be the least inspired yet: the morbidly obese, yellow jumpsuited, Rufus!

While it's still early, I should also note that Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li also began filming since last we spoke, and launched a brand new blogsite that's promised [semi-] regular updates on happenings from the set!
With so much Street Fighter to talk about, I'm thinking we might have to revisit the subject sometime soon to talk more about the movie, because I've been conversing with the gaming fanbase this week, and certainly have plenty to say about SFIV. Suffice to say, I'm excited to hear reports of Michael Clarke Duncan in action as Balrog, apparently "smashing shit up"!

So, what is it that has me so full of discontent?
I think it's fair to say that there's a pretty large portion of the comics fanbase that I don't see eye-to-eye with. I can't seem to talk comics with anyone without prefacing certain agreements with a sturdy "but," and although I find myself quite disheartened with this medium that's been so harsh to me and my endeavours; I can usually bounce back for love of the medium and the positives that flow as freely as any negatives, or disappointments. Afterall, for all the hubub, comics are a mature medium, and by sheer volume there's almost always a solution.

The charm and context of an on-going medium like comics is lost on video games. The gaps of time mean just as many of us have grown with previous systems of gaming, the current market share is returning to a young, new generation of gamers whose concerns are as immature as ours once were, albeit overloaded by the confusion of an established medium.

Street Fighter is a lot like comics. It is comics.
That's why we talk about the manga, comics, series, and movies here.
I get a lot of the same pleasures from games like Street Fighter that I get from the on-going adventures of the many characters featured on the site. I feel a childish joy for the mere sight of the characters, while measuring their exploits with a careful intellectual study, sometimes to my detriment.

Such is the emerging case for Street Fighter IV, which, despite early efforts to promote the cast of the original Street Fighter II (1992), grows increasingly distanced from everything I could romanticise about the series.

Amidst shakey confirmation that Street Fighter IV will abandon sequential standards to set itself shortly after SFII, word from the top comes that each installment in the franchise is intended to stand-alone, removed from it's surrounding chapters. Vague connections, like the carry-over of Sagat's scar earned in the little known first game [Street Fighter #1], should apparently be put down to little more than design choice and easter eggs, leaving any cohesion in the Street Fighter saga to external works by visionaries like Nakahira-san.

Those of you strictly dedicated to American comics will either appreciate the perspective from which I'm describing Street Fighter IV's predicament; or be entirely disinterest. Such is the split of the modern comics readership which, though well balanced, has probably seen a similar injection of youth into the readership over the past decade, leading to a mixed bag of theories and mis/understandings.

Like much of what you would expect from any major comic series; there are certain inherent qualities and ideas that make Street Fighter instantly recognisable. The rich cast of characters are at their best when identified by the building blocks of their design, usually drafted specifically from a martial art, and/or a nation of origin, painting broad strokes upon which life is carefully dabbed.

More often than not the true life of these characters comes from external mediums, highlighting perhaps the one area never quite conquered by the beloved characters of the Street Fighter game series: story.

Though their legend is epic, even the central character, Ryu, fails to find depth in his representation within the games. It is my first criticism of Street Fighter IV that it seems, at least at this point, completely devoid of the kind of story contemporary rivals, (like; Tekken, Mortal Kombat), boast as one of their primary features. Despite having enthusiasm enough to convince an apparently reluctant Capcom to pursue a new anniversary release for the series, project leader Yoshinori Ono and his recruited team seem oblivious to the fundamentals of what's made Street Fighter such an icon of fiction.

The careful detailing of classic characters seems entirely undermined as the team serves up uninspired designs like El Fuerte and the recent Rufus, while each character falls neatly into a vague and underwhelming plot point - amnesia, or a desire to discover a great new cooking technique through fighting... Grim, indeed.

Ono and his team appear at times to be groping around in the dark, shooting wide on any count to gauge a response. After the hysteria of the colouful, but lacking in grounding, Crimson Viper; the team turned in a purer vision of the classic model in Abel, albeit in a particularly bland form. A similar stutter came from the lazily designed El Fuerte, who, despite drawing from the colourful and exciting world of lucha libre, failed to impress from a design standpoint.

This flailing of the creative limbs feels so especially disheartening because of the strong pedigree established by the early games. The makers were smart enough to distance themselves from the infamy of SFIII's cast of freaks, but it almost feels like, at this early stage, we're fixing to do it all over again in a whole new way. Sure, El Fuerte and Abel have managed to bring it back to the broad notion of a good Street Fighter, but it all still feels so lazy, and insincere.

Missing from the design process seems to be perhaps the most obvious saving grace: a larger purpose to this game. Touted as a "New Beginning," there seems to be little defining quality to what is thus far little more than a successful romp into contemporary 3D gaming. While it's nice to leave the bad taste of the blocky Ex series behind us, that doesn't make a game for me, and it flagrantly ignores the advantages of a franchise that allow a strong central concept to provide branching inspiration for more characters.

While the story has always been vague and shifting in the Street Fighter canon, key plot points have been firmly established in the games. The destruction of M. Bison and Shadaloo is the key point of SFII, and the Alpha games [Zero in Japan] further contribute to that with elements surrounding Akuma and the dark hadou. From there we get a sense of progression in SFIII that pits the heroes against another evil organization, this time the cultish Illuminati.

