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
Keith Giffen // Andrea DiVito
January 2007
***
While Civil War hits delays, Annihilation keeps to its schedule. Thanos does a heel/face turn upon learning that the bug-invader plans to destroy all life; ironically, before he can save the ‘verse, he’s killed by his nemesis. Giffen engineered this whole series to give Thanos a death he deserves!
last issue: Annihilation #3 of 6
next issue: Annihilation #5 of 6
also indexed for Jan. ’07
Astonishing X-Men #19
Civil War #7 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #10
Keith Giffen // Andrea DiVito
December 2006
***
W/ this mini, the creators aim to write a war comic in space, with this ish staging an intergalactic Dunkirk. They ought to focus on the mystical weirdness instead: Super-Skrull reborn, but also Thanos’ mad speech on cosmic energy, its effect on bio-auras, & its practical application as a weapon.
last issue: Annihilation #2 of 6
next issue: Annihilation #4 of 6
also indexed for Dec. ’06
Astonishing X-Men #18
Civil War #6 of 7
The Immortal Iron Fist #2
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #9
Keith Giffen // Andrea DiVito
November 2006
**
Pursuing his own agenda, antihero Thanos supports Annihilus, fells Galactus, & kidnaps babes. You need Wikipedia for some of these characters’ IDs, but it’s way better than Civil War. Giffen savors his intergalactic war, esp. the political machinations, but he doesn’t always share the pleasure w/ us.
last issue: Annihilation #1 of 6
next issue: Annihilation #3 of 6
also indexed for Nov. ’06
Astonishing X-Men #17
Civil War #5 of 7
The Immortal Iron Fist #1
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #8
Keith Giffen // Andrea DiVito
October 2006
***
Taxied into place by a one-shot & 5 minis, the flagship of this metaseries sets sail. A swarm of space locusts from beyond the universe has consumed the Skrull Empire. Nova, leading a loose alliance of galactic heroes (esoteric ’70s Starlin creations, mostly), reports on the grim calculus of war. It’s journeyman space opera in a realistic prosy style, heavily influenced by Starship Troopers.
continued from Annihilation: Nova #4 of 4
continued from Annihilation: Ronan #4 of 4
continued from Annihilation: Silver Surfer #4 of 4
continued from Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4 of 4
next issue: Annihilation #2 of 6
also indexed for Oct. ’06
Astonishing X-Men #16
Civil War #4 of 7
Keith Giffen // Renato Arlem
September 2006
**
The herald/hunter plot ends a dud: once more the Herald of Galactus, the Surfer steers his master clear of the war. Giffen obv finds the Thanos subplot more compelling, as the Mad Titan allies himself w/ primeval beings against the Kirby God. It’s just talk, yet the scene has tension & drive.
continued in Annihilation #1 of 4
last issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 of 4
also indexed for Sept. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #4 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #4 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4 of 4
Civil War #3 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #7
Keith Giffen // Renato Arlem
August 2006
***
In Annihil‘s spine, Giffen stages intrigues among the big bads. Annihilus dissects cosmic beings & arranges an alliance w/ Thanos! And the Surfer moves in narrative retrograde, pledging fealty to Galactus in return for more power. If only Arlem didn’t photoref classic scifi images (BSG, Star Wars)…
last issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 of 4
next issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #4 of 4
also indexed for Aug. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #3 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #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
Keith Giffen // Renato Arlem
July 2006
**
The space war feels far away. Here cosmic titans negotiate alliances: the hunted heralds of Galactus band together, Thanos parlays w/ Annihilus, & far away, Galactus detects a cosmic disturbance. Almost incidentally, Annihilus exposits his motivation—our expanding ‘verse has encroached on his own.
last issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1 of 4
next issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 of 4
also indexed for Jul. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #2 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #2 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #2 of 4
Civil War #1 of 7
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #5
Keith Giffen // Renato Arlem
June 2006
***
The spine to a cosmic metaseries about an antimatter Kirby-tyrant invading the universe. The stakes are personal: Annihilus’ dogs are hunting Galactus’ heralds, to steal their cosmic power. Giffen toys nicely w/ the Surfer’s introversion, tho’ there’s no question the hero will pitch in.
continued from Annihilation: Prologue #1 of 1
next issue: Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 of 4
also indexed for Jun. ’06
Annihilation: Nova #1 of 4
Annihilation: Ronan #1 of 4
Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1 of 4
Astonishing X-Men #14
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #4
Keith Giffen // Scott Kolins
May 2006
***
Using plenty of technobabble, Giffen designs a space-opera spectacle. A wave of insectoids from beyond the universe wipes out the Nova Corps (intergalactic cops). The grandiosity makes the cosmic scope plausible (you could easily miss a genocide in the ol’ Kree-Skrull War) while the art is clear yet full of detail & activity. This prologue intros a SF revival for Marvel.
continued in Annihilation: Nova #1 of 4
continued in Annihilation: Ronan #1 of 4
continued in Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1 of 4
continued in Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1 of 4
also indexed for May ’06
Iron Man #6
Nextwave: Agents of HATE #3
The Pulse #14
Young Avengers #11
Keith Giffen // Ron Lim
September 2004
***
Thanos tames a Herald of Galactus by collapsing a Jovian-sized planet around it. Epic stuff, exactly what the Mad Titan should be doing. Tho unevenly paced & indifferently drawn (at best), this arc redeems itself by resurrecting the SF corner of Marvel continuity, which Giffen revisits in a year.
last issue: Thanos #11
also indexed for Sept. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #3
The Pulse #4
Keith Giffen // Ron Lim
August 2004
**
The Titan hunts a cosmic sadist powered by dark energy or some such. In turn, it seeks to murder its Kirby-God creator, Galactus. The Miltonic echo is apt for a comic about Thanos seeking redemption. But Lim fails to add the requisite stellar scope; compare KG’s simple yet epic covers for #8-11.
last issue: Thanos #10
next issue: Thanos #12
also indexed for Aug. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #2
Keith Giffen // Ron Lim
July 2004
**
Giffen proves he has a handle on Thanos’ character (a rarity) by showing him in control of the sitch even when his adversary is a mad cosmic being in a mortal shell. But Lim’s confusing art really hampers the writing, which is already burdened by heavy use of quirky, character-specific idioms.
last issue: Thanos #9
next issue: Thanos #11
also indexed for Jul. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #1
Daredevil #60
Fantastic Four #513
Fantastic Four #514
The Pulse #3
Secret War #2 of 5
Keith Giffen // Ron Lim
June 2004
*
The infamous Beyonder (who swapped genders in the ’90s?) has somehow caused a riot in an intergalactic prison. The creative team’s really fumbling: Lim draws generic physiques in a dated style, while Giffen masks essential bits of exposition under SF-boiled dialogue & slow-burn subplots.
last issue: Thanos #8
next issue: Thanos #10
