Secret Invasion - *inhales deeply*  Ok.  I like to think I've been as fair as possible.  The ending of this book has been spoiled in at least three previously released Marvel books that I've read.  Ms Marvel, Amazing Spider-Man Annual and, most of all, Thunderbolts.  In fact, the most recent issue of Thunderbolts took nearly ALL of the surprise out of this.  Up until then, all we knew is the Avengers won the fight, and I can find people who can't dress themselves that could have told you that.  After Thunderbolts, with the repercussions of the fight pretty much out on the table, this story was essentially paint-by-numbers.

Still, a tiny part of me didn't want to blame this book for Marvel releasing these books before the conclusion.  If someone told you about the pencil trick before you saw the Dark Knight, does that mean the scene sucks?  Very, very generous analogy aside... no, it doesn't.  This book should not be judged on those merits.

However, even with prejudices at the door, I threw up my hands and actually yelled "Oh, come on!" aloud when I saw all the missing heroes emerge from a ship, unscathed.  Not only were they kept alive, for which a flimsy explanation is given, but apparently they were kept unlocked, in good health, and ready to stroll out just as soon as the door was opened.  Even better, they were not hidden away in, God forbid, a strategic location.  They were kept in a ship among the fleet that was, you know... right there with the other ones.  Bendis simultaneously expects me to believe that the Skrulls had this so thought out that they "almost won before the war began", and that when it comes to their purported "bargaining chip", their level of care and strategy leaves us to wonder how the hell the Skrulls are even intelligent enough to find their mouths to feed themselves.

This event had promise.  Looking at the first issue, it had barrels of it.  But the execution, the pacing, the dropped plot items, and the insult of having the conclusion of this event be yet another event has really left a very poor taste in my mouth indeed.  I'm, against all odds and better judgment, looking forward to Dark Reign.  I'm not sold on the character selection of the secret cabal shown on the last page, but I'll wait it out.  But I swear, if this next event is yet another decompressed, meaninglessly crossed-over, ham-fisted story where the only intriguing plot points are either never explained fully or magically reversed in wild and senseless deus ex machina moments, I'll... I'll... so help me, I'll write a snarkier review!