Guardians of the Galaxy

Rocket Raccoon #1

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Rocket Raccoon #1This is more like it! Although I thought the first issue of Star-Lord’s new series was only okay, with Rocket Racoon #1 writer/artist Skootie Young brings the awesome. Centered around the Guardians’ furriest (and arguably deadliest) member, the series opens with a brief look back at Rocket‘s former princess-saving days. Jumping ahead to the present, Rocket takes his newest lady friend to a wrestling match between Groot and and a tentacled-blob creature which is where things start to go wrong for our furry friend.

Where Star-Lord really needs another character to work off of to be put to maximum use, Rocket can carry a book all on his own as is evidenced in Young’s wacky adventure which includes an appearance by the other raccoon out there, a warrant out for Rocket’s arrest for (gasp!) murder, and a plot to take down the hero by all the lovely ladies he’s rescued and promptly dumped soon afterward. Yeah, it’s pretty damn awesome. I can’t wait to see where things go from here. Best of the Week.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Legendary Star-Lord #1

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Legendary Star-Lord #1When I heard Peter Quill was getting his own series I thought it a bit odd (even with the ramp-up you’d expect with the new Guardians of the Galaxy hitting theaters in less than a month). For me Star-Lord has always been a character who has worked best in a group setting. Amping up his smarmy charm here to match what we’ve seen of Chris Pratt in the film’s trailers, Legendary Star-Lord #1 works as a reintroduction to the character for both new and established audiences alike.

The story showcases the character’s noble intentions that often come off less than heroic (such as Star-Lord getting himself captured while apparently robbing an orphanage). While a prisoner of the Badoon, before making his escape thanks to his rocket boots and trusty element gun, he takes the time to have a holo-date with Kitty Pryde.

The comic ends with the reason for his new trinket and a new frenemy which suggest where the comic may take our hero (although it’s pretty vague about when this adventure takes place or the whereabouts of the rest of the Guardians). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #16

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Guardians of the Galaxy #16After a couple of depressing issues involving the various members of the Guardians of the Galaxy being captured, sold into slavery, tortured, experimented on, and imprisoned, the tide begins to turn in Guardians of the Galaxy #16. Last seen freefalling to his death after jumping out a skyscraper window, Peter Quill is rescued by Carol Danvers (a character I enjoy but not necessarily in a Guardians comic) and makes an impassioned televised speech turning the public perception of his ragtag band around.

Meanwhile Venom frees himself with the Skrulls‘ attempt to bond with his symbiote, Gamora gets a reprieve with the sudden arrival of Angela, and Drax is offered the fate he’s demanded of Gladiator for the past two issues.

Where the last issue felt very much like filler, Guardians of the Galaxy #16 starts to move the story forward again. Hopefully it continues and we won’t have to wait several more issues to put the band back together. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #15

/ / Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy #15Guardians of the Galaxy #15 isn’t a bad issue, but it’s certainly a tad disappointing as the 19-page adventure feels a whole lot more like graphic novel filler than much of a standalone issue. As set up in the last issue, the Guardians are pretty much screwed. We get glimpses into the fate of each member of the team (Gamora being tortured by the Badoon, Rocket being experimented on by the Kree, Groot fighting off giant termites, Drax fighting despair and imprisonment, and Peter Quill awaiting trial). We also get several pages dealing with a team impersonating Earth’s heroes attempting to lure the newest Guardian off Knowhere.

With so many separate glimpses, and less than 20 pages in which to work, Guardians of the Galaxy #15 doesn’t leave much room to actually move the arc forward (although there’s enough room for lots of ads). Quizzically we get another issue without Angela or any knowledge of her fate. And despite her appearance on the cover, Carol Danvers isn’t part of the story here, although it seems she may have a large role to play in putting the team back together again. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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