Did I use that one already? I sure hope not.

So in this issue, we get another quick cursory glance at some of the affected by the Skrullmageddon wave. We see Medusa, pissed as all hell in Attilan. We see Shanna in the Savage Land, stalking prey with Zabu. We see a few of the affected dealing with the recent change they’ve faced.

And then we see Captain Marskrull crash-land near Noh-Varr, the Marvel Boy. They have a nice quick chat as Captain Marskrull is dying, and he tells Noh-Varr that he is the key. He needs to do something. He is the one person capable of stopping them. So it looks like Marvel Boy might just become the new Captain.

We are then treated to the Marvel heroes on board a ship flying toward the decimation of New York city, which feels just a little strange to look at on the eve of September 11^th. We also see Skrull Pym discussing plans with other Skrulls and Super-Skrulls at Camp Hammond, their new base of operations on Earth. They discuss the next steps, and when Skrullderwoman comes back, they discuss how the heroes are doomed. Of course, they make hint to Janet Van Dyne, essentially pulling back a small bit of information from the Mighty Avengers issue in which Skrull Pym gave her a new formula of Pym Particles.

Duh duh duhhhhhhhh.

The heroes are discussing their plans of attack and while this is going on, some of the stupid humans are trying to tell the Super-Skrulls how happy they are to have them as invaders. This of course leads to another quick battle as Nick Fury and his Howling Caterpillars and the rest of the crew he picked up from NYC are there to kick some ass.

And so is Reed and the other heroes aboard the ship.

Oh yeah, and that thumping drumline you hear, that’s Thor. He’s back too. And so is Captain America . And so are the Thunderbolts. And so is Hood’s group of super-villains.

They’re all there, in the heart of NYC, and we get two two page splashes showing the beginning of the battle.

It is all but perfect.

This book has a little of everything. Character touches like Marskrull explaining his antics and how honored he was to fill in for the Kreewarrior and Norman Osborn basically demanding that his “heroes” fill their role and fight the good fight. We get mystery as we are now trying to figure out who is dead, who was just replaced, and what exactly is going on with Jan.

And we get some knock-down drag out brawling. Plus the return of a couple of major characters to the Marvel U proper. Characters that haven’t been seen in the major books for a long time. That had been off in their own little worlds.

I hope this means next issue we’ll get Hulk back, but I doubt it.

So is there anything wrong with this issue? Not really. I still want to know who all are Skrulls. I still want to see the screws put to the lives of some of the heroes. And I still want to figure out what the hellis going on and how this is all going to end. I hope that the next two issues are as good or better than the last 6, as that will really pull it all to a massive and perfect close.

Not much needs to be said about Bendis, except for the love of God get the Inhumans to Earth so that they can kick some Skrull ass. Jesus.

Leinil Yu is a stud. Pure and simple. His art fills these pages to the brim with characters and you just want to pour over the pages and pick them out. I wish, at the end, there was a little number chart showing who all the people were on those two big spreads, but I’m sure we’ll get that eventually. This is the event comic that puts all others to shame.

My deepest fear is that if the Skrulls win, what next? Will there then have to be a Marvel Comics crisis to save their universe? Or will the universe proper have to make a deal with Mephisto to save themselves?

I sure hope not. I’m pulling for the heroes this time. I really hope they can win.