After our comprehensive month-by-month lists for Dark Reign and Blackest Night, there’s yet another crossover from the Big Two that is raging along the spaceways: Marvel’s War of Kings. With the Inhumans battling Vulcan and the Shiar Empire — and all the cosmic characters in the Marvel U now caught in the middle — you know there’s going to be some fireworks. But how much for the whole set? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Remember: These examinations imply no editorial judgment; they are merely a look at the totals as a service to the readership. And, of course, whether you buy all of the tie-ins is up to you and your individual proclivities, and as always, comes with the message from the publisher that you don’t need all the tie-in issues to enjoy the story, though individual readers’ mileage on that statement may vary, of course.
With that being said, even though the War of Kings rages from November 2008 through at least August of 2009, this is a surprisingly tight event, focusing mainly in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova books, as well as some specifically created books such as X-Men: Kingbreaker and War of Kings. After compiling together a list based on issue solicits, overall story arcs based on trade, as well as certain titles being clearly spun off the War of Kings name, we finally have ourselves a list of everything we find to be connected to the story. Being approximately one fifth the size of its sister crossover, Dark Reign, and only a few issues shy of the current announced number for DC’s space opera Blackest Night, here’s a month-by-month tally to help you with your decision on how to best enjoy this smackdown of the spaceways!
November 2008:
Guardians of the Galaxy #7 ($2.99)
Total Price: $2.99, or pretty much any other $2.99 book you can think of.
December 2008:
Guardians of the Galaxy #8 ($2.99)
X-Men: Kingbreaker #1 ($3.99)
Total Price: $9.97, or the price of an XBox 360 game rental plus tax.
January 2009:
Secret Invasion: War of Kings #1 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 ($2.99)
X-Men: Kingbreaker #2 ($3.99)
Total Price: $20.97, or the price of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 hardcover book.
February 2009:
Guardians of the Galaxy #10 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Darkhawk #1 ($3.99)
X-Men: Kingbreaker #3 ($3.99)
Total Price: $31.91, or the X-Men Trilogy DVD set, plus tax.
March 2009:
War of Kings #1 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #11 ($2.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #12 ($2.99)
Nova #23 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Darkhawk #2 ($3.99)
X-Men: Kingbreaker #4 ($3.99)
Total Price: $52.85, or a Marvel Universe Winter Soldier bust from Midtown Comics, plus tax.
April 2009:
War of Kings #2 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #13 ($2.99)
Nova #24 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Ascension #1 ($3.99)
Total Price: $66.81, or about the price of pre-ordering Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 at Gamestop.
May 2009:
War of Kings #3 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #14 ($2.99)
Nova #25 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Ascension #2 ($3.99)
Total Price: $80.77, or 5 months of World of Warcraft, plus one bottle of “gamer fuel” each month.
June 2009:
War of Kings #4 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #15 ($2.99)
Nova #26 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Ascension #3 ($3.99)
War of Kings: Savage World of Skaar #1 ($3.99)
Total Price: $98.72, or almost the price of a silver membership to the Hero Initiative.
July 2009:
War of Kings #5 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #16 ($2.99)
Mighty Avengers #27 ($2.99)
Nova #27 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Ascension #4 ($3.99)
War of Kings: Warriors #1 ($3.99)
Total Price: $119.66, or almost the price of two weekend passes to the New York Comic Con.
August 2009:
War of Kings #6 ($3.99)
Guardians of the Galaxy #17 ($2.99)
Mighty Avengers #28 ($2.99)
Nova #28 ($2.99)
War of Kings: Warriors #2 ($3.99)
Total Price: $136.61, or the penciled version of Page #13 of Villains United by Dale Eaglesham, according to TheArtistsChoice.com, plus taxes.
TOTAL ISSUES: 39
TOTAL PRICE: $136.61
July 13th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Having so many more $3.99 books really makes a difference when you see it all together like this. Blackest Night had so many more books for not significantly more money.
July 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
While this is great and all… why would we not wait for trades at this point… it seems a little too late to me.
July 14th, 2009 at 5:56 am
The main cost of War of Kings is your mind dealing with how awesome it is.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Of course, you can perfectly follow the story without bothering buying the tie-ins.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:10 am
This doesn’t seem all that bad of a price. Especially if your enjoying it.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:34 am
I don’t care how much it is to pick up all the “War of Kings” issues as long as it leads into a new DARKHAWK ongoing. =)
July 14th, 2009 at 6:46 am
When it comes to getting the most out your money and reading all there is to the publisher’s universe. WILDSTORM Universe is by far the most affordable regardless if there’s an “event” or not.
You can follow the entire line of 4 books ( AUTHORITY, STORMWATCH PHD, WILDCATS, and GEN 13) with occasional mini series (REVELATIONS, ARMAGEDDON, NUMBER OF THE BEAST, and NEW DYNAMIX). That’s 4 ongoing books at $2.99 ($11.96 total) and an occasional mini-series at $2.99 or 17.99 in trade.
