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 Annihilation: Conquest #3 (of 6)
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Tom Raney, Scott Hanna, Frank D'Armata, VC's Joe Caramagna and Aleksi Briclot
Reviewed by Kenne
I have to admit that I was a latecomer to the Annihilation story. In fact, I had to purchase the original series in trade form because I was that far behind. I'm glad I'm caught up though because this is the story that's making fans take notice of Marvel again. It's a shame that Marvel spends more time and effort promoting events like Civil War and Secret Invasion because it's the Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest that has the talent to bring about a truly special story of cosmic proportions.
To catch you up to speed, Annihilation told the story of Annihilus' attempts to conquer the universe by basically taking no prisoners and creating a lot of death and destruction in his wake. Thanks to the Annihilation Wave, the Skrull empire was crippled, as well as the Kree empire, and the planet of Xanadu, home of the Nova Corps, is no more. It took the efforts and sacrifices of some of the bravest souls like Quasar, Starlord, and Drax, the destroyer, to put a stop to Annihilus' plan before he could arrive on Earth. After Annihilation was over, Annihilation: Conquest tells the story of the aftermath of Annihilation as well as the discovery that the worst was yet to come when the Phalanx, a newly organized and more powerful than ever opponent, is taking over where Annihilus left off.
In Annihilation Conquest #3, more death is dealt, more sacrifices are made, and more heroes are discovering their limits and beyond as they attempt to hold the Phalanx and their devious leader back to ensure that the rest of the universe survives. With amazing art that pops off the page, Annihilation: Conquest delivers in ways that many comics can only dream of delivering.
 Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10
Written by Joss Whedon
Art by Cliff Richards, Andy Owens, Dave Stewart, Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Jimmy
Reviewed by Kenne
EAfter a four issue break, Joss Whedon is back on the scene and back to his A-Game. In a stand alone story, Buffy and Willow are trying to find out information about a threat that they only know by one name "Twilight". As they journey to the answers, a few revelations come out that answer some of the questions that readers have been longing for, such as "What happened to Willow's girlfriend, Kennedy". And, in true Whedon fashion, the answer is as heart-achingly moving as fans have come to expect from the man who brought us such wonderful pieces of theater like "The Body", "hush" and "Once More With Feeling".
As if the Willow and Buffy ride to secrets wasn't enough, Joss also spends some quality time with Xander and Dawn as we finally (well, after seven issues that come out once every other month, it does feel like an eternity) we get to discover what happened to make Dawn become the giant that she now is. Joss even manages to make me like Dawn for once, and I tell you, after all the bratty things that Dawn did on the series, that's a mighty big accomplishment. The art was by Cliff Richards, who, though not a name I'm super-familiar with, brings a dynamic and realistic style to the story that makes me almost believe I'm watching the Buffy series on television again. If Joss and company can continue to knock things out of the ballpark like in this story, I'll be happy to remain a Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Comic fan.
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