Because Ryu has so successfully been the face of the series, I'd be very tempted to build the larger story around this character. Though potentially an unpopular decision given the milque toast qualities of the indomitable hero, it gives an opportunity to not only include that classic core to this new series, but also build toward a climax in the journey of this hero who has carried the series thus far.

Street Fighter III famously fumbled the ball by attempting to introduce a dominating cast of new characters. The speed of the introduction was almost doomed to fail, particularly as so many of the characters rebelled against the classic mould of characters with strong nationalized and fighting identities.

That said, as someone who fancys himself as a bit of a writer, I can't help but feel loathed at the idea of simply brushing these mistakes aside. Particularly as SFIII contained so many redeeming qualities, even in the most superficial sense. There's much to be salvaged from SFIII, particularly with the opportunity to do with these devices what that game failed to - introduce them organically.

The chronic female shortage could be lessened by the inclusion of the vibrant Capoeira style through Elena; while the powerful Oro offers a wise, sage-like muse well known to the martial arts genre. It seems almost a given that this character's presence be linked to the upper tier, perhaps even as a mentor to the increasingly powerful Ryu, whose battle with the dark hadou was never quite closed out to my satisfaction.

It strikes me that, despite the legend these characters have built within their own universe, there's never been a character intent on harnessing the dark energies of the hadou technique. This power, which has effectively defined Akuma's role in the series as a dark shadow, is a great point from which a new boss can be derived, and as such a lynchpin from which story can be hung.
It makes sense that Ryu's battle with the dark temptation be brought to a head by a fighter competent on his own terms, but intent on building new power through the accumulation of this style. As the unnamed ansatsuken technique used by Ryu, Ken and Akuma originated from Chinese master, Goutetsu, it seems a great opportunity to add that flair from references similar to the inspiration of Lei Fang; one of the more exciting new characters from Tekken 5.

I'm digressing into specific concepts that, you can probably tell, have krept to mind previously, but while I'm uncomfortable with the notion of fan-fiction, I like to think they help emphasise the point. There's so much directing concepts inherent to the material that it's utterly heart breaking to see this series continue without a strong creative direction. Though not obvious, it's even from concepts like this, and the strong sense of the universe that influences these characters, that could easily direct better references for the design and creation of new characters.

Not every character need be tied to the central plot, and I can think of plenty of reasons to include other characters in the game. The thought occurs that even SFIII freaks like the robotic Q character offer opportunities to build potential sequels, with unlikely ties to characters like Zangief, and many other sub-stories of varying significance. It's important to remember that while every character deserves strong motivation and some description of an adventure through the plot of a game, they don't all need to be out to save the world.
The context of Street Fighter, as we have so often noted, is that of a strong underground culture of fighting and the fighting spirit. The philosophy of characters can reasonably be something as simple as seeking to be the best, but for satisfactory treatment, there has to be some sort of developing plot that these characters enter into, even if they just want to be the best.

It's early days. There's still plenty to come from Street Fighter IV, and while I openly express my disappointment, it comes more from a very accepting audience that no longer aspires to great things of this franchise. Many Street Fighter fans are blissfully ignorant to the irony of their enjoyment in seeing references from SF descendents like the SNK fighters, or many other franchises.

Though it threatens to miscast the argument as one of stagnancy, there's a point I feel needs stressing. This is Street Fighter. This is the franchise that put the beat 'em up on the map, and for this game to be making a "new beginning" out of lacklustre visuals and a lazy dismissal of the trademark qualities of Street Fighter, is a travesty. This is the one the other games should be aspiring to, but without recognising everything that makes Street Fighter so identifiable, they run the risk of being homogenized in a sea of mediocrity.

Ono-san's direction right now feels flat and devoid of the supposed enthusiasm that won him the job of overseeing a franchise Capcom considered dead.
His track record is spotty at best, with Fighting Evolution a maligned faux pas of gameplay that introduced the hideously misplaced Ingrid into the SF roster. His designs reek of SNK, and even Capcom's defunct wrestling series, Saturday Night Slam Masters, albeit without the flair or contextual relevance of that game.

We haven't even had the opportunity to touch on the fact that the game has, despite Ono's promise to the contrary, become a total boys club. As slots continue to be filled in the playable roster, one can't help but feel the wrestling overtones of Rufus, and El Fuerte, didn't come at the cost of a return for a stronger female character, like Rainbow Mika. That, however, is a contextual debate for another day, perhaps when we have a clearer indication of what the final cast will look like. After poll results put SFIII's Dudley at the top of the most-wanted list, I hold out hope for less obvious returnees to the series.

Once upon a time negativity was undoubtedly the bane of the online community, but the flipside seems to have emerged as the new super power. The prevelance of Nintendo's family-friendly Wii, as well as the increasing trend to abandon story in video games seems indicative of the growing control a new, young generation has. It's perhaps here that the naivity and ill informed acceptance begins, but this shouldn't be license for the gaming industry to retract even further into itself. As more dollars ride on it, it's an industry already intent on rehashing and avoiding risk at all cost. A process that's potentially gradually feeding it it's own tail. Homogenization seems to be the enemy here, and Street Fighter deserves to hold on to, and market the flair that made it an international cultural phenomenon.

There's sure to be plenty to come, and I'll be watching!

EDIT: And watching I was! If you're a beat 'em up fan and you haven't heard the news, the apparent confirmation of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe almost certainly puts any of Street Fighter's problems into perspective. You might expect a fight blog like this to be behind such a move, but if you read through the discussion in this entry, you'll probably be able to figure out why the Infinite Wars thinks this is terrible for both parties involved.

