Super-Villain Team-Up To Save The Universe

Idea: Get Annihilus involved in the Thanos Imperative. He's coming back in the pages of Fantastic Four this month. OK, this should technically be Annihilus the 2nd, who was born at the very end of Annihilation. The last I saw of him after that was War of Kings: Ascension, where it was revealed his regent was using the Cosmic Control Rod to keep Baby Anni in an infant state. The two Raptors killed the regent, took the Control Rod, and gave it to Blastaar as an offering for treaty. I'm a little disappointed he's back this way. I would have preferred he make a big splashy comeback in a cosmic book, but whatever. He's back, might as well use him.

If there's anyone other than Thanos who would want to stop the elimination of death, it ought to be Annihilus (assuming this one has a similar philosophy to its father). Thanos loves Death, and couldn't stand to see her destroyed. Annihilus has been prone to describing himself as 'The Death Who Walks', and shouting 'All Life Is My Enemy!' as he pummels some poor schmuck of a hero. It'll be hard to be walking death if there is no death, and it would be rather frustrating to regard all life as a threat, and never have any hope of eliminating it.

You could probably do a comedy story about that if death was eliminated, where we see Annihilus going to anger management classes, or therapy to deal with his issues of regarding everyone around him as a threat. 'What you have to understand, Anni, is all those people around you aren't planning to hurt you. You don't need to kill them to be safe.' Well, a better writer than me could make something funny out of it. Maybe if Marvel hadn't canceled the Mini-Marvels.

Back to the original topic. Throw Annihilus II into the mix. Play off the fact that he's the offspring of the one who nearly wiped out the universe. Is he angry at Nova for killing his dad, or grateful because it offered him an opportunity*? Does Blastaar try and waste him on sight, or does he rein himself in, biding his time? Could he be convinced to yield the Cosmic Control Rod to Anni 2 if necessary? Would the Kree object to his involvement after the damage wreaked on their empire (or would they be enraged if the Inhumans didn't care, focusing on the larger threat)? Would Galactus hold a grudge over being made into a weapon for Annihilus I**? Speaking of Annihilus I, his plans went beyond what Thanos expected, and it riled Thanos he'd been played. It was his failsafe in the containment shackles on Galactus that lead to Anni the 1st's downfall. Any trust issues there? Might Thanos think he can mold this Annihilus into a useful lackey, or would he try to use him for a suicide run straight off, just to eliminate a possible threat? Thanos probably figures he can trust the heroes he'll work with to honor their word, but Annihilus could be another matter.

It might complicate things, adding another variable into the story, so perhaps it's something better saved for after the Thanos Imperative. I think it has potential, though.

* I can't imagine Annihilus the First would have allowed any children to last long had he survived. Talk about a living threat to his power.

** Where do you think Galactus stands on all this? No death means more life, ought to mean more planets with usable energy for him. But it also means more beings to resist him, and he has plenty of trouble with the resistance he already deals with from Earthlings and such.