The notion of an aggressive, right-wing super-hero team that focuses on international conflict as opposed to super-villain bank heists is one that appeals to me, and there's a great deal of potential in the concept and character lineup here. There's a problem, though. The writer doesn't make it completely clear what their objective is, who's giving them their mandate now and or even why the members of the team are involved in the venture. There's a lack of clarity in the script that's matched by a murkiness in the artwork as well. The action in this issue is so completely over the top as well. In an attempt to set this book apart from other super-hero titles, the creators go too far with the violence, which comes off as ridiculous as opposed to intense or edgy.
The new Invaders have set up a temporary headquarters in the Republic of Mazikhandar, a nation they freed from the rule of a dictator and corrupt politicians. The land has been under attack by odd, insectoid, Nazi-like creatures, and they cause problems when an old ally -- Jim Hammond, AKA the Human Torch -- stops in for a visit. Hammond's arrival doesn't exactly fill the new Union Jack with glee, though, as he's aware his lover and Hammond share an intimate bond.
Smith's style is an unconventional one, and overall, it's pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, the figures are quite stiff as well, and in an issue filled with so much action, stiffness is not a desirable quality. Furthermore, the characters get a design overhaul in this issue, but the reader doesn't get a clear picture of those new costumes. One of the reasons is that the colors are dark and muddied. It's difficult to even identify Hammond in the middle of the action, for example.
I like that this team isn't a typical super-hero group. I like that they're pro-active. The characters' personalities shine through. The Blazing Skull is a lot of fun, and Union Jack and Spitfire's relationship brings a grounded element to the story. The violence helps to set these super-heroes apart, but it's far too exaggerated. Furthermore, I'll bet that the killing stops when it's good, old-fashioned human flesh and red blood that stands in the heroes' way. The villains here are purposefully inhuman, and the story would resonate more if the victims of the Invaders' war on terror were actually people.
What's lacking here is clear purpose and direction. It's not clear why any of the characters save the Thin Man are involved with this new incarnation of the Invaders. Hammond's role is vague, and aside from keeping up traditions, the other members' motives seem to be non-existent. Jacobsen also spends a lot of time addressing little continuity points, but he doesn't provide enough context to allow new readers to understand what he's tlaking about. He mentions the V-Battalion repeatedly but doesn't explain what it is, for example.
