Review by Ian Keogh

You know all those stories you’ve heard about how there’s a shadowy conspiracy of powerful people who actually sit above the government and control the world? Well, they’re true, as revealed in Revolution. Also disclosed was that the design of Captain America’s shield is no random symbol, but that of the controllers, who’d intended Cap to be their weapon. Instead they manipulated Bucky Barnes through his career as Cap’s World War II sidekick and beyond to his Soviet Winter Soldier days.

Revolution primarily concerned Cap and Bucky, but he has other friends, and they’re informed of what he knows in The Invader’s opening chapter. Collaborating writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing then pull the rug once again, something characterising this series. It’s an interesting idea that an invasion of New York, which is massive on any scale, is just used as a ploy in a larger plan. The writers don’t lack other good ideas either, despite The Invader in essence just being the set-up for Cold War. Another example is that toward the end there’s a sequence of a group of characters having to overcome attacks to their mind, making them relive uncomfortable or traumatic moments. You’ve seen it before in numerous superhero comics, yet Kelly and Lanzing reveal something about each of the ensemble cast despite each only being allocated a single page.

Artist Carmen Carnero once again turns in greatly impressive pages. They’re strong, dynamic and action packed when needed, but equally effective during more normal moments, and tell the story exceptionally well. Yet this isn’t flashy artwork drawing attention to itself all the time, although once again, spreads with multiple images of a character really hit the spot.

There’s no predicting where things are heading, and by the end it seems as if Cap’s being betrayed by two of his closest friends. That’s just when a wild card shows up. This is very satisfying indeed.