Sensing a disturbance, Silver Surfer heads to Xandar and finds it destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Annihilation Wave attacks Gabriel the Air Walker. Gabriel debates the wave leader on his committing genocide, and the leader says that it’s just like when Gabriel helped Galactus destroy entire planets. Having a philosophical at the start of this event tie-in sets the tone–the new Cosmic Marvel will respect the roots of the characters, and the best Surfer’s comics have always been meditations on violence and freedom.

Surfer shows up, but Gabriel dies in the battle.

Surfer creates a black hole as his grave marker.

Note that the appearance of Air-Walker is one of the few continuity flaws in this event. He was killed in his last appearance in Thor, when the Ultimate Nullifier was used–and there’s no explanation for how he survived.

Silver Surfer learns that he faces a special Annihilation Wave force–the Seekers. Annihilus’ goal in attacking Gabriel is to steal his cosmic energy, and he is going after all former heralds using this branch of his army, led by Ravenous and his space-dogs called Currs.

They’ve already killed Morg, off-screen, before they appear in the comic for the first time.

In order to get the power to defeat Ravenous, Surfer must agree to become a herald once more and gain the full power cosmic.

Once he has it, Ravenous is no match for him…

The full power of a Herald changes Surfer–makes him revel in the battle.

Ravenous doesn’t die, but he is pushed back.

Along the way, we learn about a new set of Gods called the “Proemial Gods.”

The Proemial Gods are enemies of Galactus, exiled to the Kilyn when the universe was being born. They’re seeking revenge.

I’m a big fan of the heralds, so a miniseries where we get to see Terrax, Firelord, Fallen One, Red Shift, and the others is right up my alley.

I also love Thanos, so the “B story” is also perfect for me. Thanos admires what Annihilus is doing and seeks him out to form an alliance. As part of their agreement, they kill the former herald called Fallen One. (Remember that he served Thanos after he was discharged as a Herald.)

These two stories lead directly into the first issue of the main event, which comes next.