To cap off what is arguably a creative surrender from the MK franchise in the year that was supposed to redefine the series with the 'slate wiped clean,' this early render released on Mortal Kombat Online shows several steps back in MK's design approach. What I wouldn't do to get some thoughts from a Dan Didio, or someone else, right now. It's shocking to believe DC would've licensed their properties to something of this nature. I'm baffled, true believers!

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 6.5

With visionaries like Masahiko Nakahira showing exactly how strong and consistent the Street Fighter story and identity can be, it's especially embarassing to see the mistakes of the past repeated. If you want to find out more about Nakahira-san's cohesive version of the Street Fighter saga, and put your best foot forward in the debate about SFIV and it's new characters, you should head over to Amazon! They not only offer fantastic prices and deals, but when you use purchase links provided, you help fund future entries in the Infinite Wars! You'll find this, as well as other reviewed issues in the Amazonian Gift Shoppe, as well!

IN STORES: April 16, 2008
You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.


Site Update...
Yes! We're terminally running late, but it seemed foolish to delay the week's shipping any further than we already do. Rest assured efforts are being made to recoup lost time, which couldn't come at a worse junction than after launching the Fantasy League! Everyone should continue to feel encouraged to draft a team. There'll be more info on progress in the coming week(s), as well as all the action you expect with, at the very least, our historic dedication to Friday postings. Thanks for the patience!

Thin and Crispy...
FEB082213 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #6 (OF 6) $3.99
JAN088148 ATOMIC ROBO #1 (OF 6) 3RD PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088149 ATOMIC ROBO #2 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088150 ATOMIC ROBO #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088151 ATOMIC ROBO #4 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
JAN088152 ATOMIC ROBO #5 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (PP #807) $2.95
FEB080192 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #6 $2.99
FEB082219 CAPTAIN AMERICA #37 $2.99
FEB080179 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 2 $2.99
FEB080196 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #7 (OF 9) $2.99
FEB080078 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #6 (OF 8) $3.50
FEB080279 PROGRAMME #10 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB080208 ROBIN #173 $2.99
FEB080201 SUPERMAN #675 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
FEB080181 TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #2 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB082263 X-FACTOR #30 DWS $2.99

The Deep Dish...
- JAN082140 CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 (OF 5) SII $2.99
So it's out: Mar-Vell is a damn dirty Skrull, or at least, that's what we've been led to believe in the pages of Secret Invasion. Expect up-and-comer Brian Reed to cap off his mini-series stint on the character with a confirmation or denial of the status of this mangled character-out-of-time. For those not keeping track, Cap was brought to the present from a period prior to his fatal battle with cancer that resulted in the character's long standing death. I wouldn't expect to see the character's life get any less complicated in the coming months, but it will be very interesting to see if Marvel can slide the character back into obscurity with dignity, or if this is another opportunity to rearrange history for a cheap return. I'm hopeful, but sceptical.

- FEB080209 CATWOMAN #78 $2.99
The cover that reduced a portion of the fanbase to hysterical idiots finally hits shelves! Okay, maybe that's a bit of a reaction, but one certainly expects the reception of this Salvation Run tie-in to be more measured than initial reactions to a pseudo-sexual cover depicting Catwoman and Cheetah locked in close-quarters combat. I for one am looking forward to seeing a new chapter in what could potentially be a better measured rivalry for the feline villainness. I mean, sure, getting wailed on in a mismatch with Wonder Woman is probably fun, but it might be nice to see Cheetah actually fight someone in her own league for a change... That clash of leagues will probably be the subject of upcoming review as we take a look at the recent machinations of the Injustice League -- but I digress...
Here's looking forward to the end of the crossover tie-ins, and hopefully something fresh for the slightly stale Cat-book.

- FEB080184 DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #1 (OF 6) $2.99
Okay, did anyone know this was coming? I haven't heard or seen anything until today when the "DC" prefix got me curious about whether or not this might be a crossover. Lo and behold it appears it's exactly that, and one has to wonder if this isn't an attempt to boost fleeting sales and slowed production. Making Wildstorm one of the fifty-two worlds of the newly structured MegaVerse seemed like a contingency plan in waiting. The question is whether or not this will be dwarfed by Final Crisis - or be a part of it!
Despite some interest, I'm a bit of a philistine when it comes to Wildstorm. That said, I did rather enjoy the work on Captain Atom: Armageddon, even if it was the harbinger of mayhem to longtime readers of the brand.

- FEB082226 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #116 $2.99
What is with Hercules and stealing other character's books!?
Since taking titular chores from the once incredible Hulk; Hercules' stock has risen exponentially! I think it's got to be said that Hercules was the character to benefit most from World War Hulk, and although the formula of his adventure has been fairly similar to the smash-em/bash-em mini-event! I didn't particularly enjoy Khoi Pham's pencils on recent issues, but that's something we'll probably get to talk about more intimately in coming reviews. Suffice to say, Incredible Hercules is a book after this site's heart! Solicitations tease a Skrull fake-out, but I wouldn't fear, because this character has never had such momentum. Next up on the gauntlet are the Eternals - I'm not usually a fan, but bring it on!

