I wasn't regularly reading the title at the time, but I'm pretty sure I noticed the glaring absence of John Byrne in Fantastic Four #296. (Also, Jim Shooter plot? Was that necessary, or him getting in on the anniversary cash?) And now I wonder how much Byrne had checked out by this issue for the Superman books: from 1986, Fantastic Four #290, "Risk" Written and penciled by John Byrne, inks by Al Gordon.

We're back in the Negative Zone today, as Annihilus has beaten--or at least knocked down--three of the FF; before having to deal with the betrayal of Blastaar. I'm thinking Marvel Two-in-One #75, but those guys had double-crossed each other multiple times by this point already, right? Sue gives some backstory to newbie She-Hulk, before trying to save Reed, but she can't: he had been sucked into the Zone while in a S.H.I.E.L.D. battlesuit, and was still positive matter in the negative universe: if he touched anything, it would be a massive explosion!

The team had some back-up, in the form of Nick Fury, who warns them of the arrival of Blastaar's people and their fleet; which Annihilus immediately turns on. They had figured Blastaar would turn on them, and had a weapon to defuse him; so they could invade earth without him, but Annihilus drives them back with his Cosmic Control Rod. Annihilus takes off, and Reed tries to go after him, only to be stopped by Sue's force-field: she knew Reed intended to sacrifice himself to stop Annihilus. Reed argues, there was no way around it: billions could die if Annihilus made it to their universe. Sue sadly lets him go.

While Nick and the team follow in a Quinjet-looking ship, Byrne goes with tell rather than show, as Reed transmits back his final message. Well, Byrne does draw Sue going through it, and the Quinjet returns through the distortion zone, back to our universe...but at what cost? (Even though he was about to die, Reed still notes: "...Annihilus seems to be yelling something...I can't read his lips...")

They return to the S.H.I.E.L.D. space station--the really boxy old one they had!--and Fury orders scans for Reed. Sue is not optimistic: assuming he wasn't completely blown apart, how long could he survive in space? A tech in a doofy helmet relays the findings: nothing. With only one small anomaly, what appeared to be a weather balloon...seems kinda obvious, but Sue says they have to accept Reed's death. (She's very obviously in shock, and kind of knows it; like she'd probably keep it together until she had to tell Franklin.) Nick gives the three a ride back to earth in his flying car, but on the approach to New York City, doesn't pick up the usual homing signal, or see the usual skyline--because they've somehow returned to 1936! An odd cliffhanger, but one that puts what's left of the team into a situation they would usually need Reed to take care of. Read more!

I should be cleaning up right now, but...

...hell, the mess isn't going anywhere. And I need to do a serious house-cleaning Friday anyway, so I may as well hold off. Besides, it would take like two Jarvis's, a Wong, and at least half an Alfred, to make a dent on the mess around here.

I was just looking for the above panel, but the rest of the issue grabbed my attention: Silver Surfer #60, "Finale and Prelude" Written by Ron Marz, pencils by Ron Lim, inks by Jim Sanders III. Coming directly off the end of Infinity Gauntlet, Adam Warlock now has the Gauntlet and the power of God; and has just returned the Surfer, Dr. Strange, and Thor to Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. They aren't thrilled about leaving Warlock with the power, but can't really do anything about it, either; and the 50% of the universe killed by Thanos is restored, so there's that.

Thor, who was Eric Masterson at the time, is left to mumble his farewells and split; and Strange and the Surfer both wonder what's up with him. Although Strange offers to let him hang out, the Surfer is determined to destroy Thanos' monument to Death and himself, and takes off to space; leaving Strange and Wong to clean up.

I'd have to look, but it took the Surfer several issues to even get back to the monument. (The big fight in Infinity Gauntlet #4 took place there. Great issue if you missed it!) This issue, he gets sidetracked by the return of Midnight Son. Who?

Well, he doesn't know either, but he's no relation to the supernatural themed Midnight Sons like Ghost Rider or Blade. He was actually a kung-fu master, killed in battle with Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu. Then the alien Kree took his body and reanimated it for use as a weapon against the Silver Surfer. Kung-fu versus the power cosmic isn't a great matchup, but the Surfer has too much restraint to incinerate the Son on the spot.

The Midnight Son was a mute...kung-fu master...cool featureless costume, hmm. He was also disfigured, which now makes me think Shang-Chi killed Snake-Eyes. He didn't remember his identity or his past, but when he sees the Surfer again he remembers him, and communicates with him the only way he can. Unfortunately, you can only kick the Silver Surfer in the head so many times before he gets pissed, and in this case, hits you with the base of the Lunar Module.

