Marvel Comics’ World War II-era Invaders has always been somewhat hit-and-miss. The original mid-seventies run hit all the right notes with its heady mixture of pulp action and high adventure. Recent revivals have seen the Invaders brought into more contemporary settings. One such revival, in an Avengers crossover, had original members being transported through time courtesy of a Cosmic Cube. Somehow these modern-day trappings just don’t seem to suit these pulp era heroes. Fan favourite writer Chip Zdarsky hopes to change that.
Following directly on from events depicted in The Avengers and Zdarsky’s own Namor: The Best Defence, Invaders has Namor contemplating full-scale war against us surface dwellers. As he does so, he is haunted by memories of the loss he suffered during World War II, and his often tense comradeship with Captain America and the rest of the Invaders. Namor takes centre stage in this first issue, while the current Invaders contemplate what their next move should be, which is made all the more difficult considering the history they all share.
Rather than just setting the action during World War II, or using yet another tired time travel MacGuffin to bring the Invaders to the present, Zdarsky uses both. Flashbacks to the war, juxtaposed with the modern setting clearly defines just how the dynamics of the characters’ relationships have changed.
Butch Guice and Carlos Magno art fits the story perfectly. They switch between a sharper, slick, hi-def modern style for the contemporary setting, with a detailed but coarser style for the flashbacks to the war era. Similarly, Alex Guimarães’ use of colour is masterful. The flashback sequences have the muted colour quality of 8mm film shot by soldiers from that time. In contrast, the present day is represented by the most vibrant colour palette imaginable.
Zdarsky’s creative talent for character-driven stories bodes well for the Invaders. Namor may well be seen as a villain in the modern Marvel Universe, but he’s a conflicted villain. Circumstances and perceived injustices have set him on his current course of action. His old comrade-in-arms, James Barnes, empathises with Namor’s plight stating that for Namor the war has never ended.
PUBLISHER: MARVEL | REVIEWED: SINGLE ISSUE | AUTHOR: CHIP ZDARSKY | ARTIST: BUTCH GUICE, CARLOS MAGNO | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
