Realm of Kings: Inhumans #4 of 5

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Pablo Raimondi
April 2010
***

I want to enjoy this Inhumans mini more, since it’s got fine art over a just-right story. But something about DnA’s work here feels mechanical by their standards of craft. There’s no danger when Crystal and co. defend themselves from a robot attack, & the final-page twist feels predictable.

last issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #3 of 5
next issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #5 of 5

also indexed for Apr. ’10
The Fantastic Four #576
Guardians of the Galaxy #23
Nova #34
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #4 of 5

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #3 of 5

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Wellinton Alves
March 2010
***

The mano a mano fight to War of Kings forms solid echoes in space, almost (but not quite) a symbol of how the Inhumans can’t escape their past. To wit: the heroine Crystal learns that a revanchist insurgency is backed by her slightly mad in-law, Maximus. Lovely if flat art adds to the space romance.

last issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #2 of 5
next issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #4 of 5

also indexed for Mar. ’10
The Fantastic Four #575
Guardians of the Galaxy #22
Nova #33
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #3 of 5

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #2 of 5

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Pablo Raimondi
February 2010
**

The Mighty Avengers (that is, the team not written by BM Bendis) visit the Inhumans for some heroics & soap operatics. Raimondi’s lines produce clean faces & strong settings, matching the clear, engaging dialogue; but there’s a sense of keeping time rather than engaging momentum with this mini.

last issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #1 of 5
next issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #2 of 5

also indexed for Feb. ’10
The Fantastic Four #574
Guardians of the Galaxy #21
Nova #32
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #2 of 5

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #1 of 5

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Pablo Raimondi
January 2010
**

DnA open this mini w/ a review of the status quo: the Inhumans, Kirby super-aristos, rule the Kree space empire fairly responsibly, tho’ palace intrigues brew & skirmishes flare up along the interstellar borders. Raimondi (& inker Hennessy) has a lovely clean style, like an update of ’80s X-Men.

continued from Realm of Kings #1 of 1
next issue: Realm of Kings: Inhumans #2 of 5

also indexed for Jan. ’10
The Fantastic Four #573
Guardians of the Galaxy #20
Nova #31
Realm of Kings #1 of 1
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1 of 5

The Fantastic Four #240

John Byrne
March 1982
****
Byrne’s FF deliberates shuns comics’ impulse to depict violence: a war btw. humans & Inhumans begins & ends off-page. Instead, Reed & co. help the super-race resettle on the Moon (the magisterial flight of their celestial city takes up several pages). In a coda, Quicksilver & wife have a child.
[last issue: The Fantastic Four #239]
[last issue: The Fantastic Four #241]