You can’t beat that value as that’s the entire line, you wouldn’t miss a thing following 4 monthlies and occasional mini-series. Again it wouldn’t matter if there’s “event” or not the cost would be the same.
Say what you want about the quality of stories and art these event-oriented comics, but WILDSTORM’s current crop of artist &writers are just as talented. Some of them you’ve heard of before. Writers like Christos Gage, Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Ian Edginton, and Scott Beatty. Artist like Neil Googe, Pete Woods, Shawn Moll, Simon Coleby, Leandro Fernández, and Mike Huddleston.
Just give this line a chance.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:52 am
One thing to take into account is War of the Kings is written by one team, so it is a complete story with all aspects intertwined.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hmmm, Mighty Avengers is a stretch. Yes, #27 ties into it a little bit but #28? I don’t get that from reading the solicitation.
What about War of Kings: Who Will Rule?
Oh, and why can’t I reply here using Firefox? Always an error.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Guardians and the event title itself will get you the best parts of the story. Nova is affected by but so far has not been a major part of War of Kings. Ascension is a decent accessory but skippable at $3.99
Planet Skaar One-Shot, while saying War of Kings should be titled: Shameless $3.99 Grab #1, and the War of Kings: Warriors should be retitles Shameless $3.99 money grab #2 and #3 being that they are published online and are background info on characters. Interesting? Probably, but I’ll never know since it’s $3.99 for 22 pages.
July 14th, 2009 at 9:12 am
If a Gladiator series comes out of this, it’s more than worth it. He’s WAY overdue for a series.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Yeah, can’t help but feel like this reviewer has fattened up the list with the inclusion of titles that are, at best, Tangentially linked to War of Kings. Even so far as including GOTG #7, 11, & 12 which really have no bearing on the War of Kings storyline or the Mighty Avengers title which seems a bit of a stretch.
All in all, I respect the work that DnA have been contributing to most of these titles. Absolutely love GOTG & hope it goes another 50 issues. Brad Walker & Wes Craig have been turning in some astounding art for relative Big 2 newcomers, to fill Pelletier’s shoes while he works on WOK itself. Nova has been hit or miss, not nearly as consistent as GOTG, especially in the art dept. Choosing Andrea DeVito as the follow up artist to either Pelletier or Wellington Alves, depending on how you look at it while consistent, just doesn’t provided me with the visual spark that I feel this book deserves & needs. Not to mention the fact that since it’s #1 issue this book hasn’t been able to hold a consistent art team in place for more than 4 or 5 issues.
Yes there’s padding on this crossover like there is for any line crossover, but thanks to Abnett & Lannings meticulous planning, most of the crossover’s additional issues seem organic. Much moreso than say a Dark Reign or a Civil War crossover would.
All in all, I’m continually excited about the quality that DnA have invested into their character development ESPECIALLY in the sincerely underrated, & under-appreciated Guardians of the Galaxy monthly. No matter if you like Sci-Fi, the cosmic stuff, comedy, or all out superhero action every month – this book manages to do it all while re-invigorating forgotten or seldom used characters with a relatable contemporary attitude. It gets my highest rating ever, 7 Thumbs Up. If I Had 7 THumbs that is.
in Closing, War of Kings is entertaining & while it does fall prey to similar crossover practices of too many tie-ins, most of those tie-ins are respectfully integrated into the main storyline much more so than crossovers that have come before. Mostly the books that should be in Bold as imperative to the crossover are Guardians of the Galaxy (FANTASTIC) & the War of Kings series itself, otherwise, it’s peripheral info at best.
Thanks!
July 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I didn’t even bother to look at the final tally. I really don’t even care. I’m just posting here to say that no matter what it costs, WAR OF KINGS is worth it. Far more so than a lot of crossovers that have come from both Marvel and DC in recent years.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I’m a big Nova fan, and have enjoyed every issue.
But I saw the $3.99 cover price of this series, and did not pick it up. I guess I’m not nerdy enough to spend that much money on comics, and don’t have that level of disposable income.
Sorry to hear how good it was. I would have liked to have bought it….
I’ll go back to a $2.99 comic now……
July 14th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
while yes it is expensive. War of kings is a lot tighter then Dark Reign is and pretty much has the same writer through out most mega cross overs can’t say that I hope we see more of the inhumans when we are done
good day
July 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Absolutely agree with JawaFather, War of Kings is totally worth the money, is a great story; of course, there are always tie-ins just to grab more money (I’m looking at you Skaar), but the rest of the event is awesome.
Peace.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I’m with JawaFather – this is the best crossover I’ve read in a long time. Certainly better than Secret Invasion, Final Crisis, or Annihilation: Conquest.
The extra dollar on some of the books is a pain, and has definitely made me more discerning in picking up events and minis. But for such a phenomenal story, it’s worth it.
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Sorry for the huge remember, but I’m rattling enamored the new Zune, and trust this, as recovered as the excellent reviews many otherwise screw handwritten, faculty ply you decide if it’s the conservative for you.