Annihilation Classic [Paperback]

Todd Dezago (Author), Marv Wolfman (Author), Mark Gruenwald (Author), Doug Moench (Author), Jack Kirby (Illustrator), Mike Zeck (Illustrator), John Buscema (Illustrator), Gil Kane (Illustrator), Mike Mignola (Illustrator), John Dell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Annihilation

Space may be a vacuum, but Annihilation didn't pull its heroes out of nowhere! Journey through time, space, and continuity with the sensational space saga's stars! The re-making of Adam Warlock and the first look at his nemesis Thanos! See the origin of Nova and Quasar, while Bug watches the origins of >tik< EVERYBODY! Monsters, mammals, and more! Collects Bug #1, Tales to Astonish #13, Nova #1, Quasar #1, Rocket Raccoon #1-4, Marvel Spotlight #6, Logan's Run #6, and Marvel Premiere #1.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (July 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785134107
• ISBN-13: 978-0785134107
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,215,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where Marvel's Cosmic Cast Began, September 28, 2011

By 

Izzy (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Annihilation Classic (Paperback)

It's obvious - this book tries to capitalize on the popularity of Marvel's cosmic Annihilation crossover event. But that doesn't mean you're getting cheap product as part of a money-making scheme. It's quite the opposite, in fact, and well worth owning.

The book collects the first appearances of principle characters from the Annihilation saga. As a result, this collection includes:

- Bug issue #1 from 1977, written by Todd Dezago with art by Derec Aucoin, and including Bug's Brain Ticklers: a series of games (like a crossword puzzle and maze) right in the comic
- Tales to Astonish #13 (first appearance of Groot) from 1960, written by Stan Lee and his brother Larry, pencils by Jack Kirby
- Nova #1 from 1976 by Marv Wolfman with art by the great John Buscema
- Quasar #1 from 1989 by Mark Gruenwald with the clean pencil style of Paul Ryan (famed for his FF and X-Men runs)
- Rocket Raccoon's 1995 mini-series (all 4 issues) by Bill Mantlo with Mike Mignola art
- Marvel Spotlight #6 from 1980, first appearance of Star-Lord, by Doug Moench with Tom Sutton art
- A 5-page battle between Thanos and Drax the Destroyer from the pages of Logan's Run #6 (1977) by Scott Edelman with Mike Zeck art
- Marvel Premiere #1 from 1972 (first appearance of Him as Warlock) by Roy Thomas with art by the legendary Gil Kane

What thrilled me was the all-star lineup of amazing artists, from Kirby to Buscema to Kane, Zeck, and Mignola. Awesome!

And the stories feature classic comic book writing at its best. Here's a taste: in the Warlock story from Marvel Premiere #1, Roy Thomas describes the High Evolutionary's headquarters hidden within an asteroid as it hurtles toward earth, "...and it really isn't just an asteroid unless all asteroids conceal (beneath their stone-cold skins) a hundred coiled miles of corridors, machines which hum and softly whine, and nothing showing outside to suggest what lies within save a small, defiant antenna which juts proudly into the darkness and turns... and turns..." Good stuff.

It's a thick book with high-quality pages, and a great trip down memory lane. I like that the collection includes all self-contained stories, so the reader isn't left hanging. That's why I appreciate that the complete Rocket Raccoon mini-series is included rather than just the first issue.

Whether you're a fan of Marvel's cosmic sagas (Annihilation/War of Kings, etc.), just want to see how these characters got their start, or a fan of the great creators whose work is showcased, this is a fantastic collection.