Some of the major cosmic powers in the Marvel Universe are about to butt heads in a big way. A rift has opened form the Negative Zone into the positive matter universe and Annihilus plans to take full advantage. With the heroes busy fighting amongst themselves (during CIVIL WAR, 2006-2007), the fate of everything is in the hands of some unlikely heroes.
The Silver Surfer will turn his back on his freedom. Richard Rider will have to step up as the greatest Nova in history. The Super-Skrull and Ronan the Accuser will have to decide if their respective races’ empires are more important than the fate of all things. The reborn Drax the Destroyer and his teenage sidekick, Cammi, will have to do more than look for trouble across the galaxy. And with the fate of the cosmos at stake, whose side will Thanos be on?
So begins the strongest era of Marvel’s cosmic characters in the universe’s history. One that will see the Rich Rider finally meet his destiny, see wars between galactic empires and herald the birth of a modern-era Guardians of the Galaxy…
Major Event: Due to the number of issues involved and the impact of the story, ‘Annihilation is considered to be a major event.
BLURB
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔ are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Annihilation Prologue #1
- Annihilation: Nova #1-4
- Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4
- Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1-4
- Annihilation: Ronan #1-4
- Annihilation: Nova Corps Files #1 (tie-in)
- Annihilation #1-6
- Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1-2
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| Must Reads | Title & Issue Number | Synopsis & First Appearance |
| ✔ | Annihilation Prologue #1 | The entire Nova Corps is summoned to Xandar investigate a swarm of alien bugs, dubbed the Annihilation Wave, including the Earth-born Richard Rider (known to folks back home as Nova). The Annihilation Wave kills its way through Xandar, ripping and eating its way through the Corps. By pure fluke, Rider survives the attack, but he’s the last Nova left. In the days and weeks that follow, Ronan the Accuser of the Kree Empire will be arrested by his own people. The Silver Surfer will sense the infestation. The Super-Skrull will learn his home planet has been destroyed. And the power behind the swarm will be revealed as Annihilus! |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Nova #1 | Eleven days after Annihilation Day, Richard Rider wakes up with the Xandarian Worldmind talking to him in his head. The Worldmind convinces Rider, now the last Nova, to allow him to download all his knowledge and power into him in order to preserve all that remains of the Nova Corps. The painful process soups-up Nova’s uniform and, against Worldmind’s advice, he uses his new powers to attack part of the Annihilation Wave, attracting the attention of Annihilus himself… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Nova #2 | Nova finds the only other survivors of the attack on Xandar; Drax the Destroyer and Cammi. Drax tries to make out he’s not ‘the Destroyer’, but destroys his way through some of Annihilus’ bug troops in the process. Nova, Drax and Cammi fly a Nova Corps ship to Nycos Aristedes but lose control of it. Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) arrives in time to save them… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Nova #3 | Nycos Aristedes turns out to be the opposite of a safe haven and the group combine their powers to help the population of the planet escape. Nova discovers he now has the ability to create wormholes, but the massive display of power gets Annihilus’s attention, again. He sends his armada to stare Nova down… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Nova #4 | Nova and Quasar rip up Annihilus’ fleet in space, giving the Nycos inhabitants a shot at escaping, then tear into Annihilus’ ship and face the big bad directly. Annihilus is hungry for power and he uses his Cosmic Control Rod to absorb the power of Quasar’s Quantum Bands, disintegrating the cosmic hero in the process. Nova escapes to avoid losing the Nova Force the same way. Fleeing with Drax and Cammi and wanting revenge, Nova asks for Drax lessons in destroying… |
