Avengers #366 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The cover for this 1993 issue touts that this is a '30th Anniversary Issue'. But for a very large majority of it, this book didn't feel like it led up to the hype. There's 2 stories in what feels like a slightly oversized issue. I didn't count the number of pages but with the prestige format cover, it felt thicker than a standard early modern age Marvel publication. 

The first story sees Captain America, Hank Pym, Natasha Romanoff and a really super powered lady named Sersi, who are attempting a rescue mission of the Black Knight, Hercules and the Inhuman Crystal. Occurring sometime after the destruction of the Kree home world at the hands of the Supreme Intelligence, a rogue Kree General is holding the Avengers responsible for the obliteration of his planet. To exact his vengeance, the Kree warrior has activated a Nega-Bomb, which will destroy planet Earth in about 30 minutes. Just enough time for the Avengers to save the day with a moment of reflection on the part of Hank Pym to marvel at the original lineup of Earth's Mightiest Heroes and to give his seal of approval to the current incarnation.

Story #2 really has nothing to do with the anniversary of formation of the Avengers. Instead, we get a guest appearance by Deadpool!  A couple of B-list villains rob a Manhattan bank in hopes of obtaining the contents of a former weapons master that will lead to the discovery of the world's most deadliest weapon. Throw in Bloodwraith, the demon possessed former squire of the Black Knight, along with the Black Knight himself and you've got a 3-man free-for-all that seems really out of place here.

If you read the editor's note on the letters page at the back of this book, you will learn that this issue was very, very delayed in coming out. That could explain why there's a backup story. Perhaps the creative team was running out of time and thus had the main story come in short. A second tale gets included by a totally different crew to keep with the promise of several super-sized anniversary issues. Toss in one of those breath-taking embossed covers, paint it entirely in gold lamé ink and you hopefully have produced something that will make the Marvel faithful satisfied despite being way behind schedule.

I enjoyed seeing an early Deadpool appearance. He's not as insane and off-the-wall irreverent as the Merc With a Mouth has become in the 21st century. That story was written by Glenn Herdling. Illustrated by Mike Gustovich. 

As for the opener, the script was crafted by Bob Harras with art by Steve Epting. Epting also pencilled the cover..

Definitely a product of the 1990s post-bubble industry. It's full of overly muscular heroes. Scantily clad vixens. Plus a level of violence that looks tame to 2026 standards but was rather shocking 4 decades ago.

Completing this review completes Task #10 (An Avengers Comic from the 1990s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Annihilation: Ronan #1-4 (Annihilation Week)

Cover to Issue #1.

   Ronan the Accuser is no more! No, he's not dead. He's been stripped of his title after being falsely accused of acts of sedition against the new ruling house of the Kree Empire. (With the reputation of the attempted assassination of the Supreme Intelligence, those charges might not be so trumped up.) Now, Ronan faces death if he ever returns to the confines of the Empire.

   Betrayed and oh so pissed, Ronan is on the hunt for the woman who bore false witness to the House of Fiyero. That leads him to a distant planet that just happens to be in the path of Annihilus's Annihilation Wave and Gamora, step-daughter of Thanos!

    Will Ronan find his own personal accuser? Will he meet his doom at the hands of the Most Dangerous Woman in the Galaxy, Gamora? Will everybody become the next meal for the ravenous drones of the invaders of the Negative Zone?

    Of the Annihilation minis, this one wasn't my favorite. The art was as sketchy and poorly inked as was some of the art in the Annhilation Prologue. However, the story in that book was fantastic. This tale wasn't so great. Also, what little I knew about Gamora was obviously not much. I did know she had a soul sword similar to that Magik uses in the Uncanny X-Men. I didn't know that she was a crime lord of sorts over a gang of crazy Amazons called the Graces. And I had know clue that Gamora originally dressed like a necromantic pole dancer! Hokey Smokes!

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Up Next: Annihilation

Marvel Fanfare #51

Though it doesn’t go right out and say it, this Fanfare is devoted to a never before used “What If…” With the Watcher as host, we see what might’ve happened if the Silver Surfer stopped a Kree invasion during his exile on Earth.

Silver Surfer’s not exactly one of my favorite superheroes, so I don’t understand much of what’s going on or what should have happened. The art was very good. There’s some great cameos and fantastic action sequences. I am also very happy with the ending.

A must for Surfer fans or like myself, a true devotee to the What If… franchise.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.