- FEB082230 IRON MAN LEGACY OF DOOM #1 (OF 4) $2.99
Recent issues of Mighty Avengers [#10] have thrust Dr. Doom, Iron Man, and the Sentry into Marvel's past, recalling the now classic adventures of Doom and Stark in medieval times.
It's tempting to accuse the story, and surrounding interest in the relationship, of being little more than awkward nostalgia, but much like New Avengers: Illuminati, I suspect (and hope) there's more here than meets the eye! I don't know if Legacy of Doom will necessary deliver on the meat of any Secret Invasion-related issues, but no doubt it'll be a bit of fun on top.

- FEB082236 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #23 $2.99
At this point I really am just fulfilling the weekly quota of hyping the Adventures books.
If any of you have been reading any of these things with any kind of regularity, I want you to scroll down and use that bastard of a comments link! You don't have to be registered and I'm very interested to know if all this attention has been warranted, because they seem to be bloody fantastic throwback comics to times without spanning consequence (and lots of great guest characters!). Shades of the Giant-Size X-Men as Cap and Spidey set out to form a new group to rescue the missing old group. Fun!

- FEB080194 SALVATION RUN #6 (OF 7) $2.99
I'm way out of the loop on Salvation Run, but it continues to look like a decent enough endeavour from afar. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship when it comes to letting the Joker roam beyond his own little box of evil. It seems reasonable enough that Joker and Lex Luthor would come to blows over domination of their evil planet, but as this series gears toward it's inevitable World War Hulk-style conclusion, I can't help but feel reticent about playing the card that the upcoming The Dark Knight is trying to avoid.
In these conditions Joker cannot live-up to the potential of the character, and it's perhaps disappointing he couldn't have stayed at home in the Gotham Underground.

- DEC073951 STREET FIGHTER III MANGA TP VOL 02 RYU FINAL $12.95
Finally! After months without anything from publisher UDON, we get a little taste of Street Fighter goodness! SFIII: Ryu Final is the latest translated work from visionary writer/artist, Masahiko Nakahira. Nakahira-san delivers a cohesion to the Street Fighter story never before seen in the games, and in many ways, justifies the third core installment in ways that almost obscure the infamy of the game and it's cast! Likewise, Nakahira's care and understanding of the Street Fighter mythos exposes cracks in the approach of the team currently heading up the first official follow-up to SFIII; Street Fighter IV: New Beginning. So far the game appears to be anything but a new beginning, but as Bahlactus kicks off his black and white round of Friday Night Fights, we'll be all too happy to accomodate as we take another look at SF manga, and dive deeper into the complexities of what would be nice from a new Street Fighter.

- FEB082271 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #24 $2.99
When Cable and Deadpool was cancelled, Marvel were quick to tease future adventures for the merc' with a mouth. As one of Wolverine's less classic villains, it came as no shock to see the character next in line for a storyarc in Wolverine Origins, a series taking a tour of Wolverine's most iconic nemesis. As a guy on an incredibly strict budget, I was pretty resentful when I fell for one of the Cyber issues of the series. The comic is awful and continues to be so, but I almost want to fall for it all over again, just because the Poolman's in there. In an ironic twist, the thing convincing me to do otherwise is consistent characterization. Though best known for his yellow thought balloons and fourth-wall breaking antics, DP once had a pseudo-serious career as an assassin, and I expected something more akin to that in this book. Worse still, this will probably wind up being one of those one-track logic situations where marketting assumes nobody wants any more Deadpool if they don't boost sales on this tragic title. *groan* This is a stick-up!

Know Your Trade...
DEC070244 GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE HC $24.99
DEC070029 HELLBOY LIBRARY ED HC VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION & WAKE THE $49.95
FEB082290 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL PREM HC VOL 03 HUNTER HUNTED $19.99
DEC073951 STREET FIGHTER III MANGA TP VOL 02 RYU FINAL $12.95

WEEKEND WARZONE: THIS GODDAMN BATMAN!

I know what you're thinking: Why did noone think to merge the indie sounds of The Smiths with Frank Miller's All-Star Batman sooner?

The Infinite Wars are here but to serve with another unlikely dose of the Weekend Warzone!
In the interest of full disclosure, please note that the music used is not entirely riff faithful, nor are the monotoned dronings sufficient to deliver any more than vaguely resonant lyrics. Not bad for half an hour wasted in the office, but by no means award winning production. Don't pretend like the buttshots don't make up for it. [Images with a white border were lifted from imockery.com.]

Lyrics:
Dark Knight detective, on a hillside desolate
Will training make a bat of me yet?...
When in this charming car, this goddamn Batman
He contemplates Gotham's complexities,
where the leather runs smooth in the Batmobile
I would fight crime tonight, but I haven't got a stitch to wear
This Batman, just slapped me, and told me, that I shouldn't care
(Ah!) A trumped up circus boy, who never knew his place,
he says, they were killed by a crime ring
He knows so much about these things...
He knows so much about these things...

COVER TO COVER: AMAZING FANTASY! (ROUND 2)
During the week, we introduced you to the first registrants in the Infinite Wars Fantasy League! If you have not yet signed up then you should do so immediately! The Fantasy League provides a simple platform of interaction with the Infinite Wars by using the results catalogued in our many reviews! By following submission guidelines you're on your way to adopting a team!

The Fantasy League offers us a great opportunity to acknowledge sponsor websites from across the web. Rokk's Comic Book Revolution does something pretty common on the internet, but it's something I wish I could be doing: reviewing new releases each week.
What sets the Revolution apart from other sites is a phenomenal nigh unparalleled dedication from Rokk to thoroughly discuss and disclose the contents of these issues. I've found it a great resource for gauging interest in projects I might not have been sure about, like the recent review of Mighty Avengers #10, which became a must-read after seeing scans on the site.

