Annihilation (comics)
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Annihilation is the name of a Marvel Comics crossover event highlighting several relatively under-used outer space-related characters of the Marvel Universe.
Annihilation started out with a 48-page one-shot issue entitled Annihilation: Prologue which hit stores on March 15, 2006. Following Annihilation: Prologue will be four 4-issue limited series: Annihilation: Silver Surfer starting April 1, 2006, Annihilation: Super-Skrull starting April 12, 2006, Annihilation: Nova starting April 19, 2006, and Annihilation: Ronan starting April 26, 2006. The event will conclude with a six-issue miniseries entitled Annihilation that will tie the four stories together.
Annihilation: Prologue
The prologue to the Annihilation event, written by Keith Giffen with art by Scott Kolins, depicts Thanos of Titan at the edge of the universe and his conversation with Death, who reveals that "Something Wonderful" is about to happen, and that Thanos would do well to learn from it.
Death appears to be referring to the coming of a massive insectoid military force (revealed to be called the Annihilation Wave) through the expanding edge of the universe known as "The Crunch," which immediately sets to the destruction of the Kyln structures - artificial moons that serve as both galaxy-wide power generators and a death-row prison - that orbit the Crunch. The emergence of this force and the destruction of the Kyln is referred to in captions as "Annihilation Day."
The Annihilation Wave cuts a swath to the planet of Xandar, where it quickly destroys the planet's surface and seemingly wipes out all of the Nova Corps, leaving Richard Rider as the organization's only survivor.
Seemingly unrelated to the Annihilation Wave story, the Prologue also shows the arrest of the Kree, Ronan the Accuser in the midst of his duties, the Silver Surfer's realization of something being amiss, and the Super-Skrull in hiding on a Kree starbase. These segments serve as starting points for the four Annihilation mini-series.
On the one-shot's final page, the leader of the Annihilation Wave, and potentially the overall villain of the Annihilation story, is revealed to be Fantastic Four foe Annihilus.
Silver Surfer
First Issue
In the first installment, Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1 (of 4), the Surfer is traversing the Universe and comes across the devastation that the Annihilation Wave has left in its wake. He then encounters the Air-Walker, a fellow ex-herald-of-Galactus, who is being attacked by Seekers, special soldiers that serve Annihilus by searching for the ex-heralds of Galactus in order to capture them and (presumably) harness their power. The Seekers are accompanied by Currs, which are dog-like beasts on leashes made out of cosmic energy. The leader of the Seekers is known as Ravenous, who claims that he and the Seekers are equal in power to the Silver Surfer, since they wield a power that the Surfer refers to as "the opposing force", which is apparently the Negative Zone's equivalent of the Power Cosmic.
Air-Walker's battle with the Seekers is going poorly when Silver Surfer arrives, and the Surfer intervenes. He unleashes an explosion that allows him to escape with the wounded Air-Walker.
Air-Walker dies shortly after explaining to the Surfer that the Annihilation Wave path of destruction must be stopped, since it "stands as an atrocity", even to those who have caused the destruction of entire worlds while serving Galactus.
Silver Surfer does not wish for Air-Walker's corpse to be desecrated, so he destroys it by unleashing an explosion that creates a black hole. He then resumes surfing the Universe, contemplating the meaning of the recent events. He remembers Air-Walker's last words, "Even to those such as us, this stands as an atrocity!"
After a brief flashback where he remembers serving Galactus, the Surfer comes to the conclusion that the Annihilation Wave's destruction of worlds is not the same as that of Galactus, who is a part of the Universal balance and feeds only because he must. After making this decision, the Surfer speeds off into space, determined to stop Annihilus.
Second Issue
In the second installment, Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 (of 4), it is revealed that Annihilus is indeed planning to harvest the ex-heralds-of-Galactus in an attempt to harness the Power Cosmic from them. The ex-herald known as Terrax is captured by Annihilus' minions in this issue as well, though it is not yet revealed exactly what Annihilus does to him.
Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer engages the Seekers once again, and during this encounter, he comes across two fellow ex-heralds, Firelord and Red Shift. The three ex-heralds discover that the "opposing force" (the Power Cosmic from the Negative Zone) is not wielded by the Seekers themselves, but by the Currs that accompany them. Afterwards, the three ex-heralds set out into the universe to fight together.
