Reading order
Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | War of Kings | 2009 | Dan Abnett | Buy |
| 2 | Nova, Vol. 5: War of Kings | 2009 | Dan Abnett | N/A |
| 3 | War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings Omnibus | 2011 | Dan Abnett | N/A |
| 4 | Nova, Vol. 6: Realm of Kings | 2010 | Dan Abnett | N/A |
| 5 | Annihilators | 2011 | Dan Abnett | N/A |
| 6 | Annihilators: Earthfall | 2012 | Dan Abnett | N/A |
War of Kings is a 2009 Marvel cosmic crossover event written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, following the two teams’ work on Annihilation, Nova, and Guardians of the Galaxy. The event centres on a war between the Kree Empire, now ruled by Black Bolt and the Inhumans, and the Shi’ar Empire under the control of the Vulcan, the third Summers brother. The conflict pulls in characters from across the cosmic Marvel universe, including the Nova Corps and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The war has major consequences for the cosmic status quo, including the opening of a rift in space called the Fault that becomes the entry point for the Cancerverse in the subsequent Thanos Imperative storyline. The Nova volumes tied to War of Kings show Richard Rider’s Nova Corps navigating the conflict from a military perspective, while the Realm of Kings aftermath material covers the immediate consequences of the war’s conclusion.
The Annihilators limited series, which closes out this collection, follows a team of powerful cosmic heroes assembled after the War of Kings to protect the galaxy, and represents the final chapter of Abnett and Lanning’s long run on Marvel cosmic fiction before the Thanos Imperative. Readers should approach this material as part of the broader Annihilation era rather than as a standalone event.