Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1 is a heartfelt take on one of comics’ greatest couples, set amidst Marvel’s latest cosmic war.
In the midst of Marvel’s crossover storyline The Last Annihilation, two key members of the Guardians of the Galaxy get the spotlight in The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1. The one-shot features the couple in a story by Anthony Oliveira and Jan Bazaldua that explores how they first met in the days before forming the Young Avengers. At the same time, it provides a new perspective on Dormammu’s quest to conquer the universe. The issue is a rewarding, fun, and heartfelt look at one of the premier LGBTQ+ relationships in comics.
The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1 begins with a flashback to the day that Wiccan and Hulkling first met in high school. In their alter egos as Teddy Altman and Billy Kaplan, the two were immediately drawn to one another, despite the heckling of their close-minded classmates. The story then catches up to the present day, as Wiccan and Hulkling fight off the forces of Dormammu across multiple planets. On Skrullos, Wiccan battles alongside Abigail Brand and S.W.O.R.D., as he desperately tries to repair the shattered pieces of Hulkling’s sword. Meanwhile, Hulkling and the Guardians of the Galaxy discover an ancient weapon in the ruins of the Kree throneworld. But as the two star-crossed lovers face off against their dreaded opponents, they’ll discover that their love is the key to their survival.
The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1 is written by Oliveira, who previously wrote Hulkling during the GLAAD Media Award-winning Empyre. Oliveira has a great handle on both leads and delves into the couple’s origin story with heart. Additionally, he explores Dormammu’s assault and the strain it places on the Guardians of the Galaxy which thrillingly feeds into the Guardians’ tension with S.W.O.R.D. It also gives Oliveira a chance to touch on some previously unseen dynamics amongst the team, specifically Hulking and Phyla-Vell, who are quasi-siblings from across universes. There is a lot of potential for their relationship and it’ll be interesting to see if Marvel follows up on Oliveira’s established ideas here.
Artist Jan Bazaldua does a sensational job at crafting visuals for The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1. Bazaldua brings the same sensibilities that made her work onWinter Guard so much fun. She captures the essence of the characters with distinct likenesses that gives the adventure a consistent vision as the duo jump across time and space.
Bazaldua’s deceptively simple linework gives Rachelle Rosenberg room to put her stamp on the art with vibrant hues. Rosenberg, one of the definitive Marvel colorists, creates visual motifs for the characters that form parallels within the story. A great example of this is in the civilian clothes of Teddy and Billy, which echo their eventual superhero uniforms. Letterer Ariana Maher continues this synergy throughout the comic. Voices like Dormammu and the Kree super-computer are portrayed in unique fonts that jump off the page with an otherworldly flair while matching the action and color palette perfectly.
While this issue is notably a tie-in with The Last Annihilation, the flashbacks lead directly into the creation of the Young Avengers and show the hardships that the couple faced as gay teenagers. While their superheroics exist only in the world of comics, the journey of self-discovery that Billy and Teddy go through is something that will resonate with many readers. It serves as an important reminder that though young adulthood can be filled with bigotry, there is a rewarding world of love, support, and acceptance within reach.
For fans of the titular heroes, The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking #1 is a great look at one of the best couples in comics. Anthony Oliveira, Jan Bazaldua, and the entire creative team unite for a story that balances epic action with intimate character work. As the Guardians of the Galaxy and S.W.O.R.D. fight the forces of Dormammu, this issue shows that love is the ultimate tool to triumph over evil.
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