Synopsis
This is the big battle issue as Earth's super-defenders fight the Skrull invaders in Central Park.
Last issue we saw the coming together of Captain America (Bucky) and Thor with the Mighty and New Avengers (alongside Abigail Brand, Ka-Zar and Mr Fantastic), the Thunderbolts, Hood's supervillains and Nick Fury's amalgamation of his Secret Warriors, some of the Young Avengers and some Initiative members. Daredevil joins in here, and we even get a 1-panel cameo of Howard the Duck. (Ms Marvel doesn't appear in this issue but she's shown in Thunderbolts #125 and SI: Front Line #5)
Iron Man takes charge even though his armour is crippled by the Skrulls' StarkTech virus. But then he's sent off to fix his suit. He tries and fails to contact SHIELD on the way.
Wasp targets the Skrull version of her ex-husband Yellowjacket. He grows to giant-size but is challenged by an even-bigger Stature. Bullseye from hiding shoots him in 1 eye.
Reed Richards is assaulted by a Skrull Sue Richards (not Lyja who took Human Torch and Thing into the Negative Zone) who seems to have the power of Multiple Man. The Secret Warriors come to his aid (but Fury still calls them his Commandos).
Wolverine makes it to Queen Veranke and stabs her with his claws. But she zaps him with intense versions of Spider-Woman's bioelectric venom blasts.
Spider-Man quips that this battle can't be so bad because Uatu the Watcher hasn't shown up. But then he does.
Edwin Jarvis and Jessica Jones are watching the fight from Avengers Tower. Jessica decides she has to lend a hand. She leaves baby Danielle in the hands of Jarvis. (And a bit later we are reminded that he's a Skrull imposter). She fights her way to husband Luke Cage's side.
Suddenly a fireball lands and out of it steps Marvel Boy (Noh-Varr the Kree) who will fight in the name of the also-Kree Captain Marvel.
The assault renews. Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) is wounded and taken to safety by Vision (Jonas). Ronin (Clint Barton) picks up her fallen bow that used to be his and fires an arrow through Veranke's jaw. She falls, and Skrull-Henry Pym triggers a secret weapon.
(We see a flashback to MAv#8 where he gave ex-wife Jan the ability to grow as well as shrink. In MAv#15 this was revealed as a Skrull plot which we are about to see come to fruition.) Wasp grows to enormous size and starts giving off a toxin which attacks everyone around her, Earthers and Skrulls alike. If the Skrulls can't win then no-one wins.