Also in this issue, it is made clear that Galactus himself will get involved in the conflict, as he deems that the Annihilation Wave is disturbing the Universal balance.
Finally, Thanos the Mad Titan meets with Annihilus face-to-face, and the two form an alliance. However, the last few panels indicate that Thanos plans to use this partnership to his own ends, and break it as soon as he gets whatever it is that he seeks.
Third Issue
The Silver Surfer, Firelord and Red Shift are joined by Stardust, the current herald of Galactus. The former heralds are deciding to go to war and are just about to engage in battle when Stardust appears and informs the Silver Surfer that Galactus requests his presence. The Silver Surfer immediately leaves to seek out Galactus. He knows that things must be very grim even going as far as thinking that Galactus is very concerned and maybe even afraid, because he knows that Galactus asking any one to do anything is highly unusual. Galactus commands he does not ask or request.
The Silver Surfer quickly seeks out and finds Galactus. Galactus reveals that two beings of unimaginable power were held in the Kyln may have escaped when it was destroyed by Annihilation Wave. Galactus goes on to explain that these beings were corrupted and he was the one who placed them in the Kyln. Galactus then makes the Silver Surfer an offer to forgive the past and take him again as his herald and restore his will, further augmenting his cosmic power. Just as the Silver Surfer is having his powers augmented Galactus comes under attack by Annihilus' forces. Thinking that Galactus was alone and vulnerable they attack but to their surprise the Silver Surfer appears and destroys all of the attackers.
Elsewhere the two beings Tenebrous and Aegis capture the Fallen One and interrogate him then subjugate him to them. They they let it be known that they seek to destroy Galactus.
Super Skrull
First Issue
This story begins with the Annihilation Wave descending on a planet that is covered with what appears to be vegetation, but there is actually a Skrull army waiting in hiding, shape-shifted to look like part of the vegetation. Battle ensues, and Kl'rt (Super-Skrull) gives an introductory monologue about himself as he brutally massacres many insectoid enemies.
However, the Annihilation Wave soon deploys their super-weapon, the Harvester of Sorrows. This is apparantly a giant machine that lands on the planet, attacks once, and destroys the entire planet. Super-Skrull narrowly escapes into space and boards a Skrull ship.
A would-be Empress of the Skrull empire personally ridicules Super-Skrull for being a failure. He attacks her, and is immediately assaulted by the Skrull forces on the ship. He then blasts his way out into space, determined to fight to his death, but is miraculously rescued by a young Skrull by the name of R'Kin, who looks up to Super-Skull as a heroic role model, since his late father told him stories about fighting alongside Kl'rt.
Taking the Skrull boy's ship, but leaving him alive, Super Skrull seeks out an unlikely ally in Reed Richards to help him travel to The Negative Zone to find a way to destroy the Harvester of Sorrows. Reed is reluctant to help because of their history, but Super-Skrull tells Reed that he wins either way, since Super-Skrull will either (1) die, or (2) return with a way to destroy a weapon that will eventually threaten Earth. Reed is convinced, and opens a portal that allows Kl'rt and R'Kin to enter the Negative Zone.
Second Issue
The second installment of Annihilation: Super-Skrull begins with R'Kin giving a brief monologue describing his journey with Super-Skrull. Kl'rt manages to steal a spaceship that he and R'Kin use for transportation in the Negative Zone. By torturing one of the ship's crew members, Super-Skrull finds out that an alien called Hawal, who runs a prison in the Negative Zone, might know how to destroy the Harvester of Sorrows. R'Kin and Kl'rt head towards this prison.
Despite R'Kin's warning that the shield around the prison destroys all organic life that attempts to pass through it, Super-Skrull uses his powers to pentrate the shield. Once inside, he damges the prison itself, which allows the prisoners to break free from their cells. This causes the guards to panic, and Hawal attempts to escape via spaceship. However, Super-Skrull uses his force-field powers to prevent the ship from taking off and also to pull Hawal out of the spacecraft.
Super-Skrull finds out from Hawal that the Harvester of Sorrows is an organic weapon with a life force all its own. Hawal further states that he could design a virus that could destroy the weapon, and Super-Skrull responds by saying that the two of them are going to be "good friends".
Before long, however, the escaped prisoners show up, demanding that Super-Skrull release Hawal, so that they may exact revenge upon their captor. Of course, this leads to a fight.