Before the fight gets even more out of hand, it's broken up by Black Bolt and the Inhumans, who were living on the Blue Area of the Moon at the time. Since Black Bolt can't speak in the traditional sense either (his voice being so powerful, his whisper could shatter a mountain) he identifies with Midnight Son, and through Karnak offers him a home with the Inhumans. Which I think is the last we see of him.

Come to think of it, there was a brief period around the early 90's when the Inhumans were used as a dumping ground for misguided superpowered non-mutant misfits. I know there was another in the original New Warriors, a Star-something. (Looked it up, it was the Star-Thief, who I thought was an Adam Warlock villain...) The trouble is, everyone that likes the Inhumans likes the old Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four appearances, and nobody's read the last appearance they made. Just for example, and I liked both series even though they don't fit together, the excellent Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee limited doesn't segueway at all into the one with Jose Ladronn art.

Anyway, Midnight Son might make a good C-list character for Annihilation. Picked up Starlord #2 today, that series continues to bring it, and there might be some job openings on Starlord's team now, hint-hint... Read more!

I should be more jaded, but I'm excited for this.

--plus this--

--and this? OK, fine, whatever.

I don't know how Keith Giffen has time for Annihilation: Conquest – Starlord on top of his DC work, but I'm looking forward to it. Even the vaguest, most half-assed reason for all these characters to be in the same book is fine by me. How Bug got out of the Microverse and full-sized though, he'd better have a good explanation for that.

I'm not as big a fan of Mantis (although I liked her in the 80's Silver Surfer) or Deathcry, but I could think of one of Marvel's space characters I'd love to have back: Cerise, from Alan Davis' second run on Excalibur.

She was just this weird statuesque alien woman who showed up one day and pretty quickly became part of the team. She had bizarre, almost feather-like hair; solid-light powers or weapons, and hooked up with Nightcrawler in short order. After Davis left the book, Cerise was written out almost immediately, but I think she made a cameo in Annihilation somewhere...

Actually, now that I think about it, Cerise also made a return appearance in the Maximum Security crossover. That was around the time when Nightcrawler was going to become a priest (my least favorite storyline ever) and he shoots down her advances. Which is absolutely damn idiotic. Seriously, it almost makes the rest of Kurt's priest storyline pale in comparison, and there is a lot of stupid in there.

So, it'd be fun if Cerise got a spot on this team; and if I had a vote, I'd get a Recorder in there as well. I know DC's got more space characters, but I should be able to think of some others that deserve a shot at the comeback. Don't say Rom. It'd be swell, but we all know it's not gonna happen. Not unless you win the lottery, buy Parker Brothers (or the rights to Rom: Spaceknight from them) and give Marvel the rights free and clear. And even then, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Think of someone else. Hell, if you can make Bug regular-sized, make Shuma-Gorath smaller and get him in there: players of the old Marvel Super Heroes arcade game know what I mean.

Cerise panels from Excalibur #62, "Of Birth, Death and the Confused, Painful Bit in Between" Written and pencilled by Alan Davis, inks/pencils by Mark Farmer. Read more!

Hawkeye can stay dead. We miss you, Quasar.

From Annihilation: Nova #3, "Safety in Numbers" Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, pencils by Key Walker, inks by Rick Magyar.

Abnett and Lanning work together a lot, and had a good run of Legion a while back, but I associate them with Star Trek: Early Voyages (which was actually Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton). The book was cancelled midstream with #17, with what would have been the start of a four-part storyline. Abnett and Edginton noted they had the plot and story, but weren't going to tell us. At first, that had the reek of sour grapes, although I thought it was cheekily amusing; but then, these guys aren't paid to give away story ideas.

Not to damn with faint praise, but DnA do a good job of Blue Beetle'ing Quasar here: Marvel fandom had a pretty good idea poor Wendell was doomed as soon as they saw him on the solicitations for this issue. But then Gabrielle Dell'Otto makes him look cool as hell on the cover. And DnA don't mock or belittle Quasar, even though he wasn't the most popular character even when he had his own book. (60 issues, kids! By comparison, WildC.A.T.s has had three different series since 1992, and still hasn't had 60 issues total. Also, Grifter sucks.) Quasar's confident, likeable, and kicks some ass, then goes out fighting Annihilus. Here's hoping he'll be back.

But how does Quasar get his hair like that in space? My wife was at a loss for any man-made product that could get that effect; but I must say it has to look better than Nova's. After wearing that bucket all day, his hair has got to be all greasy and blah. This is why Marvel's space characters are traditionally either bald (the Surfer, Drax, Thanos), or rock the 'Firestorm' do. Just so you know.

Plus, over at Comic Book Resources, there's a possible spoiler about the upcoming Quasar limited series! I'm not sure how I feel about it, but may have to give it a try. Read more!