Annihilation: Super-Skrull

(Marvel, 2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

The Super-Skrull, who first appeared in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #18, was altered by Skrull scientists to possess all the powers of the Fantastic Four in addition to the Skrulls’ native shape shifting abilities. He has always been depicted as a villain but this miniseries casts him in a more sympathetic, even heroic, light.

At the end of the Annihilation: Prologue the power behind the Annihilation Wave was revealed as Annihilus of the Negative Zone. The Super-Skrull barely escaped the total devastation of Annihilus’ weapon, The Harvester of Sorrows, which reduces planets to basic elements for consumption by his army. Now, before a Skrull warlord, he pleads to be allowed to lead a commando force against the Annihilation Wave. But his many defeats by the Fantastic Four have left him with the reputation of a failure and joke. Determined to stop the Harvester of Sorrows, the Super-Skrull defies his superiors and commandeers a ship. He plans to recruit his own team from rebellious citizens of Annihilus’ own Negative Zone. But to get there he needs the help of Reed Richards.

This title is one of four, four-issue cosmically-themed miniseries starring some of Marvel’s space-faring characters. The other series feature The Silver Surfer, Nova and Ronan. And after those series are complete, the Annihilation saga will conclude in its own six-issue miniseries.

— George Haberberger

From the Comics Buyer’s Guide:

Lost writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach takes on explosive SF action in Super Skrull, part of Marvel’s larger cosmic event, Annihilation. Imbued with the powers of The Fantastic Four, the battle hardened Super Skrull seeks strong alliances to confront the Annihilation Wave, an infestation that threatens the Skrull empire. But, when Baroness S’Bak, the first regional ruler he turns to, humiliates and betrays him, the Super Skrull will have to seek aid from the unlikeliest source: Reed Richards.

Grillo-Marxuach puts up a rocking good story, giving equal play to fierce battle and the quiet honor of Super Skrull’s warrior creed. The issue is beautifully illustrated by Gregory Titus, who has a strange, angular style befitting the strange, angular appearance of the Skrulls themselves.

Annihilation as a whole has been an unexpected treat, with top-notch creators reviving neglected outer–space characters. It would never have occurred to me to buy a comic book starring the Super Skrull had it not been for the team involved, but Grill Marxuach and Titus do not disappoint.

— Shaun Manning

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