Secret Warriors #13
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Cover Artist: Jim Cheung

Dugan leads his own briefing with the heads of Howling Commandos, while Daisy pressures Fury to revaluate his desicion on pulling Druid off her team. Flasbacks tell of Von Strucker and Kraken meeting years ago on Hydra Island (another one I assume). In the present day, Madame Hydra arrives at The Long Winter and the Secret Warriors finally learn about the Leviathan/HYDRA war and get thier orders. For Druid, its not good news.

• Continuity Notes
• Reprinted in:
  • Secret Warriors: Wake the Beast TPB and hardcover
  • Secret Warriors: The Complete Collection Volume 1.

Review:
Things continue to build rather then move as Fury arranges his army and we learn more of the relationship between Kraken and Von Strucker. The fight training sequence mid-issue is a nice touch, echoeing many like scenes dating back to Sgt. Fury #5. The Kraken here well developed with his relationship to Von Strucker and one get the sense they are both mirror images of Fury and Dugan (perhaps Gorgon is meant to mirror Daisy Johnson). Similar to the succesful run in Volume 2, here Hickman shows that HYDRA works best when we get a villain cast as strong and dynamic as that of the SHIELD cast. When its just the Baron or Viper leading a bunch green-hooded minions, its not as interesting. Its actually Leviathan that seems to be on the losing end of things in terms of development, as they have been mostly one-note thus far. Hickman continues to reward long-time fans with an appearence by the Von Strucker twins and a funny but honest assesment by their father. Its a testement to Hickman that you find yourself rooting for Von Strucker and HYDRA against the forces of Levithan.
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