| Must Reads | Title & Issue Number | Synopsis & First Appearance |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1 | The Silver Surfer discovers agents of Annihilus preying on the robot Air-Walker, another former-Herald of Galactus. The Surfer saves AirWalker from Ravenous and his Seekers and Currs, stopping them from claiming his Power Cosmic. Meanwhile, Thanos sends the little-known first Herald of Galactus, the Fallen One, to find out if the Maker (once known as the Beyonder) survived the destruction of the Kyln prison and to let the Seekers know that Thanos wants to side with Annihilus… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 | The Seekers capture Terrax the Tamer. Firelord and Red Shift rescue the Silver Surfer from a Seeker attack while he tries to help a survivor from the Skrull Homeworlds. Thanos meets with Annihilus and agrees to help him kill his way across the galaxy. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 | The only survivors from the destruction of the Kyln – Tenebrous and Aegis – reveal themselves. The colossal duo are survivors of the universe that existed before the Big Bang. They capture the Fallen One and leave the dead body of the Maker floating in space. Standing over Morg the Executioner‘s drained corpse, Thanos agrees to help Annihilus for a price. Galactus’ summons the Silver Surfer and makes him his herald once again while Firelord and Red Shift face Annihilus’ forces… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Silver Surfer #4 | With his link to the Power Cosmic increased, the Silver Surfer batters Ravenous and returns to Galactus to lead him to an uninhabited planet to feast on. Tenebrous and Aegis kill the Fallen One and come face-to-face with Thanos. Believing they all share a common goal, Thanos, Tenebrous and Aegis agree to join forces against Galactus. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1 | The Super-Skrull (Kl’rt) disobeys Princess S’Bak‘s orders not to attack Annihilus’ world-destroying Harvester of Sorrow in the hope of saving the planet his son resides on. On the run from his own people, the Super-Skrull is rescued by a young Skrull called R’Kin who looks up to Kl’rt as a war hero. Travelling to Earth, Kl’rt convinces Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four) to allow him to use his portal to the Negative Zone to find the Harvestor’s creator… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Super-Skrull #2 | Over the next five days, the Super-Skrull kills his way through the Negative Zone while R’Kin is beginning to suspect Kl’rt isn’t the honourable warrior he believed him to be. Kl’rt brutally ‘questions’ the creator of the Harvester of Sorrow, Hawal, and learns the machine the is actually alive. Kl’rt accidentally frees Kawal’s prisoners who agree to become Kl’rt’s army… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Super-Skrull #3 | Kl’rt decapitates Kawal, making R’kin finally lose faith in him, though he still helps the Super-Skrull build a super-weapon to attack the Harvester of Sorrow. Their new ally, Praxagora, get closer to Kl’rt, but he backs away. Days later, the Super-Skrull and his crew teleport to the Harvester of Sorrows where R’kin betrays the group to Annihilus. The Skrull planet Zaragz’na is destroyed and the Super-Skrull’s son dies along with it. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Super-Skrull #4 | The Super-Skrull, Praxagora and Preak are prisoners of the Annihilation Wave, until Kl’rt uses his hypnotic powers to manipulate R’kin into freeing them. Kl’rt amputates R’kin’s arms and legs, cauterises the wounds and ties him up as punishment for his betrayal. The Annihilation forces kill Preak, but the Super-Skrull saves Praxagora and sacrifices himself to destroy the Harvester of Sorrow. Preak dies fighting the Annihilation forces, but the Super-Skrull gets to Praxagora in time to stick his tongue down her throat and take her place, sacrificing himself to destroy the Harvester of Sorrow. Twenty years later, Praxagora is still spreading the word that the Super-Skrull died a hero (but this has to be an alternate future, as Prax will fight on). |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Ronan #1 | While travelling the universe to locate Tana Nile (the Rigellian who testified against him, costing him his role as Accuser), Ronan the (former) Accuser continues to act as judge, jury and executioner, even on worlds where the Kree have no authority. A week after Ronan kills Metz of Q-Kabar which causes riots on Bwokk, he follows a lead to Godthab Omega which is under constant threat from a group called the Graces who want to end Kree rule. Ronan defeats Stellaris and Nebula of the Graces in his search. The leader of the Graces, Gamora, sees Ronan as a true challenge… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Ronan #2 | Korath the Pursuer reveals how Gamora formed the Graces. Tana Nile reveals to Gamora why Ronan is out to get her. And neither side is aware that the Annihilation Wave is making its way towards the planet. Ronan and