War of Kings #2 felt like what a super hero comic should be. It was fun. The writers didn’t see the need to shove down our throats any underlying political commentary. They didn’t try to force feed us a bigger message. Abnett and Lanning just gave us a fun story that told the age old tale of good versus evil. Black Bolt, leader of the Kree and Inhumans, looks to protect his people while the lunatic tyrant Vulcan seeks to expand his Shi’ar Empire for personal gain. This issue starts up where #1 left off, with the Inhumans and Kree dealing with the aftermath of Vulcan’s surprise attack during the wedding of Crystal and Ronan while Lilandra, former Empress to the Shi’ar Empire is delivered to Vulcan. During the issue, the Inhumans begin their counterassault on Vulcan and the Shi’ar in an effort to win a war that will end all wars in a quick and decisive victory, rather than the drawn out wars that halt the progress of civilizations they may have been inevitably dragged into. While the issue seems toned down from last month’s #1, this issue sets up for much bigger things to come as the War of Kings has only just begun. Crystal comes to the forefront of the story early in the issue as a strong personality while Starjammers play a more support role in this than they had in Kingbreaker.

While the penciler’s work helps tell a strong story, the art in the issue really shines in its colors. The epic explosions and laser fire that fills the galactic airspace help bring the story to life. Even the way the colors emphasize the light coming off Havok’s suit is something that has been captured so well in this issue.

Overall, War of Kings is one of the strongest crossovers Marvel currently has going, with the exception of War Of Kings: Darkhawk. Like Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest, the story ties in all parts of Marvel’s Galactic world and makes it feel like it has ramifications that extend through the Marvel universe. Two things that were left hanging in X-Men: Kingbreaker that have not been addressed in the War of Kings series itself are the status of Deathbird, having been impaled by her sister, and the effect it has had on Vulcan as well as the status of Raza of the Starjammers, having been absorbed by a Venom-like symbiote. Since these were two of the strongest images in Kingbreaker, one can only hope these come in to play further down the road instead of being left out to dry.