Posted by Richard Pulfer on Jun 24th, 2008
By now you’re probably tired hearing me ranting and raving about how good Marvel’s Nova and Annihilation is. Well, finally, here are some negatives.
I read Annihilation Conquest Volume 1 this weekend, and believe me, it starts out great. The series promptly re-introduces the obscure but badass Star-Lord, a key supporting character in the previous Annihilation. Star-Lord meets with another old familiar face from the Marvel archives - the Space Knights (remember ROM?) - only to find the Galadorians are carriers for souped-up Phalanx techovirus, which quickly spreads through the Kree Empire like wild fire. Star-Lord is tasked with assembling a Dirty Dozen-esque team - consisting of favorites like Captain Universe and Rocket Raccoon - to halt the spread of the virus.
This is the first mini-series covered in Annihilation Conquest, and its well-worth every penny. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the next one - Quasar. The cosmic bands are now owned by Phyla-Vell, daughter of the first Captain Marvel and brother of the second. Along with her lover Moondragon, Phlya searches for the savior to the Phalanx later revealed to be Adam Warlock, all while being pursued by Phalanx-driven Avenger foe, Super-Adaptoid. The two have more trouple with the Adaptoid than any Avengers have in the past. There is constant retreated, returning and then retreating before the Super-Adaptoid is defeated. Written by Christopher Gage, this mini-series isn’t bad - but it’s not up the standards of the previous Annihilation hits. Its not as funny, not as epic and just not as engaging as the series that proceeded it.
But Conquest gets even worst. I looked at the contents of the second collection out in August. The collection will include Nova #4-7 even though those issues are already included in Nova’s self-titled debut out months ago. The collection will also includes the Wraith series - a Western space epic done in the style of the Man with No Name - so its not a total loss, but only ony do you have to effective pay for these three issues twice, but its also the weaker of the Nova issues - meaning if you want the whole story, you still have to buy both Nova and Annihilation Conquest for the best value - even though the contain the same three issues. This really seems like a cheap shot on Marvel’s part. Please tell me they aren’t that cash-strapped!
On to the comics of the week. Avengers: The Intitative #11 highlights another Secret Invasion tie-in, as Hank Pym is revealed as a Skrull (no surprise there - I don’t think anyone ever really liked that guy). The story reveals the Skrull to put agents in every team in the nation-wide Intiative, and introduces several new characters intent on stopping the secret invasion.
Captain America returns in some form or another in Captain America #39. Marvel is tight-lipped about this one - I’m guessing its either the WWII Invaders Cap from the ongoing Invaders/Avengers crossover or - sigh - a Skrull. I really hope its the prior, and either way, I hope Brubaker makes good on the confrontation on the cover - old Cap vs. New Cap.
And if we didn’t have enough Hank Pym this month - he’s also on the cover of Mighty Avengers #15. This issue seems to explain when Hank Pym was replaced (given Hank’s ass-hat behavior, I wouldn’t be surprised he never was replaced) and what ramifications it has on the continuity of the rest of the Avengers history. This seems like an interesting twist for Bendis - I’d give it a read no matter how much I don’t like Pym.
Skrulls abound even more in Ms. Marvel #28 as Ms. Marvel lends a hand to the battle of New York. That’s three Skrull titles so far - and one back to back with Mighty Avengers. Is Secret Invasion finally starting to get somewhere?
New Avengers #42 - of course - also ties in with Secret Invasion by tracing the roots of the war all the way back to the first issue of New Avengers by asking who caused the breakout in the Raft and how it serviced the Skrull plan.
If you’re tired of Skrulls - TOO BAD - because there’s also the Runaways/Young Avengers crossover at the heard of Secret Invasion. The Young Avengers have already got their butts handed to them by the Secret Invasion, and as it happens, both of them happen to have a Skrull-ish guy on their team. This mini-series propes the reason behind their line-up.
She-Hulk #30 surprisingly runs away from Secret Invasion … and right into The Incredible Hercules. Herc is wanted by SHIELD and She-Hulk is a bounty hunter. You’d think this would lead to drag-down fist-fight, but no one is sure where either heroes’ loyalties lie at the moment.
Green Goblin starts to emerge in Thunderbolts #21. Norman Osborn has been running the team since Civil War, but stress - and a telepathic counter-attack - are starting to take their toll on the boss’ already-fragile mind. This could have devastating consquences for Spider-Man in the months ahead.
Finally, Uncanny X-Men #499 ends Divided We Stand as the X-Men - now disbanded - battle enemies at every corner, from San Franciso to Russia. This is supposed to be as big as Messiah Complex, but so far I’m not seeing the connection. Hopefully this issue will spell things out for me.
In Wolverine: First Class #4, Wolverine seems to have become civilized past his berserker instincts after a run-in with the High Evolutionary, while Kitty Pryde has regressed into a half-girl, half-cat creature. If this plot sounds weird to you, here’s something even weirder - I’M SOLD. This is one of the best - and thankfully self-contained - books on the market right now.
Rogue and Gambit finally have a role in X-Men after being ignored for most of Messiah Complex and all of Divided We Stand. In X-Men Legacy #213, the still-comatose Xavier looks to his past, and finds something about Rogue, Gambit and Sebastian Shaw. It’s about time.
Finally, in Young Avengers #6, Kate Bishop comes face-to-face with Hawkeye - Clint Barton - for the first time since she unknowingly chewed him out in Fallen Son. The claws are out, and this should be a pretty interesting confrontation, written by up-and-comer Matt Fraction (The Order).
On the DC side, Final Crisis #2 takes full effect. The cover shows Batman in some weird device - one can only hope he’s not being changed into a New God! Martian Manhunter has not surprisingly bit the dust - DC let it fly long ago that MM was on their hit list. Now Mister Miracle and a host of other heroes are battling Darkseid, Libra and the much-bayooed Anti-Life Equation. It should be interesting - since its all written by Grant Morrison.
James Robinson - the writer of one of my favorite comics, Starman - takes on Superman now, with a pretty cool cover from Alex Ross as well as guest spots from Green Lantern and the Science Police. Following the lead of the illusterious Kurt Busiek, this might just be the best line-up for Superman in a good long time!
That’s all for this week. Expect more scoops on Secret Invasion and Final Crisis in the weeks to come!
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Devin de Gruyl
June 25, 2008 at 1:09 am
Neko-mode Kitty Pryde… *_*