Today we take a look at some of the back catalogue featuring members of The People's Team! Remember, you too can become a part of the fun by enlisting in the Infinite Wars Fantasy League! Blogger membership is not required, and readers new and old are encouraged to join in and promote their corner of the internet. This week's team features saw a good spread of points to some of the already registered members, but there's still plenty of time before we crown our first monthly winner in the race to the end of the year! Stay tuned!

Legends #1 (November 1986)
"Once Upon a Time...!" Ostrander/Wein/Byrne
We spoke quite recently about the generational relevance of the Flash, who has been prevelant in different incarnations throughout DC's entire history. Like Green Lantern the mantle has been successfully inhereted by several iterations, and though we recently saw Bart Allen attempt to inheret the role, it remains Wally West's for the time being.

Wally West was canonized as the Flash in the pages of series just like Legends. After the legendary sacrifice of Barry Allen in the Crisis of Infinite Earths, West enjoyed one of the more memorable transitions in recent comics history. Few heroes have been so readily accepted in a capacity familiar to another character. It might be the similarities of the West Flash that made this possible, but I rather think it's the fifty-year history of the character and the organic passing of the torch of the scarlet speedster - one of the most iconic heroes in superhero publishing.

Identity Crisis #3 (October 2004)
"Serial Killer" Meltzer/Morales
I'm not much of a Teen Titans fan, so for Deathstroke to have grown over the past few decades into a larger presence in the DC Universe is a joy to behold. Deathstroke (the Terminator) is the quintessential assassin character, as deadly as he is varied in his capacity for attack.

It's fitting that the character has moved from his deranged pursuit of teenagers to rival characters like Batman and Green Arrow, who in their own way, each make a far more resonant foil for this adversary. He's a supreme fighter, master tactician, and crackshot that rivals the best of them, and with greater brain capacity than the average human, his skills seem endless, if not ill defined. We haven't had as much Deathstroke as you might expect from a superhero fight blog, and while I hope that can change, I take some sollace in the solid start made with one of the most requested battles in site history: the one-man dismantling of the Justice League!

Superman/Batman #15 (February 2005)
"What Price is Freedom...?" Loeb/Pacheco
She's one of the most intantly recognisable female characters in popular culture, but somehow Wonder Woman continues to flounder in the modern era of publishing. A monumentous contract demands that DC maintain a monthly publishing schedule for the heroine, which has all but assured her continued presence in DC comics, even if this lynchpin of the fabled DC Trinity doesn't always hold up.

One of my favourite qualities of the character comes from more modern interpretations, where Wonder Woman's Amazonian heritage has burst forth from the timid Wartime hero who found herself engaged in acts of bondage as much as battles for truth and justice!
Difficult, is it, to imagine the modern woman reduced to incapacity at the hands of a mere rope. No, Wonder Woman has become a true warrior, and that is a brutal honesty I appreciate in this legendary icon.

Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006)
"Touchdown" Johns/Reis
For the twentieth anniversary of one of comics' biggest events, DC unveiled a complimentary redux of the threat of cosmic destruction, this time at the hands of survivors of the very first Crisis.

Amongst the group that had lived in the solitude of a pocket of unreality: the Superboy of Earth-Prime. His origins were not unlike our own Superman, different only in the fact that his father, Jor-El, transported him instantly to the Earth of another universe, rather than one that would require a rocketship journey through space.
Superman-Prime has become one of the premiere villains in the DCU, menacing heroes both terrestrial and cosmic in nature. Here we go back to where it all fell apart for the first time; when a dark hero broke his allegiance to step up and pledge the destruction of this boy gone mad, destined to grow into a man of sinister design.

Batman #663 (April 2007)
"The Clown at Midnight" Morrison/Van Fleet/Klein
It was a pretty risky experiment for such a prominent title, but some might say that's pretty typical of Grant Morrison. The Scot flung his best efforts into the core Bat-title with a pulpy tale starring the Joker, the big difference? CG artwork complimenting an all prose tale!

As an effort to squeeze a maximum return of story for page rate, it was a resounding success, but to this day, Morrison's redefining run on the character has been coloured for some, good or bad, by this very issue. It tells a tale vaguely reminiscent of what we should expect from the upcoming Heath Ledger Joker in The Dark Knight! Morrison's spooky story is one of a grand plot all designed to lure the Batman to the unveiling of a brand new murderous Joker personality. His permanent grin healed, the Joker returns to scar himself and wreak a terrible terror on the hospital charged with his care, and on the Batman and Harley Quinn, too.

COVER TO COVER: THERE'S NO "AIEEE" IN TEAM!
Top 20 Teams#1 X-Men
#2 Fantastic Four
#3 Avengers
#4 The Galacti
#5 Justice League
#6 Green Lantern Corps
#7 Justice Society
#8 Thunderbolts
#9 SHIELD
#10 Heroes for Hire
#11 Invaders
#12 The Hand
#13 Nextwave
#14 Maximums
#15 Force Works
#16 Nightwing Restorations
#17 X-Factor
#18 New Mutants
#19 Lin Kuei
#20 The Illuminati
The last few weeks of Infinite Wars have featured some of the most prominent superhero teams in the Marvel and DC universes. Well, okay, the most prominent superhero teams and the Defenders.

