Secret Invasion #5 Review

Written by: Ryan North
Art by: Francesco Mobili
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Sanford Greene
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: March 15, 2023

Secret Invasion #5 brings the Secret Invasion to a close with a master stroke of infiltration and deception by a rogue Skrull faction to take command of multiple nuclear missile facilities across America.

Is It Good?

Secret Invasion #5 ends the current arc with a standard bait-and-switch ending that mostly works. It’s become almost obligatory for any Skrull-based paranoia mystery to wind up on a “you thought you had me, but I really had you” type ending, and this issue is no exception.

When last we left Maria Hill and Nick Fury, they were captured and powerless at the hands of a Skrull terrorist group. Now, the finale turns into an issue-long Columbo episode where the Skrulls arrogantly explain their master plan to Hill and Fury right before Hill delivers the bad news to the Skrulls that they’ve already lost.

The twist mostly makes sense, and it’s delivered with a reasonably satisfying schadenfreude level of glee by Hill. The Skrulls are rounded up, and all is right with the world.

However, the issue falls short in the details. How did [REDACTED] pass a blood test? The passing is explained, but it comes off as contrived/convenient. How did the Avengers round up the Skrulls so quickly? How did Captain Marvel round up the missiles so quickly by herself? How did Nick Fury fall for the grieving family scam in the first place? Even Fury mentions his boneheadedness at the end of the issue. What did Maria’s “test” during her confrontation with Tony actually prove?

Overall, the arc turned out to be a standard Skrull Invasion that’s heavy on paranoia but weak on the details. Compared to the classic original, this arc barely serves as a weak copy.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Secret Invasion #5 ends the arc with a lot of gotchas, exposition dialog, twists, and bait-and-switch maneuvering. The Skrull’s plot is well executed, but the way the heroes save the day is thin on believable details and heavy on convenient contrivances.