All-New Invaders #12

Review: Another oddly-placed issue. #11 had the British Invaders and Killraven, then #12 ignored that to go with the Human Torch’s mental issues, ending, not quite on a cliffhanger, but still unresolved. Now in #13 we’ve dropped the Torch and are back to the Martian plot—in a lengthy flashback, no less. Bet this will look strange in a trade collection. Anyway, more War of the Worlds, Killraven returns again (sort of). Okay issue doesn’t advance the story much but gives us a glimpse of a previous incantion of the Invaders so that’s nice. Roy Thomas would be proud.

Comments: The Freedom’s Five were introduced in INVADERS #7 in 1976 as Union Jack, Phantom Eagle, Crimson Cavalier, Sir Steel, and the Silver Squire. Phantom Eagle first appeared in MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #16 in 1968 and had some later appearances. This is the only subsequent appearance of Sir Steel and Crimson Cavalier; the latter’s identity is altered to make him an ancestor of Batroc the Leaper. Sir Steel’s sidekick, Silver Squire, is absent from the present issue with the explanation that he is recovering from injuries. The Squire is replaced by Iron Fist (Orson Randall), Danny Rand’s predecessor in the role showcased in the series THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST. Eben Stafford was introduced in ORIGINAL SIN ANNUAL #1 as one of Woody McCord’s and Nick Fury’s predecessors as the “Man in the Wall,” protecting Earth against invasions; appropriately Bucky Barnes, Fury’s successor, appears briefly. Inker P. Craig Russell is the artist most associated with the original WAR OF THE WORLDS series which ran in AMAZING ADVENTURES (1970 series) #18-39; nice that they offered him this issue, even if only as inker.

Okay, the word in the nest to last line of the review should be "incarnation." Why, oh why don't I check these things before I hit "submit"?