Then again, we haven’t seen Kang for a while. If Annihilation=Annihilus, then Conquest=…

Oh geez. I wish you hadn’t said that! You’ve got me hyped up for something that might not happen! But seriously, that would be truly awesome. There does seem to be a hint that there’s still something else behind these already-surprising-villains, whatever it is I hope it’ll knock my socks off even more than that last page did.

Though alas, I recall that Kang showed up in Young Avengers. Which, personally, I felt was a somewhat below-average use of him, even though I liked the book itself. Ah well, the cool thing with Kang is that he’s already proven capable of having different versions of himself appear at once, so…

A great opener, overall. A bit of retreading of the original Annihilation (sudden appearance of hive-type invaders, everyone gets caught with their pants down, unsure hero with newfound power-boost gets thrust into the pivotal role), but with enough wrinkles to make it interesting. Hopefully we’ll see some of Ravenous’s crew or even Lil’ Annihilus–something to link Annihilation and Conquest together as part of a larger cosmic storyline and not just as two isolated cosmic events with some of the same people in it.

I do wonder how this will hold together, though, given a dramatically more C-list cast than the original. Yes, Annihilation had a great story, but it also had classic cosmies like Galactus, the Heralds, Thanos, Drax, Wendell-Quasar, Mistress Death, Annihilus, and the Supreme Intelligence, all under the A-list headlining Surfer, Super-Skrull, Ronan, and Nova. Conquest is decidedly less stellar with Phylla-Quasar, Nova, Star-Lord, and newbie Wraith topping a cast of not-yet-ready-for-prime-timers like Rocket Raccoon, Captain Universe, and the “what, really?” Big Bads. Conquest won’t have the familiarity Annihilation had, so they gotta be careful not to fall into obscure-trivia mode and alienate the non-OHOTMU readership.

They’re behind the 8-ball already as it is; I doubt sales will be as strong as Annihilation, since Annihilation’s print-run was so small that there wasn’t an abundance of back issues for word-of-mouthed late-comers to pick up and Marvel didn’t do itself any favors by going HC rather than TP for the collections. I’m afraid this will be seen as a series only for the people who read Annihilation, and even then only for the people who are interested enough to read its continuation. A shame, because like its predecessor, Conquest doesn’t seem to be as niche an event as one would think (as opposed to whatever DC thinks its doing right now).

Then again, we haven’t seen Kang for a while. If Annihilation=Annihilus, then Conquest=…unless there’s some cosmic Conquistador hombre with a funky moustache and a Rapier of Conquista-death (the Stranger?) that Wraith has to duel, Leone-esque, for the fate of the Universe! Either one of those would totally ruul.

No kidding. That’s a blast from the past.

Yeah, I sat there for a moment after reading the issue, just sort of looking quizically at that final page reveal. Then my mind kicked back on and I was like…

Holy shit, I remember this! This is cool!

And in all honesty, it’s been awhile since I’ve gotten that sort of instant feeling of excitement from a comic book.

Dandy last page reveal, that.

No kidding. That’s a blast from the past.

Breakworld is a part of previous continuity in that that’s as far as Whedon can think in regards to creating something new for a property he owes his entire career to.

My meaning is, it’s an original creation, but Whedon’s story is anything but.

Uh…check that two-page spread above…there’s a Shi’ar in the first panel, standing in the background.

You’re right, I didn’t see that at first. I just kinda assumed the question was asking if the Shi’ar as a race or empire had gotten involved in the war, but if it was merely asking if there are any Shi’ar in the book at all, then the answer is obviously yes. I’m pretty sure that’s the only Shi’ar in the book though, and he doesn’t even have a speaking part.

Yeah, that’s just a Shi’ar hobo. He doesn’t count.

No Shi’ar or Starjammers yet, but the universe is a big place.

Uh…check that two-page spread above…there’s a Shi’ar in the first panel, standing in the background.

You’re right, I didn’t see that at first. I just kinda assumed the question was asking if the Shi’ar as a race or empire had gotten involved in the war, but if it was merely asking if there are any Shi’ar in the book at all, then the answer is obviously yes. I’m pretty sure that’s the only Shi’ar in the book though, and he doesn’t even have a speaking part.

So, needless to say, the bar had been raised for this sequel. Could it dare reach them? After sneaking a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read of the same advanced copy that D3 has, I will completely agree with every statement that has been said above…Especially about the gorgeous Mike Perkins artwork. Man, can that guy draw like there was no tomorrow and I’m glad to see him get a higher profile book, ’cause he deserves it.

Annihilation: Conquest Prologue not only meets the hefty expectations that I myself had for this opening salvo, it ANNIHILATES them!

Any sign of the Shi’ar, since they were essentially out of the picture in the last series? Or the Star Jammers?

No Shi’ar or Starjammers yet, but the universe is a big place.

Uh…check that two-page spread above…there’s a Shi’ar in the first panel, standing in the background.

MH

Any sign of the Shi’ar, since they were essentially out of the picture in the last series? Or the Star Jammers?

No Shi’ar or Starjammers yet, but the universe is a big place.

What are some of the other untapped MU space races/characters that haven’t been tapped, yet?

Well a few Space Knights make an appearance, and I expect to see a few more appearances from other space-based races before the series wraps.