Review by Ian Keogh

The threat of Secret Invasion is shapeshifting alien Skrulls imitating superheroes and causing havoc in bringing their religious agenda to Earth. The three chapter title story begins by showing a Skrull impersonating a member of the Fantastic Four, and thereafter sowing doubt both among other members and readers as to who else might Skrull dopperlgangers. That’s handled well by writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and of course readers with long memories might recall a personal connection between the Skrulls and the FF. Actually, if they don’t, that’s covered by the older back-up stories.

Where Aguirre-Sacasa succeeds is in underlining how the Fantastic Four are a family first and a team of superheroes second, all the way down to Franklin and Valeria, both here as young children without super powers. He supplies a Fantastic Four, just not the Fantastic Four we know, although they’re nicely illustrated by Barry Kitson in the FF’s flying bathtub contraption.

Chapter by chapter the title story changes, so although there are points of continuity, Kitson has to vary his mindset to the different needs of the different locations, although the aggressive creatures of the Negative Zone provide the primary threats. As seen on the sample art, he draws a distinctive Human Torch, frequently bald as such, yet with hair restored when reverting to Johnny Storm.

One character at first doesn’t seem to be handled very well, uncharacteristically vengeful when previous circumstances wouldn’t dictate that’s the case, yet Aguirre-Sacasa explains the inconsistency by the end. He also manages to incorporate a surprising rescuer and supplies some good scenes for all included. As far as the 2007 material is concerned, then, very readable.

We then head back to 1987 and a plot from Roger Stern very nicely illustrated by John Buscema. It’s one of those stories that bops about looking at assorted people before bringing them together for the wedding of Johnny and Alicia Masters. The Puppet Master is the primary villain, and unpredictably used by Stern who sets up expectations of one thing happening and then confounds them. Be warned, though, it’s very much of its era, packed with thought balloons and incredibly dialogue-heavy.

A final story dates from 1991 and is the start of Marvel addressing what many felt was a mistaken marriage between Johnny and Alicia after her being the Thing’s girlfriend for so long. It’s clever on Tom DeFalco’s part, especially if you’re aware of what at the time was a shocking ending, and DeFalco’s also good in displaying the family dynamics, but it’s a story dragged down by Paul Ryan’s unadventurous art.

Secret Invasion is a fun collection for anyone who likes the family aspect of the FF, but the additional reprints are of their time.