For a super-hero to succeed, he or she needs one important ingredient. Without it, failure is almost guaranteed. Of course, I'm talking about a good villain.
It sounds simple enough - the good guy needs a bad guy to fight, of course. But the villain must be just as interesting - and sometimes more interesting - than the hero being opposed.
The villain creates the conflict that's at the heart of any story - without it, the hero will just be on patrol forever.
The cover of this issue of The New Avengers features Skrully versions of some of Marvel's greatest villains, and they exemplify why Marvel has been so successful - it has some great villains to draw on.
The cover is an homage to the cover to Stan Lee's collection titled Bring on the Bad Guys, and I just wanted to mention how much I've enjoyed the practice of doing new takes on classic covers on the Secret Invasion issues of the Avengers.
And this issue is filled with bad guys and gals, as we learn how the Hood's Syndicate of Criminals discovered the Skrulls and their plans for the Secret Invasion. It forces the villains into the uncomfortable position of having to think about a bigger cause than their own concerns.
The issue focuses on writer Brian Bendis' strong suits - snappy dialogue and unexpected plot twists - and it'll be interesting to see where he takes these characters next. The art by Billy Tan and Matt Banning is dark and menacing, which is perfect for this story.
The comic also reveals some of the secrets behind The Hood, who certainly has the potential to become one of Marvel's most deadly villains, and the power to back it up. The question remains, can his personality be interesting enough to allow him to make the jump from a good villain to a great one? What makes him a bad guy?
The answer to those questions will decide it.
Grade: B+
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