Annihilators: Earthfall TPB

What a sad way for DnA’s classic run on cosmic Marvel to come to an end. This story probably could have been a great close, but unfortunately a poor choice of artist didn’t let that happen. I’ve enjoyed Tan Eng Huat’s art before, mostly on his Doom Patrol work. But he is not the right artist for straight-up, normal super-heroics. There is a disconnect here in his style versus the classic look necessary for DnA’s script. Faces end up smooshed. The battle scenes are hard to follow. There seems to be perspective problems in multiple panels (there are a few scenes where there are explosions in the background that seem to be the response to Gladiator’s punches in the foreground.) Again, I don’t want to be mean, because I have liked this artists work in other projects, but the clash of style caused such a disconnect that this was honestly a chore to read.

DnA deliver a story that serves as a nice capstone to their run involving the Universal Church of Truth AND the Magus. That’s a brilliant new concept AND a classic Marvel villain. But the Church ends up as a bunch of faceless, generic villains that don’t deserve to be on the same page as the Avengers or Annihilators.

I’m particularly interested in the interaction Quasar has with his old team as he tries to explain the galactic view he’s been forced to take. This is Wisconsin’s small-town hero operating on a galactic scale and telling Cap to keep things in perspective! I would have liked a bit more of that type of material, along with some more of Ikon’s fascination with Quasar. There was no time, though, because this book was running from explosion to explosion. I love action books, but I like it to look a bit prettier.

Average

The Thanos Imperative HC

Wow, DnA know how to rock the world of Marvel cosmic. This epic is the swan song for the cancelled Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. I love that DnA end the series pretty dramatically for the stars of those two books. I don't believe the permanence of their status for a moment, but it's a great idea to take these guys off the table for a bit. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

With such a huge cast, and with Thanos justifiably taking up so many panels, a lot of the cosmic cast gets relegated to the background. Poor Jack Flagg and the Inhumans barely appear. Major Victory is a walking plot dump. But Rocket Raccoon, Drax, and Mantis all make out pretty nicely, even with fierce competition for page.

I never would have guessed that my childhood fave Quasar would be so important or powerful, but I'm not complaining. That big-budget, slo-mo shot where the Annihilators form up? Simply awesome. I love seeing Quaze and Ronan the Accuser in such fine company.

The story is truly epic, and I think it works best when the stakes are highest. The enormous battle at the Fault rift is well done, with Galactus and other cosmic entities trying to hold back the seeping life of the overgrown universe. I love the sequences back in the other universe too, with Star-Lord and Thanos teaming up with the robotic resistance there. I'm not sure the Revengers totally work as bad guys, I never bought into them as being too scary. While I love the idea of that character leading the forces of life, he isn't disfigured or frightening enough considering he's supposed to be tied to Lovecraftian elder gods.

The art in the prologue is the strongest. Brad Walker owns the Guardians, and his work is stellar. Miguel Sepulveda does a decent job with the rest of the material, but Walker is a hard act to follow.

Good

Imperial Guard #5

I'm not sure this was absolutely essential, but it sure was fun. DnA really run with the concept that the Imperial Guard is made up of multiple people occupying the same roles. I think four guardsmen get killed or taken out this issue. I think Mentor goes out the worst, he doesn't actually die, but he gets taken off the board in a way that actually strengthens the enemies of the Shi'ar. It's quite clever, and it adds nicely to the mythology of the Shi'ar that DnA have established. Gladiator's rescue mission is pretty exciting, but I like that the two remaining Starjammers get to wrap up the current threat. (Although I have to say, combining a ship-sized telepath with a venom-symbiote doesn't seem like a long-term good idea.)

The closing page was powerful, even though the team members who fell are already replaced. The huge mausoleum of fallen guardsmen is a scary promise for each new member that joins up with Gladiator to defend the Imperium. I'm just hoping Quasar gets to help out! (I don't want him to join the guard though.)

Kev Walker's pencils looks a bit sketchy at times, I wonder if he was having a hard time meeting his deadlines. The most important panels look fine, but background characters look a bit blobby. I do like his designs for the new Raptors, they maintain the overall look while remaining unique.

Good

Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #4

What a cool cover. It's pretty cool that we get such a striking cover starring a couple of nobodies from the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.

This book has really picked up since the first issue, amazing what stranding your expendable cast in a dangerous situation can do. Last issue's great cliffhanger appearance of Quasar doesn't get a huge payoff. Wisconsin's best hero spends the whole issue trying to warn the Shi'ar about the threat from the Fault. The rest of the expedition is becalmed in the Fault. There's some sabotage going on to add to the pressure of gigantic flesh ships and evil versions of the X-Men. The only casualty so far is Firebolt, and since he's sentient flame, I'd bet he'll be back at some point. I do like the way DnA are tying the mysterious saboteur into the ongoing cosmic storyline too. I'm concerned Mentor will take him up on his offer...