More often than not we focus on the individual progress of characters, but it's worth noting that we also keep a running watch on the successes and failings of every league, group, team, and organization, passing through our statistical slalom. Marvel as we reveal the rarely seen top twenty tally of superhero and villain teams!

The team theme seems particularly fitting since the Infinite Wars Fantasy League went live! The Fantasy League can be as creative and involving as you want to to be, as you sponsor your own quintet of heroes and villains through their trials in the weaving Infinite Wars! A couple of the blogging contestants have given their own accounts of what to expect, so check out the Ghost Walkers and Knights of Right!

If you haven't yet signed up, head over to the briefing and start drafting a team right away! It's that simple! For more on some of the teams already registered, stick around for tomorrow's C2C! And stay tune for the Punch-Up on the first of May for the first update of progress! For now, check out some of the great back issues featuring the teams that got away!

X-Men Annual #14 (1990)
"You Must Remember This" Claremont/Adams
Well, is there any better way to start off a catalogue of team entries than with a team-up of teams? It'll be a long while before we see another threat that brings together the combined might of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants, let me tell you!

The groups are brought together when the time travelling children of Mr. Fantastic/Invisible Woman and Cyclops/Jean Grey bring back with them the menace of the super Sentinel cyborg - Ahab! The robotic slayer of mutants turns the team against themselves when he and his Hounds capture a member from each team, but when the going gets tough, the tough get cosmic! Who among them possesses the powers of a god? Perhaps a certain someone who spent his childhood stuffing the heroes into a pocket dimension?...

Thunderbolts #1 (April 1997)
"Justice..." Busiek/Bagley
In truth they're the Masters of Evil, but to the world press they're the newest team of superhumans protecting humanity! With Earth's mightiest heroes seemingly killed by Onslaught, the Thunderbolts are primed to usurp the trust of the world's nations, and to do it they have to fight villains who were once friends!

With their battles with the Hulk behind them, the Wrecking Crew are the lucky first group to taste justice like lightning from their former allies!

Missing Mark Bagley already? Thunderbolts, though not his best known work, remains some of the very best of pencils you'll ever see! Also an incredibly interesting retrospective given the paths taken by the Thunderbolts brand, and the characters that once embodied it!

Infinite Crisis #1 (December 2005)
"Infinite Crisis" Johns/Jiminez
They might not have the best record when it comes to the hit and miss, but nobody can question the golden age grit and determination of Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters!

The team's up against the overwhelming might of a task force of Lex Luthor's finest inductees into The Society, and with Black Adam leading the pack, the odds don't look particularly good. What am I talking about? Well, he is the man with a genocidal record of over three million kills to his name! Shazam, indeed!

Yeesh. It's the grizzly showdown well known for it's depiction of Phantom Lady's impalement at the hands of Deathstroke, and it's all here, for better or worse, documented in the Wars.

Civil War #3 (September 2006)
"Civil War" Millar/McNiven
Even with Marvel's next big blockbuster event, Secret Invasion, officially here, we're still considering how the ramifications of the superhero Civil War will affect these future events. With the Invasion so intrinsically attach to infiltrations of the past, you'll want to know exactly where everyone was when the lines were drawn!

It's the officially sanctioned pro-registration Avengers, up against the rebellious Secret Avengers, in a showdown ambush that ultimately led to the shocking death of Black Goliath! It's also a crucial chapter in the final campaign of another hero who lost his life - Steve Rogers; Captain America!
If you're just getting into New Avengers and Mighty Avengers then you'll want to know the genesis of those teams as you dive into the world of Skrull paranoia!

Green Lantern #24 (December 2007)
"Home Invasion" Johns/Reis
In brightest day, in darkest night, no evil will escape their sight! Let those who worship evil's might, beware their power, the Green Lanterns' light!

Stock in the Green Lantern Corps has been gradually on the rise since Green Lantern: Rebirth, but Geoff Johns capped his contribution to the franchise off by officially returning the Corps to the big league with his widespread hit, Sinestro Corps War. The series pits the Lanterns agains their yellow counterparts, the aptly named Sinestro Corps, as led by their namesake, and nemesis to Hal Jordan, Sinestro.

With a Green Lantern adorning the cover of the first issue of Final Crisis, the Lanterns are sure to be a point of interest in the near future. Check out this piece of the Sinestro Corps puzzle, and follow the links to more!

JUSTICE PEACE versus FANTASTIC FOUR
The Cross-Time Express! (Marvel)
Where: Fantastic Four #354 When: July 1991
Why: Walter Simonson How: Walter Simonson

The Story So Far...
Few men have experienced the ebb and flow of time as much as Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom. Their many strange adventures have taken them through time and space, but even as their latest confrontation results in a battle between minutes, their actions are observed and recorded by those policing the timestream.

For their many indescretions, Doom and Richards garner the attentions of the Time Variance Authority: An intergalactic organization dedicated to monitoring and policing the multi-verse and it's many refractions as a result of time travel and manipulation. Though immensly powerful, the bureaucratic organization is anything but thorough, further emphasising the severity of Richards' actions.

The TVA send Justice Peace, a mercenary member of the TVA Police Department with full powers to detain and destroy time criminals. Though Doom escapes his clutches, Justice Peace is able to detain the Fantastic Four to be tried by Mr. Mobius, a member of the TVA bureaucracy intent on eliminating the FF's reality. The race is on to escape the TVA's clutches and protect existence, but with Justice Peace on their tail, can even the world's greatest heroes succeed?...

