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

Annihilation: Ronan #4 of 4

Simon Furman // Jorge Lucas
September 2006
***

An aspirant to godhead burns himself out by using his world-shaping energy to destroy the swarm of space bugs. So Ronan fails to clear his rep but vows to warn the Kree Empire anyway. The strongest mini in the metaseries, Ronan feeds its drive & suspense into next month’s Annihilation series.

last issue: Annihilation: Ronan #3 of 4
continued in Annihilation #1 of 6

also indexed for Sept. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #4 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #4 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4 of 4
Civil War #3 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #7

Annihilation: Ronan #3 of 4

Simon Furman // Jorge Lucas
August 2006
***

In battle w/ Gamora (a ’70s Marvel babe), Ronan’s gavel throws off so much energy, it reshapes a scruffy desert planet! At least, that’s a godlike terraformer’s plan—but a cloud of space locusts intervenes. Btw the stakes & the bravado, this mini recalls the mad, mythic epics of Kirby & Starlin.

last issue: Annihilation: Ronan #2 of 4
next issue: Annihilation: Ronan #4 of 4

also indexed for Aug. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #3 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #3 of 4
Astonishing X-Men #15
Civil War #2 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #6
Young Avengers #12