Secret Warriors #16
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Gianluca Gugliotta
Color Artist: Sunny Gho of INFS
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Cover Artist: Jim Cheung, Mark Morales & Justin Ponsor

Leviathan and Hydra sit down for a meeting in Kyoto, where the Kraken demands Von Strucker and Hydra pledge themselves to his command. A battle ensues and war is called between the two sides. From the sidelines, Fury watches and calls together his different Secret Warriors teams to plan an attack on both sides. J.T. meets with an unexpected benefactor.

• Continuity Notes
• Appearance by the Countessa, Dum Dum Dugan, Mikel Fury, and Alexander Goodwin Pierce.
• Reprinted in:
  • Secret Warriors: Wake the Beast TPB and hardcover
  • Secret Warriors: The Complete Collection Volume 1.

Review:
Leviathan and Hydra amp it up and it's another chance to see Gorgon unleash his rage. Thus far, Von Strucker and Gorgon are neck and neck the most interesting villains in the series (I'm not counting Val here for sentimental reasons). Kraken gets an intriguing flashback, but most of Leviathan pales alongside Hydra, especially this weirder iteration that Hickman has crafted. The last page reveal involving JT is an eye-opener and adds dimension to the Daisy/J.T. hook-up and perhaps furthers the parallels between them and the Fury/Val dynamic.
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Rating: