Annihilation #6 of 6

Keith Giffen // Andrea DiVito
March 2007
**

Galactus vaporizes the insectoid fleet, Nova goes mano a mano with the Big Bug, & Giffen delivers an epilogue. Annihil never quite delivered on its epic promise, mostly cuz it took itself too seriously. But more, the uninspired realism of DiVito’s art muffled the core mini’s sense of scope.

last issue: Annihilation #5 of 6
continued in Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1 of 2

also indexed for Mar. ’07
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #12

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 #2 of 4

Simon Furman // Jorge Lucas
July 2006
***

Tho’ far off, the interstellar war draws closer. The titular antihero, meanwhile, clashes w/ space amazons (mostly ’90s Marvelettes). Ronan is hardcore scifi: honor-driven outlaws on a backwater planet & a cosmic puppet-master w/ his ulterior agenda. Tho’ confusing, it’s rich in atmosphere.

last issue: Annihilation: Ronan #1 of 4
next issue: Annihilation: Ronan #3 of 4

also indexed for Jul. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #2 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #2 of 4
Civil War #1 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #5

Annihilation: Ronan #1 of 4

Simon Furman // Jorge Lucas
June 2006
***

The Kree strand of an intergalactic crossover. The protag—a blue-skinned Kirby heavy w/ a Thor-like gavel—has been exiled by his empire. It’s grand space opera, engaging & a bit confusing (races, empires, factions, all with weird names), but the Metal Hurlant-style art is gloriously detailed.

continued from Annihilation: Prologue #1 of 1
next issue: Annihilation: Ronan #2 of 4

also indexed for Jun. 06
Annihilation: Nova #1 of 4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1 of 4
Astonishing X-Men #14
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #4

Avengers/JLA #4 of 4

Kurt Busiek // George Pérez
December 2003
***

The crossover ends as it must: in an enormous brawl of punching & zapping. Still, the mag’s creative duo amazingly avoid even a whiff of the corporate avarice that must underpin this mini. The grand scope & casual confidence prove a good capstone to the super-teamwork dynamic that defines the Avengers run of Busiek & Pérez et al. Think of it as a victory lap AWA an impressive work of fan-service.

last issue: JLA/Avengers #3 of 4

also indexed for Dec. ’03
Alias #27
New X-Men #148