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Thing 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Mr. Fantastic 6 (Genius)
Speed: Human Torch 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Thing 5 (Marathon)
Agility: Mr. Fantastic 6 (Rubber)
Fighting Ability: Invisible Woman 4 (Trained)
Energy Power: Human Torch 7 (Cosmic)


- Justice Peace is a member of the Time Variance Authority Police Department. The law enforcement branch for the bureaucratic TVA grants Justice Peace powers to hunt and destroy those that would commit infractions against timelaw.
Justice Peace carries with him an extensive arsenal housed largely in a single projectile weapon. The weapon is capable of adapting it's ammunition to a range of practical uses, the most prominent being lethal energy blasts.

- The Fantastic Four are: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and Thing.

The original Fantastic Four were exposed to cosmic rays when Reed Richards led the team in a race to beat the Russians to space. Without sufficient preperation time, the shuttle lacked the shielding needed to filter the cosmic radiation, resulting in unique transformations in each member.

The team's adventures take them through time and space, where they regularly do combat with entities and individuals capable of cosmic manipulation. Their amassed allies and enemies exist throughout different galaxies and dimensions.

The team's line-up is typified by Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing, but has been expanded to include the likes of; Crystal, Sub-Mariner, She-Hulk, Medusa, Black Panther, and Storm; among others.

The Math: Fantastic Four Ranking: Mr. Fantastic (#8)

What Went Down...
Mobius M. Mobius, a bureaucrat with the TVA, focuses his attention on seeing the arrest of Thing (and Human Torch) after an outburst that reduced the TVA Halls of Chronometry to rubble. Autonomous agent of the TVAPD, Justice Peace, leaves the pursuit to clone soldiers, recognising the greater threat of an unaccounted for Reed Richards, and his wife Susan Storm; better known as Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, respectively.

JP's suspicions prove valid when, in the destroyed Hall, he is able to discover an invisible forcefield obscuring Sue and Reed Richards as the latter hacks into the hi-tech TVA computer network in an effort to build a makeshift virus!

Justice Peace gives it both barrels, prompting Invisible Woman to refocus her energies into defense, rather than concealment. Mr. Fantastic begs his wife for precious seconds as he races to produce a solution while she suffers the physical strain of maintaining her field under such intense pressure.

Results come in the nick of time as Richards' virus distrupts the linear flow of time within the TVA establishment, resulting in bubbling pockets of reality! The bubbles prove distraction enough to allow the Fantastic twosome to make an escape for the exit: The Cross-Time Central Railroad!

The Torch and Thing converge with the rest of the team, having escaped their own perils with the aid of the viral time bubbles. Richards is able to barter for the group a driver willing to take he and his team back to their appropriate timeline and reality.

Just as escape seems all but assured, Justice Peace arrives at the station with a small army of clone soldiers! The TVAPD soldiers make pursuit as the train bursts from the station into the cold vaccum of space.

The Human Torch steps up to scorch the team's pursuers, but not wanting to harm them, Invisible Woman instead uses a barrage of invisible forcefields to stem their flow. The attack successfully knocks back the clone soldiers, but Justice Peace proves a more compelling adversary.

JP returns fire, buying him the time to attach himself to the Cross-Time Express. The Human Torch proves impossible to pacify when he leaps out of the train, launching himself onto the train with a spray of warning shots from his flaming fist. Justice Peace indulges the compromise of the Torch's attack, using his hi-tech gun to fire back a smothering foam that douses the youngster's flame!

Thing leaps to his teammate's aid, scoring an impressive blow on an unsuspecting Justice Peace! The punch, however, fails to sufficiently flaw the TVA lawman, who again retaliates with the use of his oh-so versatile gun, which easily sabotages the coach roof beneath the burly Thing's footing, in substitute for any futile assault on the rocky hero's own hide.

With Thing momentarily demolished it looks like all hope is loss for the FF, until Justice Peace again finds himself airborne as a result of a surprise assault...

Like a stellar apparition, Susan Richards appears from nothingness to form atop the raging express. She tosses Justice Peace around like a ragdoll, disarming him with a barrage of spherical invisible forcefields.

The lawman's assessment of the woman proves correct as she dangles his helpless form over the edge of the train, where the gulf of nothingness threatens to destroy him forever. Mr. Fantastic lets loose warnings of mercy, for the protective older sister of the Human Torch is blissfully unaware that the express is now under threat of a wave created by Reed Richards' virus!

With Justice Peace captive, the Fantastic Four learn that Mr. Fantastic's ploy to overwrite their reality with a new one devoid of reference to their presence means TVA jurisdiction must adjust accordingly. No loner intent on hunting the Fantastic Four, the lawman opts to return to his own timeline, just as the team manage to outrun the threat of the wave by extreme combustion courtesy of the Human Torch. With that, the FF return similarly to their own time - victorious!

The Hammer...
Well, after defeating and capturing Justice Peace, and clearing their names with a little quantum editing, I think it's pretty safe to say this is another victory for the Fantastic Four!
[NOTE: Thing and Human Torch only get the assist for their contributions, although, we might revisit their solo adventures in a future timeline. Train conductor Casey also gets the assist.]

You might also describe it as a minor victory for the Infinite Wars after a busy weak of other distractions and complacency! After all those team entries, it might have been a fool's errand to get involved with a timetravel caper... Still, I chose this entry because it lept out at me as not only an interesting review, but a great opportunity to talk a little bit about recent developments for the fantastic foursome in Secret Invasion.

