The Thanos Imperative #4 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Miguel Sepulveda (artist), Jay David Ramos and Wil Quintana (color artists)

I have cancer.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, to be exact.

It’ll probably kill me at some point, assuming I don’t drink myself into oblivion before then, but I felt compelled to share with you because that is the frame of mind I’ve been in as I read Abnett and Lanning’s latest, and possibly most disturbing, space epic for Marvel. I’ve long been a fan of DnA’s work for this corner of the Marvel Universe, and applaud how they have carved out and defined a territory that has been vastly under-utilized by creators for decades now. These guys have succeeded in forging Marvel’s universe a chaotic, exciting, and utterly terrifying place to tell stories in. With every epic they’ve crafted, they’ve gradually raised the stakes in ways that seem logical yet infinitely more perilous. Now, with The Thanos Imperative these guys are building one of their finest stories to date, one that forces me to consider my own mortality in a way that is deeply disturbing.

At the heart of this tale is the simple, eternal conflict between Life and Death. Specifically, it is the tale of a universe where Death died and Life prevailed. A universe that is now trying to infiltrate our reality in a desperate attempt to find more space to continue growing and living. Where this story excels though is in the way it fucks with our expectations by portraying Life as a vile, cancerous entity and Death as, if not The Good Guy, then certainly a necessary deterrent to the threat of Life unbound. Thematically, it’s a strange concept and not something we’re accustomed to endorsing; our education as readers of fiction has trained us to view Life as being Good and Death as being Evil, but here Abnett and Lanning do what good writers do and play with our expectations, twisting them in ways that make us reconsider what we thought to be true. I don’t know about you, but I like that.

The action in this issue is unparalleled and furious, even if the plot was rather sparse. Sepulveda has a wonderful understanding of these characters and his gritty style is perfectly suited to the large canvas Abnett and Lanning like to work on. I loved the contrast of Nova and his strikeforce leading an incursion into the Cancerverse while Lord Mar-Vell and his Revengers stalked our universe in pursuit of the Avatar of Death. With every issue, this cat and mouse game is becoming more intense and bloodthirsty, the stakes are being continuously raised as each side fights relentlessly to gain the winning advantage, and after this issue I’m at a loss to see where the creative team could possibly go from here with the story.

Realm of Kings – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Leonardo Marco & Mahmud Asrar (artists), Bruno Hang (colorist)

The Story: What lies beyond The Fault? It’s an answer Marvel’s cosmic heroes have wanted to know ever since the war between Black Bolt and his Inhumans and the mutant Vulcan came to its tragic conclusion. Quasar, newly resurrected and desperate to prove his worth to his colleagues, has offered to delve into the tear in time and space to find out what lies on the other side, but what he finds there threatens to consume the entire Marvel Universe.

The Good: Readers will know that lately I’ve been taking a long overdue interest in Marvel’s cosmic heroes, and since I’ve missed the previous storylines set in this corner of the Marvel universe, I’ve decided now’s as good a time as any to jump on the rollercoaster and fully experience what so many other critics have been buzzing about for years now. I’m glad I’m starting here, because this issue has set the stage for a truly epic, terrifying story. Abnett and Lanning have masterful control over this little corner of Marvel’s universe, and it shows in the tight, interlocking arcs they are weaving together. From Annihilation right on through War of Kings, each story feels like a natural extension of the one that came before and not just another overly-marketed gimmick. These guys have literally rebuilt the universe from the ground up and it shows with the rich characterization and intricate plots they have developed. Quasar rings true as a devastatingly powerful hero struggling to earn his role as the guardian of the universe right at a time when it is most threatened, and the confidence with which he handles himself on the other side of The Fault reminds us why it remains a role he was born for. As for what lies beyond The Fault, I’m choosing not to comment because I don’t want to spoil the surprise, except to say the eerie combination of Lovecraftian horror and traditional superheroes is a delight and something I sincerely hope to see more of even after this storyline concludes.

The Not So Good: Nothing that won’t spoil your reading experience. This issue is primarily set up and exposition for the storyline proper, but I swear you’ll be so freaked out and have such a good time following Quasar’s journey (and I never thought I’d be saying that about a man named Wendell Vaughn) that you’ll hardly notice, and if anything want just a few more pages to see what happens next.

Conclusion: In a year highlighted by shockingly mediocre storylines, I feel like Marvel may have finally struck gold with Realm of Kings, and I’m really excited to see what happens next.

