Editor's Note: Incredible Hercules #117 arrives in stores tomorrow, May 21.

"Sacred Invasion Part One: The God Squad"

Foist tings foist. Fans of Khoi Pham's pencils need not despair as he's moved over to Mighty Avengers for a spell (sans Paul Neary); Sandoval and Bonet are on board Herc at least through the "Sacred Invasion" arc. Whatever quibbles one might have with Sandoval's style, he does all that's required and more, from the visceral to the mundane. Historic flashbacks and great, big futuristic technology are handled with equal aplomb. Crowd scenes appear to be a specialty which is handy in a book that's wall to wall gods and monsters. He can tell a story, too, of which some of the Multiple Splash Page-oriented illustrators might wish to pause and take notice.

This is in essence the second consecutive chapter of exposition, which might be a show-stopper for some, but it is necessary given the heavy volume of (Marvel and traditional) mythological background and continuity references required to select and establish the characters to share Hercules' quest. And quest it is, in the heroic old-school sense; Pak & Van Lent's Odyssey, if you will, but with a self aware humour that ol' Homer never seemed to have considered. One half anticipates the eventual conclusion boiling down to a contest of: "Skrull season!", "Wabbit Season!"; "Skrull Season!", "Wabbit Season!"; "Wabbit Season!", "Skrull Season, Fire!!!"

Or not.

Describing the four "Champions" selected to accompany Hercules would involve a word for word retelling of the entire book, so we're not going to do that. Suffice to say that every party appears to carry an agendum; some plain, some enigmatic, but each equally determined in the short term to assist with the destruction of the Skrull godhead. Hercules himself is thrust into the unaccustomed and wholly undesired role of leader. When it's suggested that Thor might be a better choice, Athena implies that the Asgardians have sufficient problems of their own, and Hercules retorts with an effective if slightly uninspiring call to arms (as well as a pointed jab at the Asgardians).

On the subject of agenda, the assembled gods have some questions in regard to Athena's, culminating in an (after the fact) observation about the colour of her eyes. As she's "officially" described as black haired and grey eyed (see various Marvel biographies), it's perhaps odd that no one mentions her having gone blonde, too. Still, if you've been paying attention since her return, one must assume that Athena's eyes are green with something other than envy; if she has been compromised, what, exactly will the God Squad find upon sailing out of the Dreamtime? That's assuming they make it to the other side, as the unconscious realm contains monsters of its own, one of whom, not seen since his comic role as Dupe of Dormammu, figures prominently in the next issue.

As their ship sails Into the Mystic (with no apologies whatsoever to Van Morrison), Hercules and company witness the Skrull armada bearing down on Earth but are helpless against it, no doubt inspiring nightmares to come.

In the end this issue will read better as a chapter in the trade volume, but still stands nicely on its own. Among my own biases, one is definitely served with the inclusion of Snowbird/Narya, who has been "temporarily released from the mystic ban against leaving the Northern Dominion" (sic), and included as part of the quest. If you think that Snowbird's just a (dead sexy) superhero who can transform into a seal or cuddly arctic hare, you don't know Snowbird. We're reminded of her power and divinity when she effortlessly blocks blow after blow, passively restraining Hercules as he hath at it with a couple of his new teammates. Once sufficiently ticked, she transforms into a polar bear and takes a not as passive paws-on approach to restoring order. So, leaving all else aside, an arc featuring Snowbird guarantees that my interest will remain, er, aroused.

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