Secret Invasion: War of Kings One-Shot

Creative Team
Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artist: Paul Pelletnewsier and Bong Danzo
Inkers: Rick Magyar and Joe Pimentel
Colorist: Wil Quintana and Mike Kelleher

Story - War of Kings One-Shot

Review
After reading this issue this comic should have really been called "Why You Don't Piss Off Black Bolt." I a not to familiar with the Inhumans and have only seen them a few times around other Marvel titles. But this one shot really showed why Black Bolt is considered one of the strongest Marvel characters and the Skrulls learned that first hand.

Before I continue I just want to say that for anyone that is looking to jump on to to War of Kings and spend a huge chunk of money to read Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy, Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire, Secret Invasion, and so on Marvel released this week, along with this one shot, a special called War of Kings: Saga that explains everything you'll need to now about the event. The best thing about War of Kings: Saga is that it is free. And if you are interested in reading all the various titles that lead up to War of Kings the comic also details all the trade paperbacks that you can go back and read. So any fan, whether your new to Marvel's Cosmic Universe or just looking to refresh your memory of what has happened I recommend getting this comic since it is free.

Now this issue mainly dealt with a pissed of Black Bolt and Inhumans for what the Skrulls did to Black Bolt which is a nice way to show how what happened in Secret Invasion has help to build the events of what is going to happen in War of Kings. DnA did a great job showing how Secret Invasion connects to War of Kings and gave all the various characters their own unique voices. They did a great job showing how all the various Inhumans feel about what their leader has decided to do. Their is Medusa wants revenge on the Skrulls as much as her husband. Crystal who is more hesitant about what her sister and brother-in-law are doing. Maximus who while wanting revenge is more happy that Black Bolt is using his technology than anything else. There are many other character moments in this issue that DnA did to show the different personalities in the Inhumans.

If all else DnA have to be given a lot of credit more making the Inhumans go from a race that stayed out of everything into a major threat to the whole universe with this single issue. It was quite an impressive sight when Black Bolt converted the Inhuman city into a full mobile space station and as his first act to get revenge on all those who wronged him and his people was to quickly kill all the remain Skrulls that survive the failed invasion of Earth. In that quick scene DnA were able to establish just how powerful the Inhumans, especially Black Bolt, are when they are super pissed off.

DnA did a great job with the hook ending of Black Bolt becoming the new ruler of the Kree Empire. The Inhumans were already shown to be a threat to Vulcan and the Shi'ar Empire but with the Kree and all their resources behind them the Inhumans are now able to match if not surpass all the power Vulcan has. This issue has made even more excited to see the Black Bolt vs. Vulcan fight. With how big this war has gotten and looking to only get bigger this clash between titans is going to be epic.

I was glad to see Paul Pelletier on the art chores for this issue. I have been a big fan of his work on Guardians of the Galaxy and he is definitely one of Marvel's best artist, along with Wellinton Alves, in drawing all the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. The two page spread of the Inhumans city launching from the moon was an incredible scene. The only problem I had with the art was the final scene involving Vulcan and Shi'ar Empire. Vulcan looked like he was an 80 year old man in that final scene. I don't know if that was Bong Dazo or the colorist for that part of the issue but the art in that final scene kind of disrupted the flow of the issue in the end.

Issue Rating
Story: 8.8/10 - DnA continue to work their magic on Marvel's cosmic characters. They did a great job quickly making Black Bolt and the Inhumans into a big threat to the whole universe.
Art: 8.3/10 - Pelletier artwork was really impressive though the artwork at the end of the issue involving Vulcan did not match the art that was done throughout the issue before that scene.
Overall: 8.55/10 - This issue, along with War of Kings: Saga, is a great jumping on point for any reader looking to read War of Kings.