New Avengers #45 review

This issue basically tells us Spider-Skrull-Woman’s (Queen Veranke) and Hank-Skrull’s point of views when House of M occurred. I remember very well how when the white light appeared in HOM, the panel closed-up specifically only on Spider-Woman. So this is what that was about.

It appears that the Scarlet Witch’s spell doesn’t affect the consciousness of the Skrulls and so they’re left lost and confused. Veranke gets so upset, she throws up and breaks down in tears. She sets out to find Hank-Skrull for help.
We get a repeat of the conversation between Beast and Hank over isolating the mutant gene. This time we see Hank’s point of view and he’s already Hank-Skrull by this time. He too gets upset and eventually meets up with Veranke.

The two start to panic about how the planet is suddenly overridden with mutants and how they’re plan is all screwed. How could they take over a world where everyone has superpowers? The House of M event plays out and we see inserts of their appearances in the key moments. Their problem eventually solved itself when Scarlet Witch utters “No More Mutants.” The Skrulls gather to consider this a blessing from their god. But they also take into consideration the billions of Skrulls that died in the Annihilation event. It strengthens their resolve to proceed with the Secret Invasion knowing they can’t fail and that all that’s been foretold has so far come true.

Well, this was a waste of paper. If anything, this would make you want to reread House of M or complete the tie-ins there to see where these scenes occurred. Maybe convince new readers to get the TPBs. Nothing significant happens. The issue basically serves to fill the plot holes and connect House of M with Secret Invasion.

Jimmy Cheung’s art is the only redeeming quality. I love his two page spread of the helicarrier flanked by sentinels and the one showing the heroes’ offensive with Spider-man in the middle. He also draws a very beautiful Jessica Drew.

I can’t take any more. If there’s one thing I wished Scarlet Witch had said, it should have been “No More Tie-Ins!”