Grade: A-

-Tony Rakittke

 

Guardians of the Galaxy #8 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Brad Walker (Pencils), Victor Olazaba (Inks), and Wil Quintana (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I knew it was going to happen sooner than later, but I’m still a bit disappointed by the big War of Kings banner on top of the eighth issue of one of my favorites. You see, the Guardians are really the only cosmic characters I have any interest in (though I may check out the new Inhumans series based on the strength of the Secret Invasion story) and I have very little drive to play catch-up with the bigger picture of the space portion of the Marvel universe. Oh, well. I guess I’ll give the Secret Invasion: War of Kings one-shot coming out on Wednesday a read and use that (along with GotG #8) to evaluate whether it will be worth investing in the latest cosmic crossover.

The Story: Star-Lord goes to Hala to evaluate and investigate how the Kree have responded to the Skrull invasion. He ends up trading barbs and fists with Ronan the Accuser, a fight that leads to the predicament seen at the end of the last issue. Meanwhile, the “new” Guardians continue to battle the Badoon and Adam Warlock takes the fight to the Church of Universal Truth with the help of Gamora.

What’s Good: I have to hand it to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for really drawing me into the bigger events at play in a corner of the Marvel U. that I am less than familiar with. While I have no investment in (and little knowledge of) the Kree, Blastaar, or the aftermath of either Annihilation event, the efficient, witty dialogue quickly got me up to speed. No small feat considering we’re talking about years of continuity. Also good about Guardians of the Galaxy #8 is the quality artwork and enjoyable characters (but you probably already knew that).

What’s Not So Good: The only thing that took away from my overall enjoyment of the issue (besides some gaps in my knowledge of continuity) is the artwork. While it looks great for the most part, it also looks a bit different from what I am used to. The characters just don’t look as lively or vibrant as they do when drawn by Paul Pelletier and inked by Rick Magyar.

Conclusion: High marks all around for the first GotG tie-in for the War of Kings, especially considering how I initially approached the issue with quite a bit of hesitation. Now, in addition to looking forward to more of the usual Guardians goodness, I find myself more interested in the cosmic War than I had ever thought possible. Not sure if my wallet is particularly happy about that fact…

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Guardians of the Galaxy #7 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier (Pencils), Rick Magyar (Inks), and Will Quintana (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: In my opinion, Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most consistently entertaining and visually impressive books Marvel puts out. It effortlessly blends action, comedy, and drama into one hell of a satisfying package. The question now is whether or not the series can maintain momentum since Secret Invasion pulled the team apart. My guess is that it can.

The Story: The issue opens with a glimpse into a devastating future as described by Starhawk, who is being held in captivity by Cosmo the dog for precautionary reasons. Apparently, humanity’s future is doomed unless Starhawk can manage to correct an error occurring during the present time. Meanwhile, Rocket Raccoon’s new team of Guardians answer a cry for help from a colony in need that seems to be facing problems strikingly similar to the ones Starhawk spoke of. Adam Warlock seeks to find out more information regarding the Church of Universal Truth with the help of Gamora. As for Drax and Quasar, they are out in search of answers regarding someone named Cammi. And Starlord? Well let’s just say that he’s got problems as well.

What’s Good: Despite all the characters in play in this issue, the creative team once again knocks one out of the park. While mostly set-up for the future, the storyline provides for some great character work and extremely good looking artwork. While I may not have fully grasped the implications regarding some of the plot beats, I found myself completely entertained, thanks to the colorful cast of characters. Simply put, Guardians of the Galaxy #7 is another great chapter in an awesome series that seems to get better all the time.

What’s Not So Good: My only major complaint with the issue is that I felt a bit lost regarding some of the plot beats. While I am sure Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning will catch me up with everything next month, some of the impact regarding the story was simply lost on me.

Conclusion: If you aren’t reading Guardians of the Galaxy, you should be. ‘Nuff said.

Grade: B+

Looking for a Response: Anyone want to catch me up on what I might have missed regarding some of the stuff in this issue?

-Kyle Posluszny

Nova #18 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Wellington Alves & Geraldo Borges (Artists), Scott Hanna (Inker), and Guru FX (Colors)

What’s Going On: The big fight arrives as the Skrulls are trying to take Project PEGASUS. Nova, DarkHawk, and the newly resurrected Quasar are trying to stop them with no strategies employed, just a lot of punching and blasting, until the Xandarian WorldMind (also newly resurrected) introduces a new factor that may save them or just create a new level of danger.

What’s Good: It’s an exciting, good-looking issue, but honestly, the new Nova works best in cosmic situations. Back on Earth he’s just another superhero.

What’s Not So Good: Those who are nostalgic for the New Warriors should like this issue. Personally, I think blowing up the New Warriors and then frying Quasar were two of Marvel’s smartest moves. Hopefully Quasar’s resurrection will be as brief as the much better handled return of Captain Marvel.