Gamora come face-to-face while Glorian (the new Shaper of Worlds) plans to use their energy to remake Godthab Omega into a better world… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Ronan #3 | The battle between Ronan and Gamora rages, empowering Glorian. Ronan breaks off the fight in favour of finding a means to clear his name in time to witness the arrival of the Annihilation Wave… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Ronan #4 | Glorian plan is ruined by the Annihilation Wave. Ronan finds Tana Nile who reveals he was set up by the Kree House Fiyero before she dies. Ronan’s hammer and Glorian creation powers destroy Eradica and her part of the Wave. Glorian is left mindless. Ronan and Gamora join forces and head to Hala, the Kree homeworld, to confront House Fiyero and defend the universe from Annihilus… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Nova Corps Files #1 (tie-in) | A handbook-style guide of profiles of all the main players, as profiled in the Worldmind’s Nova Corps files. This adds to the profiles already featured in the backs of the four lead-in titles. One for those in need of a quick ‘who’s who’ of the cosmic characters… |
| Must Reads | Title & Issue Number | Synopsis & First Appearance |
| ✔ | Annihilation #1 | Six months after the Anihilation Wave first tore into the positive matter universe, Nova has become the leader of the forces standing hopelessly against the Wave, along with Ronan the Accuser, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora and the former Peter Quill (the former Star-Lord). Nova learns Thanos has sided with Aegis and Tenebrous to capture Galactus, for Annihilus. |
| ✔ | Annihilation #2 | Phyla-Vell (daughter of the original Captain Marvel) tells Drax that his daughter, Moondragon, has been captured by Thanos. House Fiyero pull the Kree troops out of the war, only for Ronan the Accuser to disintegrate them and take over what’s left of the Kree army. Thanos starts turning Galactus and the Silver Surfer into a weapon. Praxagora shows up with the body of the Super-Skrull, demanding a hero’s burial. Ravenous teleports in with Paibok the Power Skrull, Terrax, the Delinquent, the Mad-Thinker‘s Monster Android and Annihilus’ Centurions… |
| ✔ | Annihilation #3 | The rebellion retreat from their base on Daedalus 5. Thanos completes his work on Galactus and fires him like a gun at the planet. Super-Skrull is mysteriously resurrected and joins the fight against Annihilus, alongside the Heralds of Galactus. Red Shift is killed helping Nova escape. With all hope lost, the rebellion begins to disband. Ronan, the Super-Skrull and Praxagora take down the remaining members of House Fiyero. Nova figures it’s time he faced Annihilus directly… |
| ✔ | Annihilation #4 | Drax the Destroyer has continued to kill his way across the galaxy on the way to his destiny. Nova and Peter Quill return to Earth’s orbit, but learn of the squabbles in the super human community (also known as the CIVIL WAR, 2006-2007) and don’t even bother asking for their help. Moondragon telepathically reveals to Thanos that Annihilus doesn’t want to rule the universe, he wants to destroy it. As Thanos begins to question si loyalties, Drax bursts into his ship and rips his heart out. Now there’s no one powerful enough to shut down the Galactus weapon and the universe is doomed… |
| ✔ | Annihilation #5 | Nova, Peter Quill and Phyla-Vell hurtle across the universe towards Annihilus, leaving Cammi behind on a random planet to keep her safe. Drax frees the Silver Surfer who in turn frees Galactus. On Hala, Ronan, the Super-Skrull and Praxagora discover the House Fiyero have allied with Ravenous. Ronan asmashes all theirheads in with his hammer and Ravenous loses half of his face. Ronan releases the Supreme Intelligence from living death by killing him and the Kree chant Ronan’s name as they plead for him to rule… |
| ✔ | Annihilation #6 | The Silver Surfer and Galactus tear through Annihilus’ forces. Ronan leads the Kree against Ravenous. Annihilus holds off Nova’s attack using Quasar’s Quantum Bands until Phylla-Vell steals hem back. Nova puts his hand down Annihilus’ throat and pulls out his innards. Later, Nova recovers from his injuries, Ronan sues for peace with Ravenous by giving him control of a handful of Kree worlds, Firelord hunts down the remaining Centurions and a baby Annihilus is born to replace that dead one… |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1[1/2] | Free from Annihilus’ control, Terrax is stranded planet on a backwards planet. The native inhabitants convince Terrax to free them from the hunger of Randau the Space Parasite. Terrax cleaves Randau in half, destroys the planet and abondons Paibok and the Deliquent in space. