War of Kings: Road to War of Kings [Paperback]

The last few years have seen Marvel Comics reinvent its cosmic lineup, a traditionally underappreciated part of their universe. This effort began with the "Annihilation" event, its spinoff "Nova", "Annihilation: Conquest", and "Guardians of the Galaxy". "War of Kings" ("Annihilation III" in everything but name) aims to refresh the pool of characters by bringing in two previously unused parties: the Inhumans, an Earth-based secret civilization descended from the Kree, one of the major cosmic powers; and the Shi'ar Empire, the third of the major cosmic powers, but one almost always confined to the X-Men's corner of the Marvel Universe.

"War of Kings" represents a collision between two ongoing stories, and the materials collected here are the channels by which the two previously separate stories are set up against each other. The Shi'ar side of the equation is "X-Men: Kingbreaker", a four-issue miniseries by Chris Yost and artist Dustin Weaver that focusses on the new Caligula-esque Shi'ar Majestor, Vulcan/Gabriel Summers, and his remaining opponents, the Starjammers, led by his brother Havok/Alex Summers and the deposed Empress Lilandra. This story began in "X-Men: Deadly Genesis" (by Ed Brubaker), continued through the twelve-issue "Uncanny X-Men" arc 'Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire' (also by Brubaker), and then into the miniseries "X-Men: Emperor Vulcan" (by Yost), which ended with most of the Starjammers in jail. The primary goal of "Kingbreaker" is to free the Starjammers in preparation for the "War", while setting up Vulcan on the road to challenge the Kree. It's a somewhat minimal story, but Yost gets the Starjammers main cast (Havok, Polaris, Rachel, Lilandra), and did a great job building up Vulcan as a credible threat.

Next there is "Secret Invasion: War of Kings", a one-shot that bridges the gap between "Secret Invasion: Inhumans" and "War of Kings" proper for the Inhumans. The former miniseries ended with the formation of a new alliance between the Inhumans and the Kree, with Crystal to be married to Ronan the Accuser as a pledge of mutual defence. In this story, the Inhumans' king, Black Bolt, plots to upend this treaty and the cosmic order itself, positioning his people as major players. Along the way, he also helps trigger the war with Vulcan. If there was a single part of the crossover lead-in that is really essential, it would be this issue. The writers, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (more or less the architects of the whole cosmic universe these days), do a great job, particularly with Crystal, their viewpoint character from the Inhumans' side. The move to the cosmic scene suits the Inhumans, particularly Black Bolt, one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe who is often hampered by the constrains of operating on Earth.

Also included is a "Saga" which helpfully recaps the various character histories of the event's main players, for those not familiar with them.

This is basically a prologue that leads into Marvels cosmic event saga "War of Kings". The book centers mostly on the X-Men and the remaining Starjammers and their battle against Vulcan who has taken over the Shi'ar empire from former ruler and X-Men ally Lilandra. The story starts "in progress" with the X-Men captured and being tortured by Vulcan as the Starjammers attempt to free them. We also see the Skrulls, fresh from their failed "Secret Invasion" of earth and colliding head on against the devastating voice of Black Bolt who, along with his Inhumans are seeking revenge against the Skrulls as well as seeking control of the Kree Empire.

The stories are fast paced, well written and drawn. This story is a bridge of sorts between the previous "Secret Invasion" event and the "War of Kings" event. As such, this story has no middle and no end. Another thing is that the most relevant story in this volume that links to War of Kings (Secret Invasion: War of Kings) is also contained in the actual "War of Kings" trade paperback. The X-Men story is entertaining but not as relevant because when the War of Kings starts, the X-Men become minor players over all. If you already have either the hardcover or paperback versions of "War of Kings" then you really don't "need" this trade. Another thing to consider is that "Road to War of Kings" and "War of Kings" are roughly the same price. If you want this story and you're on a budget, then I'd suggest just purchasing "War of Kings".

However, if you absolutely must have every last bit of this story, then "Road to War of Kings" makes for an entertaining prologue. I wouldn't recommend it as a "stand alone" story but in the context of the War of Kings story arc, it is entertaining.

Ever since Annihilation the only "epic crossovers" from Marvel that really deliver have sprung from the battle-choked cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe. If this prelude to the next cosmic epic, War of Kings, is but the tip of the iceberg then it looks like yet gain the sci-fi branch of Marvel will sprout the company's best crossover for the coming year.
For decades, the balance of power in the Marvel cosmos was checked by three great interstellar Empires, the Kree, the Skrull and the Shi'Ar, often warring with one another but nearly as often coming together with other alien powers in the Intergalactic Council. The invasion of Annihilus changed all of that. In his wake the Skrulls were driven to near extinction and the Kree Empire broken in half, and although the Shi'Ar remained untouched, their empire fell once more into a state of civil war. Now new powers have come to lead the only remaining political monoliths in the cosmos, and ironically they come from Earth.
Although this is but a prelude of what looks to be an epic war between the Shi'Ar, Kree, Inhumans, and other cosmic forces it also wraps up events from X-Men: Emperor Vulcan/X-men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire, as well as being the next step in the slow evolution of the Inhumans from an obscure curiosity spawned from the Fantastic Four to a full-blown major element in the Marvel universe.
Perhaps the only fault to this collection is the fact that to fully enjoy it one needs to have read several books that preceded it. It does provide a summary of the events leading up to the starting point of this volume, but I still recommend reading the previous stories as they are all pretty fun, and Emperor Vulcan and Secret Invasion: Inhumans are pretty much essential reads if you really want to enjoy this book.

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