Those Koo-Koo-Crazy Nazi Cats are messing about with the time and space continuum. The Invaders get caught in their machinations and end up in an alternate universe where most of the Marvel heroes and the villains serve an evil version of Iron Man who has taken over the United States government. Le What! You mean that is the Marvel Universe? Well, for this review, it's a mirror universe in which Iron Man, unlike the vastly superior movie version, is a prick and the heroes and villains are equally rotten to the core. I defy this inhospitable right wing idyll as the Marvel Universe.

The time traveling Invaders step right into a battle between Spider-Man and the Masters of Evil, in the mirror universe known as the Thunderbolts, who are duly appointed authorities. Spidey appears to be one of the few actual heroes left in the mirror universe, and naturally he's being hunted.

Ross and Krueger come up with snappy patter that's worthy of the web-slinger, and with Steve Sadowski they show exactly how an experienced hero treats a bunch of villainous enforcers. First, he annoys them. More than once, Songbird screams at him to, "Shut up!" Second, he embarrasses them by using them as Yo-Yos. That's just lovely, and there's more than a little snide commentary from the writers, fitting Spidey's characterization, regarding Marvel's focus on the mirror universe rather than Marvel proper, which can be found in the Marvel Adventures line.

Sadowski keeps Spidey in perpetual motion, just how one imagines the character. He takes full advantage of Spidey's powers to choose some odd angles to plant his 'camera'. The technique significantly energizes the book. As a result, this is the most fun I've had reading a Spider-Man scenario in a long time. Incidentally, the enjoyment is completely independent of whether or not the wall-crawler is married to Mary Jane. So Brand New Day wasn't actually necessary, just really good writers and artists instead. Amazing.

When the Invaders arrive, they immediately figure out who's on the side of the angels and who's on the side of the Nazis. When Cap learns about the registration act of the mirror universe, he looks devastated. That is a beautiful silent moment that speaks volumes. Everything he's fighting for comes to naught. The Invaders decide to fight harder.

As the Invaders, looking smashing and resonant, battle the Masters of Evil, Krueger and Ross tease out their easy camaraderie. The usually haughty Prince Namor, for instance, withstands constant ribbing from Bucky, and he even has a pet name for Mr. Barnes. At the same time, Ross and Krueger don't lose the characterization that's more familiar to readers. These are heroes that are younger and more optimistic, the latter because of their battle with the truest form of evil. They react a little differently than their older counterparts would. However, the differences are nuances.

If anything, the Invaders represent how far Marvel has damaged itself irreparably. They represent how far the mirror universe Avengers have strayed from the concept of heroism.

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