Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Annihilator #1
Legendary Entertainment
Morrison & Irving
Grant Morrison and Frazier Irving's latest launch comes from the new publisher Legendary Entertainment. This publisher has all of the markings of being another in the vain of Radical Comics where they produce books as a precursor to creating a film. They make a huge splash with Grant Morrison as the writer but what is this all about? If you like Morrison then you won't want to miss this comic book. If you are speculator then you should probably buy this anyway. It's a good read if you like Morrison.
The comic follows two characters. One is a struggling screenwriter, Ray, and the other is the main character he's writing. There is something too "real" about the intergalactic hero, Max Nomax though. In typical Morrison fashion there is nothing straightforward about this book.
Like many Morrison comics the fourth wall is challenged. Reality is bent to its breaking point. The book contains sex, drugs and the effects of both. The comic ends with one character on a collision course with death when the wall finally comes down with regards to reality.
In some ways this doesn't read original at all. It feels like five other Morrison stories to me that were re-worked into a greatest hits comic book. Overall it's an odd read but if you are a Morrison fan then you will feel right at home.
Irving on art does a great job at mixing and matching the two distinct character settings. Irving's style definitely lends itself towards mind-altering situations so this is a good fit. The drug-sex is disturbing, brilliant and challenging to render. Generally this book is as good looking as it reads.
Annihilator looks to be a strange journey. However, as an unknown publisher you have to wonder if issues two, three, four and beyond will ever see the light of day. As a single issue, there is certainly enough here to sit back and enjoy the read. I recommend picking this up.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