Unless you're so deep under cover you don't even know you're a Skrull -- you'll no doubt have heard that among the many characters revealed to be impostors, the most prominent was probably Invisible Woman!

The pages of Secret Invasion #1 saw the phony Susan Richards reveal herself in a staggering plot that involved the cosmic implosion of the Baxter Building headquarters of the Fantastic Four! The multi-pronged assault also came with the reveal of Hank Pym as a Skrull, who in turn turned a weapon on Mr. Fantastic that reduced the bitter enemy of the Skrull to a formless tangle of rubbery-humanity!

It's impossible to deny that the implications of this series are going to be incredibly fun to watch, but there are still a lot of questions looming over the event. Implications of duty are a big part of a book like this, and while many readers deserve credit for predicting an invasion off the back of multiple Skrull-related events over the past few years, the exact history remains murky.

Exactly how and when characters were replaced is going to be a major point of intrigue for this paranoia fuelled series. Though not always the most reliable source in the woods, writer Brian Bendis has promised clarification for issues such as these, as well as much more, in future issues of the series. Not to be a cynic, but I think it's safe to assume some answers are likely to be found in the inevitable slew of tie-ins, including the three-issue, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four!

Bendis is notorious for being lazy with his history and external references, so it will be interesting to see how he manages a series so intrinsically dependent on the baggage of details. The when and where are sure to become a hot talking point amongst the fanbase, even moreso now that we know the identities of more impostor heroes, including largely inconspicuous contributors like Jarvis!
A looming concern will be the relationship between Secret Invasion and recent series such as Civil War, which went to dramatic lengths to shake up the fabric of the Marvel Universe with seemingly lasting results. Malformed series; like One More Day; have already seen the systematic dismantling of repercussons for Spider-man that were widely critiqued by fans who were subdued by promise of dedication to moves such as the reveal of Peter Parker's identity.

Something that really attracted me to the opportunity to talk about the FF here was the involvement of Reed and Sue Richards during Civil War.
At the time, series-writer Mark Millar came under heavy criticism for mischaracterizing, among others, Reed Richards, who became a staunch supporter of the pro-registration side of the event. Personally I didn't have quabbles quite to the same extent, and with much of what's done being done, I tend to think the greater concern would be widespread opportunity for cop-outs and sloppy revisionist retcons.

To Marvel's credit, they've put their best foot forward in promising integrity where the actions of the Civil War heroes are concerned. Spokespeople for the company have given strong indications that characters like Iron Man are fairly safe, despite their radical involvement in the universe-changing events. Bendis describes the Civil War more as a matter of convenience for the invading Skrull, rather than a symptom of their sinister designs. That said, the two events are sure to have a lot of overlap as we learn more about the secret past of recent history.

Bendis also describes the series as something foreshadowed in much of his early writing on New Avengers, as well as other avenues, perhaps even the already mentioned slew of titles featuring Skrull-related events, such as; Young Avengers, Runaways, Annihilation, Marvel Team-Up, and other.

Keen observers have already noted that a somewhat suspicious Jarvis returned to service after a 'holiday' in the pages of New Avengers, a series that also featured a slew of cagey and vague influences that harken back to long forgotten conspiracy plotlines from Ultimate Spider-man. Of course, on that side of things, Bendis also looks to finally make good with events in Ultimate Origin, but I digress.

Having just been bitten by a radioactive retcon [Brand New Day], concerns of continuity are fresh in mind. I don't really think there's any cause for concern just yet, but I'm very weary of the prospect of revisions that drift back several decades, if for no other reason than the necessity to retag previous entries!

But seriously, I want to take a little bit of comfort in recent history.
I agree with, and expect Marvel to live up to, the theory that it would be weak to try to completely recast the defining storytelling of Civil War. That said, I think there are plenty of very welcome gaps that help contain Secret Invasion to that recent history.

During and after the event, Reed and Sue Richards confronted marital issues as a result of their eventual split over the Superhero Registration Act. It's here that we see perhaps the most obvious opportunity for the Invisible Woman to have been replaced, during a period where Black Panther and Storm become involved in the team, and adventures for all six members included division, space, and yes, even the presence of super-powered Skrulls!

Plenty of opportunities no doubt arose for a switch, and a moment of separation perhaps even on Reed and Sue's interplanetary second honeymoon could be the perfect transition free from contradiction or confuddlement. Because, yes. With continuity, mystery, and Bendis, one has come to expect disappointment and disaster. The fact that this is a universe event only encourages further reticence...

So, how does Secret Invasion relate to Fantastic Four #354?
Well, I guess if worse comes to worse, someone can eventually get around to another TVA time virus... And if you want more on the 1990 time travelling antics of Reed Richards and Dr. Doom, you don't want to miss Bully's brilliant recap of Fantastic Four #351, and for completions sake, you might like to check out our brief look at relating events from Fantastic Four #350. Mmm, fun!

The Fight: 3.5 The Issue: 4.5

It's worth mentioning that Justice Peace bares a none-too-subtle resemblance to popular law enforcement zealot, Judge Dread! To the best of my knowledge these issues haven't yet been collected, but you'll find work just as good in the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe! By using purchase links provided you help fund future entries in the Infinite Wars, and saved a buck on purchases you were probably already going to make. Online retaliers; got a way for Infinite Wars readers to order their weekly books through you? Get in touch about sponsorship!