Kev Walker's art is looking mighty blobby, almost Guy Davis-y. It works for this horror-themed book quite nicely too. With so many of the Guard looking sort of inhuman, the style works great.

Good

Realm of Kings #1

DnA can do no wrong with me. Their little corner of the Marvel U has become my favorite thing in comics, and it is not hard to see why. There is an initial meeting of the main movers involving Quasar, Nova, the Guardians, and Project Pegasus. These are the coolest parts of the Marvel U and they're all involved in the same story! The entire group is concerned with the Fault, the rip in space/time created during the War of Kings.

Quasar is confident that his energy form should keep him safe, so he volunteers to do a deep dive into the Fault and see what is on the other side. His energy form lasts for just a few seconds, as he pops out the other side of the Fault on a horrific alternate Earth. This world is populated by an evil version of the Avengers that seem to be powered and possessed by demonic entities. To be specific, the whole universe that spawned that alternate Earth is a mass of evil, shapeless beings. Lovecraftian horror at its finest (I think the Avengers even mention Ftagh, which is a Lovecraft quote, I believe). I honestly had no inkling that DnA would use this Fault story to introduce the outer beings that would fit in nicely in a Hellboy comic. So the best cosmic books around are about to get an injection of non-Euclidian horror. Awesome. There are a ton of neat bits thrown in about possessed heroes, scientific beings resisting the supernatural, and the reduced cast of the Guardians. There is so much going on, this really is an important launch point for a whole section of Marvel's cosmology.

Mahmud Asrar handles the Marvel U portions of the issue, while Leonardo Manco draws the horrific alternate universe. The thematic shift in pencils works perfectly. Manco's pencils in particular sell the horror wonderfully. His take on a universe filled with a gigantic, shapeless, and malevolent being is horrific.

Good

Nova #25

War of Kings takes a backseat for an issue, letting Richard Rider get the Nova Centurions in order. Not a bad issue, especially since as an "interlude" type of thing, it is still packed with action. Sure, the Shi'ar aren't involved much, but Ego makes for a helluva villain. The whole idea of a hyper-successful merge between the Worldmind and Ego is a great idea, since Nova can't just blame Ego, it seems like there was some sort of symbiotic thing going on. The idea that Worldmind had maintained some data in the old centurion personalities was neat too, especially when Quasar gets to comment "Well, we've all died once or twice in the line of duty." I hope that DnA keep Quasar as a buddy for Nova since they make a lot of sense hanging out together. The interaction with the Worldmind's new dominant personality will be fun to watch too. I always liked Ko-Rel as a centurion, so now we'll get the benefit of her personality even though she died months ago.

The bits of the issue that do deal with War of Kings are pretty interesting too. It looks like Mentor II of the Imperial Guard has no problem with torturing Tarcell, the current Nova Prime. Vulcan's involvement in the torture makes a lot of sense, if there is any part of ruling that he'd keep a hand in, it would be in torturing his foes. He's a great maniacal villain who obviously relishes the chance to personally hurt his opponents. Looks like we won't be able to count on Mentor II turning good though, huh? I do worry that the Super Nova who shows up at the end is a good guy. I always liked him as a villain. (That is who that is, right? The old Super Nova from Byrne's Avengers run?)

Kevin Sharpe does a good job keeping a consistent look with Andrea De Vito. He's not as clean with his pencils, and Richard looked a little bulky as Quasar, but not too bad. Sharpe's pencils looked better than the last time I remember (in an X-title).

Good

Guardians of the Galaxy #12

There we go, Guardians is back on the right track. DnA bring things back around in this issue, giving lots of the stuff we want from our Guardians. We get the return of TWO classic characters, the further development of Phyla into her own as a hero, and a great swerve at the end with Maelstrom and his boss. I almost can forgive issue 11 since the payoff to the story was so nice. I don't think it is a secret that Quasar returns in this issue, and I'm thrilled to see him. DnA are repopulating the Marvel Cosmic U with all so many characters, I think we're going to need at least one more space-book! Heck, isn't Darkhawk being elevated by them in the upcoming Ascension book? I loved how DnA had Quasar make multiple references to his history with Maelstrom, especially the arm-chopping. I remember reading that as a kid and being grossed out and disturbed by that. I'm looking forward to the book refocusing on War of Kings next issue, it should be great. This is the best book Marvel is publishing, and I honestly can't believe how much I'm loving the great mix of Marvel history (like Quasar, Project Pegasus, and Jack Flagg) and cutting edge new ideas (like Cosmo, War of Kings, and Groot!). Actually, now that I think about it, DnA sure like Mark Gruenwald's work don't they? Maybe it isn't so surprising that I love their books...

Wes Craig's art is inconsistent, with some pages looking fantastic, and others looking oddly cartoony. Overall, the book is fine. Craig does do a great job selling the big reveal on the last page.

Good