By Ben Morse
The Skrulls seem to have planned meticulously and figured out every angle heading into Secret Invasion, so it stands to reason that eliminating their most hated enemies would be high on their list of priorities—and that means some hard days to come for the Fantastic Four.
Leading the Skrull incursion against Marvel's first family will be writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a veteran of the FF from his days on MARVEL KNIGHTS 4, who will join artist Barry Kitson (THE ORDER) for SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR, a three issue limited series kicking off in May.
"As soon as I heard about Secret Invasion, I e-mailed [Marvel Executive Editor] Tom Brevoort and asked how the FF were going to tie into the shenanigans, and threw my hat in the ring," relates Aguirre-Sacasa on how he got the gig. "I don't think it's a big secret in Marvel editorial that I've wanted to get back to these characters ever since MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 ran its course."
Having gotten his wish of getting his hands back on the characters
that started his career at Marvel, Aguirre-Sacasa wasted no time in plotting their systematic destruction at the hands of their emerald-hued enemies.
"One member of the FF goes missing, one is perhaps not who he or she says he or she is, and the top 10 floors of the Baxter Building are transported into the Negative Zone and that all happens in the
first half of the
first issue," teases the writer of the chaos to come. "And Franklin and Valeria are
not on the moon being babysat by Crystal where they usually end up during these cosmic-type adventures, they're right in the thick of it."
The Fantastic Four of course thwarted the Skrulls' very first invasion attempt of Earth many years ago and perhaps no other group or individual in the Marvel Universe has caused them more grief then Reed Richards and his family. While much of Secret Invasion can be seen as an elaborate military campaign, when it comes to the FF, things get considerably more personal—and considering the Skrull who makes their return in SECRET INVASION: FANTASTIC FOUR, that statement couldn't be truer.
"One of the key players in the events of [this story] is [the Human Torch's ex-wife]
Lyja, whom we haven't seen in awhile and who obviously has a very personal and complicated relationship with Johnny," elaborates Aguirre-Sacasa. "Though she's operating under specific Skrulls orders with a specific agenda to neutralize the FF and the threat they pose, here emotions
definitely add a certain heat to the proceedings."
Every member of the FF has a role to play in the story, but with Lyja at the forefront of the Skrull side of the equation, expect Johnny Storm to take point in a big way for his family.
"This is definitely a Fantastic
Four book, not a Human Torch solo adventure, but as the story unfolds, Johnny, because of his special relationship to the Skrulls, does take more of a central role," promises Aguirre-Sacasa. "And of course you can't really put the spotlight on the Human Torch without putting it on the Thing as well, so expect a lot of clobbering."
Bringing the action to life on an epic scale will be Barry Kitson, who will be taking his first crack at the FF. Aguirre-Sacasa could not be more excited to work alongside the veteran draftsman.
"One of the biggest incentives for me in writing FANTASTIC FOUR: SECRET INVASION, besides revisiting these characters, was getting a chance to collaborate with Barry," enthuses the author. "[Barry]
truly is a collaborator. We've been in constant e-mail [contact] since we started this project and he also happens to be one of the nicest, most gentlemanly guys in comics. Between him and Alan Davis, who is drawing the kick ass covers [for the series], I'm in excellent company."
Aguirre-Sacasa, Kitson and Davis bring the Invasion to the FF's doorstep beginning on May 14.
Who do you trust?
Learn more about Secret Invasion now at Marvel.com/SecretInvasion! Also, read the SECRET INVASION PROLOGUE in Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and watch the Secret Invasion animated short!
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