Super-Skrull first battles an alien that duplicates itself every time it gets hit. After about ten minutes of fighting this beast, Super-Skrull cleverly gets all the duplicates, including the original, together, and hits them with a flame blast, which ignites the oxygen that allows the alien to duplicate itself. The alien surrenders.
Next, a female alien blasts Super-Skrull with a high-energy plasma beam, but Kl'rt simply absorbs this beam and uses it to unleash a massive flame wave upon his attacker. Subsequently, the rest of the former prisoners also surrender to Super-Skrull.
R'Kin lands the ship on the surface outside the prison, and Super-Skrull introduces the group of surrendered aliens as his new army.
Third Issue
The third issue opens with the introduction and narration of Praxagora, one of the prisoners Super-Skrull defeated in the previous battle. Praxagora explains that since being bested by Super-Skrull in battle, she resolved to be his most fervent follower. Upon the suggestion to send a distess signal to all Annihilation Wave ships, Praxagora and Super-Skrull proceed to kill all of the enemies that answer the call. Super-Skrull has turned every denizen of the prison into a warrior by giving each of them a mission.
Super-Skrull is seen arguing with R'Kin about building the dimensional portal, who complains about not having a big enough crew in order to complete the job in a timely fashion. Super-Skrull proceeds to pummel the multiplying alien Preak until it has miltiplied enough to provide a sizable crew. Even with his army growing, Super-Skrull doubts it is enough because they are fighting the most powerful weapon of the Annihilation Wave with no Doomsday weapon of their own.
Super-Skrull speaks with Hawal about completing the virus that will be capable of destroying the Harvester of Sorrows, who refuses because Super-Skrull will kill him either way and he won't betray his people. Super-Skrull had discovered one of Hawal's inventions, however, that would ensure absolute cooperation. He attaches it to Hawal's spine, and the virus is complete within a short time. Super-Skrull then explains the battle plan to his army, which involves sending a single ship armed with the viral missile to destroy the Harvester of Sorrows weapon. Super-Skrull notices that R'Kin looks displeased, and R'Kin asks to be the pilot of the single ship because he has done little in the way of actual combat. Super-Skrull agrees.
Praxagora and Super-Skrull than share a candid conversation about why Super-Skrull wants to protect Zaragz'Na and his son. The Countess betrothed to Super-Skrull and mother to his son spurned him as he began to lose more battles, but Super-Skrull kept an eye on his son throughout his growth. Super-Skrull explains that he wants to protect the Skrull empire as a whole, and all of the young Skrulls within it. Praxagora explains that they are his family now, and they almost share a kiss before Super-Skrull smashes her into a rocky cliff. She narrates that while she doesn't understand why, she loved him most at the moment that she should hate him.
The day of the battle, the Skrulls are seen badly losing to the Annihilation Wave, and the few remaining warriors are supported by Super-Skrull and his army. Even with their power and training, the army of the Super-Skrull are unable to fight for very long, and they signal the ship carrying the viral missile. The ship does not come, and Super-Skrull, Praxagora, and Preak are pulled into a tractor beam and captured. Super-Skrull asks how they were defeated, and R'Kin appears behind inside the ship as a traitor to the Super-Skrull. The issue ends with the destruction of Zaragz'Na and Super-Skrull vowing revenge for his son.
Fourth Issue The story begins from the point of view of Kl'rt, as he states that he no longer has anything left to live for, the only exception being revenge. Praxagora, Kl'rt, and Preak are all being held captive in a chamber of the Harvester of Sorrows. R'Kin the Betrayer and the commander of the Harvester of Sorrows mock the prisoners with what's left of Kl'rt's son in a cup. However, before R'Kin leaves with his money and ship Super-Skrull uses the power of hypnosis to have R'kin free Super-Skrull and kill the guards. While Super-Skrull finshes off what was left of the Annihilation Wave's Commander and frees Praxagora and Preak, R'Kin escapes. Super-Skrull, Praxagora, and Preak explain how to destory the Harvester of Sorrows: Praxagora would find her way into the reactor of the ship and set the star inside her to go super-nova. Preak would stay in the bridge, holding off the Annihilation guards for as long as possible. Kl'rt would go and hunt down R'Kin, the Betrayer.
