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Annihilation: Prologue
Book Released: 15 March 2006
Review posted: 30 March 2006
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Scott Kolins and Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics
5.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Adam White
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Following on the heels of his outstanding Drax miniseries (which you should own), Keith Giffen trumps himself with the larger continuation of the story in Annihilation: Prologue. Although the beginning of the story introduces a seemingly unbeatable new foe that comes out of nowhere just to destroy our galaxy, it actually turns out later to be a fantastic surprise ending that was right in front of our faces all along — we just didn’t see it. Giffen expands on the concepts he presented in Drax, creating an explosive beginning to an epic science fiction saga that leaves you with the feeling that he’s just getting started.
For a number of years Giffen had seemingly disappeared, yet within the last months he has made a dazzling reemergence with a variety of projects, all of which prove his mastery of the medium. Yet with Annihilation: Prologue Giffen raises the bar again by producing a compelling science fiction yarn filled with the action, drama, and humor for which he is known. I thought making Drax an interesting character was a challenge; yet here Giffen turns not only the returning Drax and Cammi into amazing protagonists but also Nova (Richard Ryder), Ronan, and even the entire Nova Corps. Giffen manages to thrill and surprise as well as set up what are sure to be the outstanding miniseries that follow. Giffen has given life to Marvel’s cosmic characters and made them a viable, standalone commodity with rich storytelling possibilities.
Giffen produces a compelling science fiction yarn filled with action, drama, and humor.
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The fantastically meshed art of Scott Kolins and Ariel Olivetti not only brings Giffen’s script to life but redefines Marvel’s cosmic characters for the new millennium. Kolins and Olivetti perfectly capture Nova’s wide range of emotions throughout the issue, anchoring a sweeping story with the fate of the cosmos in the balance; their Ronan possesses the stature and dignity that becomes him; and every otherworldly object and being has a unique quality unencumbered with the generic sameness found in so much of today’s science fiction. Also noteworthy is the artists’ rendition of the Silver Surfer, making him an ethereal being with truly alien expressions instead of a naked eunuch painted silver. Kolins and Olivetti pack the issue with top notch, career-strengthening art that makes Annihilation into the event it was intended.
The bottom line is that you need to buy this book. I honestly did not know what to expect from it, as past “events” have ranged from mediocre to pathetic, but the Annihilation team delivered on all counts. If you ever enjoyed any of Marvel’s cosmic characters, or just like good science fiction, then you need to not only get this book right now but also go and buy Giffen’s Drax miniseries as well. For once the event outpaces the hype by leaps and bounds, so don’t miss out.
—CCdC—
Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
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