Thanos: The Infinity Relativity

   Since I'm a huge fan of Jim Starlin's work on Warlock in the '70s and '90s, I'm really happy to see he's back again, handling the fate of that character and his even-more-famous creation, Thanos.

   (Starlin also created two of the Guardians of the Galaxy featured in the graphic novel - Gamora and Drax the Destroyer.)

   Starlin's spending quite a bit of his energy dealing with storylines that have been left dangling over the decades, and that seems to be the focus of this trilogy of original graphic novels, written and drawn by Starlin.

   So following The Infinity Revelation is The Infinity Relativity, which brings (well, I started to say "our heroes," but we can't call Thanos a hero) the lead characters into conflict with a new, deadlier version of Annihilus, the despot from the Negative Zone who plans to lead a vast armada of giant insects into the conquest (or destruction) of life in our universe.

      But at the heart of the story is the mystery behind the newly-resurrected Adam Warlock - he's exhibiting amazing new powers and insights - and Thanos holds the key.

   Part of the story is devoted to gathering the disparate players, and part to a heck of a battle royal with Annihilus. And if you think you know how it's going to end, you're in for a surprise.

   The series - so far - hasn't quite managed to reach the trippy, mind-bending levels of the original series, but there's another chapter to go, and the story is a powerful one.

   Can't wait for the final chapter (which will hopefully lead to more regular appearances by Warlock)!

Grade: A

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