The point of view shifts to R'kin, as he tries to flee to the hanger after losing his money. As he tries to hot wire a ship, the Super-Skrull finds him. R'kin tries to fight back but is easily beaten. Super-Skrull then demands why he betrayed him and the others, R'kin tells him that Super-Skrull is nothing more than a villain that sends people to their deaths. He then exclaims that his father was killed in one of Kl'rt's "honorable" battles, and that his father's death was essentially in vain. Nonetheless, R'kin tries to strike up a deal under the terms that if he is let go he would tell the remaining Skrulls that the Super-Skrull is a hero that single-handedly destroyed the Harvester of Sorrows. The Super-Skrull at first feigns interest in the idea, and then ties R'kin up, tears/cuts all of R'kin's limbs off and cauterizes the wounds so that R'kin would live to see the Harvester of Sorrows destroyed.
The point of view once again shifts to Praxagora, as she fights her way to the core of the Harvester. Praxagora exclaims her love for two men. As this happens, Preak dies from the overwhelming numbers of the Annihilation Wave. Praxagora, after being chased and shot, is about to be killed when suddenly, the Super-Skrull breaks down a wall and comes to her aid. Once both reach the core of the ship, Praxagora begins to turn her inner-star Super Nova. However, after R'kin's speech, the Super-Skrull realizes he can't allow any more people to die for his causes. She exclaims that she is to release an infinite amount of heat once going Super Nova. He then explains that he was built to absorb infinitte amounts of heat, and thus takes in all the Nova's power, and then releasing it himself. Before Kl'rt unleashes the energy, he and Praxagora share a passionate kiss, and Praxagora makes it out of the Harvester just in time as the engery inside Super-Skrull destroys the ship.
20 years later, the story is being told by Praxagora to young Skrulls in a museum of sorts. She exclaims that, in making such a sacrafice, Kl'rt finally had become what he had always wanted to be: a hero.
Nova
First Issue
Four days after the Annihilation Wave struck Xandar, Nova wakes up to find out he is the sole survivor. Nova awakes hearing the consensus voice of the Xandarian Worldmind.
Nova finds two aliens eating the bodies of former Nova Corps members, he attacks the aliens but is in no shape to stop them. The Worldmind boosts Nova's power levels and pulls him out of the fight and draws him to what remains of Xandar's main hub. Once there Nova accepts the full power of the Nova Force, which is the same act that once caused Supernova to go insane. However, to stop Nova from going insane the Worldmind also downloaded itself into Nova.
After the power transfer, Nova's suit redesigned itself to a fully utilize the new powers. Nova used his new powers to destroy several of the Annihilation Wave craft, gaining the attention of Annihilus and knocking himself out. Nova woke up with Drax watching over him.
Second Issue
Nova awakens next to Drax and Cammi, who are seeking a way off of Xandar. At first, Nova had no intention to help the two, but after a short conversation with the Worldmind, Nova decides to help the two survivors find a Nova Corps. ship. Drax and Cammi, however, were shocked to see Nova talking to no one as they could not see the Worldmind, which displayed itself through Nova's helmet.
Once again, the Worldmind was convinced the Drax standing before them was the previous Drax the Destroyer. At one point while searching for a Nova Corps Space craft, Nova tosses Drax his helmet so the Worldmind can talk to Drax itself and be reassured the two entities are different people.
After clearing that up, Drax agrees to help Richard Rider (Nova) learn to control the Nova Force. The three find a usable spacecraft and Nova is forced to open a stargate using the full Nova Force. Drax's help was not very helpful as Nova concentrated to open a stargate. All Drax did was threaten to kill Nova.
The stargate left them at Nycos Aristedes, nine light years from Xandar. Nova tells Drax he's never trusting him again. However, they have bigger problems as they have lost control of their starcraft, as it plunges into the atmosphere. The Nycos Aristedes contacts them and Nova requests aid, when they are saved by the cosmic hero Quasar.
Ronan
First Issue
On the run from Kree authorities since his trail, Ronan seeks those who testified against him. On the planet Bwokk he accuses Metz Of The Qa-Kabar and causes a small scale battle between two alien forces. Ronan leaves the planet in search of Tana Nile - a witness in his case.
Ronan lands on Goothab Omega, where he finds an encampment of exiled Kree, including his old friend Korath. Soon afterwards, Nebula and Stellaris attack the encampment claiming the land as their own.
Meanwhile, Gamora sits atop a throne of skulls at Mount Virage, threatening Ronan. She is being maneuvered into a conflict with Ronan by Glorian, The Shaper of Worlds.
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