A review by trike
Annihilators by Timothy Green II, Tan Eng Huat, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
2.0
This story starts out kind of clunky then gets a bit better, then it just kind of sits there spinning its wheels. There are twists along the way, but they aren't that impressive. And the kicker is, you really only need to read the fourth chapter, because it recaps everything for you, explaining what's happened.
I don't know about you, but there's holding the reader's hand and then there's tying them to a chair and spoon-feeding them. This is an example of the latter.
A bunch of super-duper-powered cosmic-level characters who can't shake off the C-list status get together to save the universe... bit for some reason they're called "The Annihilators." That's the one thing this book never explains. I suppose if they were to annihilate bad guys it might mean something, but they don't do that.
In fact, the reason I gave this two stars instead of one is because their solution to the problem facing them isn't merely to punch it in the face (although there's a lot of that) but rather to figure out a compromise and to show compassion to characters who are doing bad things because of mental illness and misguided desires for justice. That's very atypical of these sorts of comics.
Unfortunately, it's so heavy-handed that it doesn't work. Nice try, though.
One of my main issues with the writing is that all the characters pretty much sound the same. Same tone, same inflection, identical verbiage. If you started a drinking game for every time someone said "cut loose" or "alpha-level" you'd be genuinely tipsy by the end of the book. I just can't imagine Ronan the Accuser and the Silver Surfer using "cut loose" in any context.
That's the heart of the problem here: the idea is interesting but the execution is lazy.
The second part of the book has to do with Rocket Raccoon and Groot having their own adventures. They're silly and the whole Lassie-and-Timmy-like exchanges get old after a while. "I am Groot!" "What's that? Star-Thief has mesmerized everyone and stuck them in a holodeck?" "I am Groot." "And you say we need to hatch a plan to save everyone?" Oy.
I don't know about you, but there's holding the reader's hand and then there's tying them to a chair and spoon-feeding them. This is an example of the latter.
A bunch of super-duper-powered cosmic-level characters who can't shake off the C-list status get together to save the universe... bit for some reason they're called "The Annihilators." That's the one thing this book never explains. I suppose if they were to annihilate bad guys it might mean something, but they don't do that.
In fact, the reason I gave this two stars instead of one is because their solution to the problem facing them isn't merely to punch it in the face (although there's a lot of that) but rather to figure out a compromise and to show compassion to characters who are doing bad things because of mental illness and misguided desires for justice. That's very atypical of these sorts of comics.
Unfortunately, it's so heavy-handed that it doesn't work. Nice try, though.
One of my main issues with the writing is that all the characters pretty much sound the same. Same tone, same inflection, identical verbiage. If you started a drinking game for every time someone said "cut loose" or "alpha-level" you'd be genuinely tipsy by the end of the book. I just can't imagine Ronan the Accuser and the Silver Surfer using "cut loose" in any context.
That's the heart of the problem here: the idea is interesting but the execution is lazy.
The second part of the book has to do with Rocket Raccoon and Groot having their own adventures. They're silly and the whole Lassie-and-Timmy-like exchanges get old after a while. "I am Groot!" "What's that? Star-Thief has mesmerized everyone and stuck them in a holodeck?" "I am Groot." "And you say we need to hatch a plan to save everyone?" Oy.