The Inhumans #11
Published and © by Marvel, June 1977
Title: “Return to Earth!”
Synopsis: The Inhumans return from space to find themselves stuck in New York, battling the Kree’s powerful Pursuer.
Writer: Doug Moench
Penciler: Keith Pollard
Inker: Jim Mooney
Review: This series begins to sputter as it winds down. The Inhumans return to Earth, aborting the promising sci-fi direction of earlier issues; apparently, the “War Between the Three Galaxies” will have to be fought elsewhere. Instead, the royal family squares off against a common cockroach that’s been genetically enhanced by the Kree. Yes, it’s as bad as it sounds. Contributing to the disappointment are silly character design – a common problem for the villains of this series – and an overly cute ending.
Grade: C
Second opinion: “When they returned to Earth in issue 11, everything they’d been through in space seemed pointless.” – Ed Via, The Comics Journal #63, May 1981
Cool factor: Certainly there’s something cool here, but that super-powered cockroach really gets in the way.
Not-so-cool factor: No, really: Do the words “genetically” “enhanced” and “cockroach” mean anything to you?
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 35¢ variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Prepare to die – by the order of the Supreme Council.” – The Pursuer (you know you’re in trouble when a cockroach is taking orders from the Supreme Council)
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this review appeared in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1653.