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1[2/2] | Travelling through space, Stardust runs into what’s left of her race, has a falling out with them and kills them all. He convinces Galactus to allow her to be his Herald again, alongside the Silver Surfer and proves her loyalty by feeding him the energies of her dead people. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2[1/2] | Firelord locates a group of Negative Zone Centurions and discovers some of them weren’t as loyal to Annihilus as he thought. He kills the malevolent ones and allows the good ones to live and prove themselves as heroes. |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2[2/2] | Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2[2/2] Galactus tells the Silver Surfer the origins of Aegis and Tenebrous and sends him out to locate them. The Surfer accesses the energies of the Crunch to slay Aegis and Tenebrous, making Galactus proud. |
| Title & Issue Number | Event / Crossover |
| Fantastic Four #544-545 (2007) Accompanied by the Silver Surfer and Stardust, Galactus tries to consume Epoch to replenish the energy he lost to Annihilus. | THE INITIATIVE FOUR THE HARD WAY |
| Nova #1 (2007) Nova returns to Earth and improves his relationship with the Nova Corps’ Worldmind. | |
| Nova #2-3 (2007) Nova gets caught up in the squabbles on Earth when the Thunderbolts try to arrest him for being an unregistered superhuman; Nova returns to space. | THE INITIATIVE |
| Annihilation: Conquest Prologue #1 (2007) Peter Quill becomes Star-Lord again; Phyla-Vell becomes the new Quasar; the Phalanx pose the next major threat to the cosmos. Nova #4 (2007) Despite their ‘romantic’ relationship, Nova and Gamora next meet as enemies when she’s controlled by the Phalanx. | ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST |
| What If… Annihilation Reached Earth? #1 (2008) An alternate reality (Earth-14026) is revealed in which the Annihilation Wave hits Earth during the Super Human Civil War. | |
| Annihilation: Wraith #2-3 (2007) Praxagora and Super-Skrull are revealed to still be together; the Phalanx try to resurrect the Supreme Intelligence. Nova #7 (2007) Drax the Destroyer returns. Annihilation: Conquest – Quasar #4 (2007) Annihilus’ evil influence is purged from the Quantum Bands. Annihilation: Conquest #6 (2008) Praxagora is destroyed. | ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST |
| Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (2008) Star-Lord forms the Guardians of the Galaxy alongside Drax, Gamora, Quasar and others. | |
| Nova #16-18 (2008) Despite fighting against the Annihilation Wave as allies, the Super-Skrull betrays Nova; Quasar returns as a sentient energy form; Worldmind leaves Nova’s body and creates a new Nova Corps. | SECRET INVASION |
| Nova #20 (2009) With Quasar’s physical form destroyed, Ego the Living Planet is unleashed back into the universe. | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy #12 (2009) Quasar regains the Quantum Bands. War of Kings: Ascension #2 (2009) Annihilus’ regrowth is stunted by Catastrophus; Talon defeats Catastrophus, steals the Cosmic Control Rod and spares the infant Annihilus. War of Kings #6 (2009) A series of major cosmic catastrophes that started with the Annihilation Wave causes a rip in space called The Fault. | WAR OF KINGS |
| Realm of Kings #1 (2010) Quasar regains a physical form in the Fault. | REALM OF KINGS |
| Guardians of the Galaxy #24 (2010) Thanos is resurrected. Thanos Imperative #1-6 (2011) Aegis and Tenebrous are revealed to have survived and join forces with Galactus to fend off the Cancerverse; Nova and Star-Lord sacrifice themselves to kill Thanos by trapping him on the other side of the Fault as it’s healed. | THE THANOS IMPERATIVE |
| Fantastic Four #587 (2011) The Human Torch appears to sacrifice himself to stop Annihilus’ rebuilt Annihilation Wave from breaking through to the positive matter universe. | THREE |
| FF #6-7 (2011) Ronan resurrects the Supreme Intelligence with the Supremor Seed. | |
| Avengers Arena #1-3 (2013) Cammi returns to Earth and reveals how she became a space bandit in order to make her way home; Cammi’s real name is revealed as Camille Benally. | MARVEL NOW! |
| Avengers #35 (2015) Gladiator of the Shi’ar utilises the Annihilation Wave as a weapon against Earth. | TIME RUNS OUT |
| Annihilation – Scourge: Alpha #1 (2019) The roles are reversed when the Negative Zone is invaded and Annihilus turns to Nova, the Silver Surfer and others for help. | ANNIHILATION: SCOURGE |
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