ANNIHILATORS

4 issue Mini-Series.

This anthology Mini-Series contains two full length issues each month; each was originally solicited as a separate 4 issue Mini; both stories written by the 'DNA' team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

The 'headlining' story is the 4-part 'Annihilators' Mini-Series; a new heavy hitting cosmic team that spins out from the events of "The Thanos Imperative". The team, assembled by Cosmo from Guardians of the Galaxy as the last wish of Star-Lord, includes Cosmo, Silver Surfer, Quasar, Ronan the Accuser, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator and Ikon the Space Knight. The team's first mission is to deal with the threat of the Dire Wraiths.

The second story/series is "Rocket Raccoon and Groot", a duo adventure of this fan favourite buddy team, also from Guardians of the Galaxy. This series was originally to sport covers by original Rocket Raccoon 1985 Mini-Series artist Mike Mignola, and it still does, but sadly only as limited variants.

Format-wise, this title vaguely brings to mind Marvel's ill-fated 1998 anthology 'Strange Tales' that contained full length new stories from the recently cancelled Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night titles. Strange Tales was intended to run for 4 issues, giving both titles it was continuing a chance to complete their stories, but only 2 issues were ever released, and the stories have been left hanging in limbo to this day. One might infer that a similar thing was done with Annihilators, where Marvel had completed material for 'Rocket Raccoon and Groot' that they were scared to release on its own due to perceived low interest and fears of underperforming sales.

The series is collected in War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings Omnibus.