By Jim Beard
When last we left the intrepid Invaders in AVENGERS/INVADERS #1, the 21st century had just welcomed them with an abject lesson in the Super Hero Registration Act courtesy of a pitched battle with the Thunderbolts.
Series scripter Jim Krueger promises more chaos, more confusion, more conflict as the saga continues in AVENGERS/INVADERS #2, on stands June 4.
"So, there's a mystery at work here," Krueger, who co-plots the series with Alex Ross, notes. "What was the mist that sent the Invaders into the future—or present—where they were attacked by the Thunderbolts, who thought that these 'invaders' were unregistered super humans?
"The Invaders kicked the collective asses of the Thunderbolts, and escaped. But not without their presence being made known to both Spider-Man, who's more than excited to see Captain America, and Tony Stark, Iron Man, who blames himself for Cap's assassination. Now, the involvement of the Mighty Avengers in this begins to reveal itself in issue #2."
The Invaders are of course the famous fighting force of World War II, made up of Cap, Bucky, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the fiery duo of the android Human Torch and his mutant sidekick Toro. Sadly, their very presence in the here and now "threatens all reality, and must be contained," as Krueger puts it.
"The real problem with the Invaders being here is that any sort of involvement in this era could change everything in the past once [they] return there," the writer explains. "In some cases, not only do [modern heroes] meet their inspirations, but themselves at a younger point in life.
"The temptation is to reach back and tell themselves something that they wish their younger selves would have known. Namor meets Namor. Bucky meets Bucky. And Peter Parker meets…well, that would be telling."
The question of recorded history becomes paramount to the players, both those who know it as the past and those who have yet to experience it.
"This is a big part of the story," promises Krueger. "Tony Stark and the Mighty Avengers are trying to make certain nothing is discovered [by the Invaders]. But of course, certain things will be."
Krueger relishes the creative challenge of delving into the emotional spectrum of characters from two such disparate times. He cites the "emotional stuff" as the meat-and-potatoes of his work on the project, and what he sees as the "primal" voice of the timelost Invaders.
"These are heroes who have been forced to live their lives on the front," he points out. "The simplest of pleasures are like gold to them. They are used to the bloodied battlefield. They are accustomed to their friends falling in battle. So maybe, just maybe, they have something very important to say to Tony Stark. Tony never thought he'd see Captain America again, and now that he has, it's obvious that this is all far from over."
The Invaders, as well as the Mighty Avengers, speak again in AVENGERS/INVADERS #2, winging your way this June 4. To relive the Invaders' glory days, visit Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
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