What It All Boils Down To: This is really an obligatory Secret Invasion fill-in issue. I don’t think I’m the only one who’s had enough of the Skrulls now. The appearance of some semi-familiar aliens at the end of the book hints at a return to cosmic themes. Keep your fingers crossed.

Grade: C

– Andrew C. Murphy

Guardians of the Galaxy #4 (Secret Invasion) – Review

Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier (Pencils), Rick Magyar (Inker), and Guru FX (Colorist)

I picked up the first three issues of this series within the last week because I just had to see for myself whether or not it was deserving of the strong reviews it had been getting. As it turns out, Guardians of the Galaxy is more than deserving of all the critical acclaim. While I have never really been a fan of heavy science fiction and have very little familiarity with the cosmic characters of the Marvel Universe, I was instantly hooked after reading the first issue. Tight storytelling, great characters/team banter, and gorgeous artwork is what makes Guardians a fantastic read and that excellence continues in the start of what looks to be a memorable Secret Invasion tie-in.

The most impressive thing about the story is that it ties into all the main themes of Secret Invasion without feeling forced in any way. In fact, the invasion paranoia is a natural outcome considering the nature of the characters, how the team came together, and the strange appearance of Major Victory. In order to avoid spoilers let me just say that tensions run high when an explosion rocks Knowhere to its very core. This event brings out the worst in all of its inhabitants and the Guardians find themselves subject to internal and external paranoia.

It has all been said before, so I’ll keep this short. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are absolutely incredible writers. They have a firm grasp on how to make the team dynamic work while allowing each member a chance to shine and even manage to keep the peripheral characters just as important as the main characters. Their overall plot seamlessly fits into the Marvel’s big event while also managing to give hints as to where things may go once the invasion is contained.

As for the artwork, I have nothing negative to say. The book looks absolutely fantastic in every way. The characters look great, the action is well choreographed, the colors pop, and everything flows just as it should. I wish all books could look this good.

If you aren’t reading Guardians of the Galaxy yet, (but are following the Invasion) now is the time to get a taste of the awesome that is Rocket Raccoon and the gang. I highly recommend tracking down the first three issues if at all possible, but if the search is unsuccessful the summary page does a nice job getting the reader up to speed. So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself caught up and jump on board this incredibly entertaining series. (Grade: A+)

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

I think Kyle’s grade might reflect his feelings of the series more than the issue by itself. While I enjoyed this story quite a bit, I feel it’s the weakest offering so far. There’s nothing bad about this issue, per se, it just failed to wow me. This is most likely due to me being spoiled with the team’s constant dealings with galaxy shaking events (Annihilation, those crazy fissures, etc).Here, they’re confined to the Knowhere and other than the constant back and forth between Rocket Racoon and Cosmo, I didn’t find much more to get excited about.The bomb Starlord drops at the end is definitely a big one, and with Drax pissed off you know things are about to hit the fan. This is one of those story arcs that’ll let things stew before coming to a full boil. And I can already feel the heat. (Grade: B+)

– J. Montes

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (penciler), Rick Magyar (inks), Nathan Fairbairn (colors)

This is how you write the first issue of a team book. Granted, if you’ve been following the Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest series Marvel’s been running over the past two years, you’ll feel right at home, but for new readers the team chemistry is instantly realized. It helps that Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have been writing these characters for a while too. It’s really amazing how quickly they’re able to introduce the roster, give us background of what’s transpired with the Annihilation storylines, thrust us right into the middle of a chaotic battle, and set the tone of what’s to come.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a smart space saga packed with some of the most likeable characters you’ll ever meet. Rocket Racoon may feel like an outlandish choice for the team, but he fits right in and will most likely be one of the most popular characters amongst readers. His sarcasm coupled with his tactical genius is one of the cornerstones of this book. The humor, not just by him, but by the rest of the team off-sets the serious implications they get themselves into. The way these guys fight together is completely chaotic, yet when they’re put into a pinch they always manage to get the job done. Abnett and Lanning have cleverly planned this series. We get a run down on how the chemistry of the team is kept in check, how they move around the universe, what what may become of them in the future. A lot of ground work has been laid in this first issue, and it’s very, very impressive to say the least.

Paul Pelletier is the unsung hero of this book. He’s the glue that makes it all come together. From page one he throws down the gauntlet giving us spectacular splash pages, engaging fights, and harrowing views of space. There’s absolutely nothing negative I can say about the art he’s done in this issue – it’s strong on every single front, and believe me, this book moves around a bit.

In a perfect world, this comic would be one of those big budget, science fiction epics we’d see on television a weekly basis. But since it’s not, the comic will have to do. If the creative team can keep this momentum going (and I have no doubt that they can given their track record on Annihilation and Nova), Guardians of the Galaxy will quietly become one of the best new series of 2008. (Grade: A)

– J. Montes