A stunning Fantastic Four villain cosplay has brought cosmic villain Annihilus to life, showing that while he may trail behind Doctor Doom, Galactus, and the Skrulls in terms of fan recognition, he absolutely deserves a live-action debut.
First appearing in 1968's Fantastic Four Annual #6, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Annihilus is the despotic ruler of the Negative Zone, wielding the Cosmic Control Rod - an artifact which grants him incredible power, durability, and longevity. This latter benefit is crucial, as Annihilus is utterly obsessed with extending his own lifespan at any cost. Often, this means Annihilus will lead preemptive strikes against 'enemies' who never posed any threat, and is constantly trying to extend the Negative Zone's borders to exert control over more of existence. In modern comics, Annihilus is best known for instigating the Annihilation Wave - one of the most devastating events ever to hit the Marvel Universe.
The truly epic cosplay was shared on Reddit by Kandoom6, who credits Jolene Oldham for the photograph below. They shared that the build started January 10 and took until October 1 of the same year to complete. That's no surprise, as the ambition and attention to detail are staggering. Annihilus is pitch perfect, from his chitinous head down to his hoof-like feet. The cosmic villain also boasts accessories, including the visor of Star-Lord and a tarnished Nova helmet - two heroes who fought against the Annihilation Wave and carry the scars to this day.
In 2006's Annihilation event, Annihilus gained the power to claim the galaxy as his own, and unleashed his subjects in a huge, locust-like cloud which carved a path through space, literally consuming planet after planet. Annihilus' bid to seize Galactus' power failed, but Marvel's cosmic landscape is still recovering from the Annihilation Wave as the biggest loss of life since Thanos' snap (and this time, one that was permanent). With the Fantastic Four now back under Disney's control, it's only a matter of time until they hit the big screen, and Annihilus' iconic design is unlike anything movie-goers have experienced before. Kandoom6's cosplay, which was also showcased at New York Comic Con, offers a taste of what this could look like.
Annihilus' genius as a character lies in the contrast of his motivations and abilities, showing how a weak, scared tyrant can nonetheless cause untold misery and death in the pursuit of their own immortality. Though less known outside comics, Annihilus is one of the Marvel Universe's most dangerous villains, at one point becoming so influential that he was almost transformed into an unkillable, godlike universal constant (a process which Thanos took a hand in thwarting.) Contrasted against the humane, family-focused Fantastic Four, Annihilus is exposed as a monster in more ways than one, while also acting as an imposing figure on their adventures - something this cosplay captures perfectly.