Nova #7

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen & Brian Denham
December 2007
****

Naturally, Rider shrugs off the sentient techno-virus’ infection; it’s how the turn is executed (an astral psychomachia) that works. His escape from the Phalanx dominion adds a dash of hard SF that, in a twist, shunts him away from the Annihilation: Conquest series.

last issue: Nova #6
next issue: Nova #8

also indexed for Dec. ’07
Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar #4 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #4 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #4 of 4
The Immortal Iron Fist #10

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Nova #6

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen & Brian Denham
November 2007
***

The centerpiece of this arc is an aerial battle btw Novas (Novae?), as the Kree rookie dogfights Richard Rider over control of the Worldmind AI. A dialog on individuality w/r/t the Phalanx hivemind offers food for thought. And a few overly boob-centric panels don’t detract from the action too much.

last issue: Nova #5
next issue: Nova #7

also indexed for Nov. ’07
Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar #3 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #3 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #3 of 4
The Immortal Iron Fist #9
The Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1

Nova #5

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen
October 2007
***

If Chen’s art were more than simply clear & readable, Nova would be fantastic. As it is the art’s serviceable, while the script springs surprises & draws new chars w/ a few deft strokes. A Kree medic is tasked by the Nova AI to protect her crew & Rider from the Phalanx techno-infection—& she fails!

last issue: Nova #4
next issue: Nova #6

also indexed for Oct. ’07
Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar #2 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #2 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #2 of 4
Astonishing X-Men #22
The Immortal Iron Fist #8

Nova #4

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen
September 2007
***

Crossing into the Annihilation: Conquest metaseries, Nova finds that the Kree Empire has been infected by a techno-organic viral race. With Rider burnt & the Nova AI empowering a Kree officer, the 2nd arc’s got clear stakes, an urgent tone, & plenty of momentum (unlike the series’ three minis).

last issue: Nova #3
next issue: Nova #5
see also Annihilation: Conquest: Prologue #1 of 1

also indexed for Sept. ’07
Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar #1 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord #1 of 4
Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #1 of 4

Nova #3

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen
August 2007
***

The writers prefer to retread last issue’s ground instead of moving forward (veteran of intergalactic war can’t bear the short horizons of home). It’s good, but when Nova meets ex-mate Speedball, a PTSD masochist since Civil War, he falls back on bromides instead of seeing his dark reflection.

last issue: Nova #2
next issue: Nova #4
see also Annihilation: Conquest: Prologue #1 of 1

also indexed for Aug. ’07
Annihilation: Conquest: Prologue #1 of 1
The Immortal Iron Fist #7

Nova #2

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen
July 2007
****

From a simple plot (Ryder takes shore-leave on Earth), the writers spool a soldier’s perspective on Marvel. So while the vet led an ugly stellar war, local heroes bickered in an inane Civil War. A grizzled old youth w/ an AI brain, he’s alienated from his suburban home. Oh, they’re putting thought into this!

previous issue: Nova #1
next issue: Nova #3

also indexed for Jul. ’07
The Immortal Iron Fist #6

Nova #1

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Sean Chen
June 2007
**

The Human Rocket’s fourth series has a good hook: the only galactic cop left, Richard Ryder must handle every planetary disaster solo. He’s also got near-cosmic powers & an AI in his brain—so why’s he just punching shit till it explodes? There’s hints of PTSD but is it enough to build a series on?

continued from Annihilation #6 of 6
next issue: Nova #2

also indexed for Jun. ’07
The Immortal Iron Fist #5

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5 of 5

Jonathan Hickman // Sean Chen
September 2009
***

Franklin, in cowboy duds, fires a real bullet from a toy gun—implying the boy has reality-altering superpowers once again. In an artful anticlimax, Mr F contacts a multiversal shadow council. This mini, itself kind of inessential, promises Hickman’s FF run will balance imagination & humanity.

last issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 of 5
continued in The Fantastic Four #570

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 of 5

Jonathan Hickman // Sean Chen
August 2009
****

Hickman reveals his low opinion of Dark Reign by pitting evil G-man Norman Osborn, the metaseries’ villain, against the FF’s kids! Hero Richards, meanwhile, nobly resolves to save the world after cruising the multiverse via his Kirbytech stargate, trailing funny iterations of his team in his wake.

last issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 of 5
next issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5 of 5

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 of 5

Jonathan Hickman // Sean Chen
July 2009
***

A reiteration of last issue, as Reed uses his What-If Machine to deduce why Earth Marvel is so messed up. Hickman aims to dig his protag out from the violations done to his character. But he also supplies comics action, as Pirate Johnny, Cowgirl Sue, & Elizabethan courtier Ben slide thru spacetime.

last issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2 of 5
next issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 of 5

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2 of 5

Jonathan Hickman // Sean Chen
June 2009
***

As Reed runs variant simulations on Marvel’s recent events, his teammates are stuck in whimsical, ahistorical setpieces. It sounds like the Star Trek trope about holodeck malfunction, but it’s actually quite fun. Metatextually, he’s critiquing the shoddy storytelling of Civil War et al.

last issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1 of 5
next issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 of 5

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1 of 5

Jonathan Hickman // Sean Chen
May 2009
***

One of the FF‘s strongest runs starts, unexpectedly, in the disposable venue of event spin-off. Hickman sidesteps action for Mr. F’s new invention: a dimensional scanner/gateway, which (due to a federal raid by Dark Reign, AKA Marvel’s new status quo) shunts his team onto a dino/caveman Earth!

next issue: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2 of 5