Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy #14

Guardians of the Galaxy #14To celebrate the 101st issue of the various Guardians of the Galaxy titles over the years, Guardians of the Galaxy #14 offers a new-reader friendly oversized issue. The comic’s main tale involves the Spartoi Empire finally catching up with Peter Quill and his various companions, each of whom run into a spot of trouble. As Quill and Rocket Raccoon are taken prisoner by a Spartoi warship, Gamora is taken down by a bounty hunter and sold to the Badoon, and Drax is similarly captured on Knowhere while better equipping the team’s newest member Venom.

It’s surprising we don’t see the fates of Angela or Groot shown or even referred to here, but not half as surprising as the choice of Venom as the team’s newest member. Although putting Flash Thompson in space means there’s a very real possibility to get answers about just where the symbiote came from, the choice of choosing a Marvel character who could never join the cinematic version of the group, and doesn’t really bring anything new to the comic team, is a bit of a head-scratcher. I’m also not sold on Carol Danvers involvement being teased.

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Guardians of the Galaxy #13

Guardians of the Galaxy #13“The Trial of Jean Grey” concludes with Jean Grey being pushed to her limits by Gladiator and the Shi’ar and finally having enough. Not surprisingly when all is said and done both teams leave Shi’ar space with a successful rescue of Jean Grey who has a surprise of her own by tapping into an internal reserve and showing off an increased power-set that proves enough to finally force Gladiator to relent.

As well as showing off a more empowered Ms. Grey, the issue also gives us some flirting between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill and the loss of one of the time-displaced X-Men and the younger Cyclops decides to journey with his father and the Starjammers rather than return to Earth and face a distressing future that he’s decided he wants no part of.

Cyclops decision opens up more story possibilities for the X-Man as well as more timey-wimey problems for the X-Universe. For the Guardians, however, the mission is a success leading into next month’s double-sized anniversary issue introducing new members and new troubles for the team. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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All-New X-Men #24

All-New X-Men #24The “Trial of Jean Grey” crossover continues as the Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and Starjammers prepare for their suicidal rescue attempt and Jean Grey‘s trial is momentarily halted by the arrival of Peter Quill‘s father Jason who shows up not only to throw a wrench in the proceedings but to clue Jean Grey into the fact that Gladiator and the Shi’ar are responsible for systematically killing her entire family hoping to provoke a response that turns the proceedings his way.

While continuing to offer some fun interplay among the various groups’ members, All New X-Men #24 also features a shocked Jean Grey dealing with the horrors her future self will commit when controlled by the Phoenix.

Outmanned and outgunned the group will have to find a satisfactory end to the proceedings as the crossover wraps up in the next issue of Guardians of the Galaxy which, if the cover is to believed may include an appearance of the creature truly responsible for Jean Grey’s crimes. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #12

Guardians of the Galaxy #12“The Trial of Jean Grey” continues as the Guardians of the Galaxy, Starjammers, and band of time-displaced X-Men make their way to the Shi’ar homeworld as Jean Grey‘s trial for the crimes an older version of herself committed while under the control of the Phoneix Force begins.

No big movement is made in the overall storyline as the heroes only arrive planetside (and the trial begins) as the issue comes to a close. However, Guardians of the Galaxy #12 does have some nice character moments between Cyclops and his father, as well as X-23 comforting the leader of the X-Men after a very long day. We also get Jean Grey finally seeing the evidence of the Phoneix’s destruction for the first time.

With two more issues to the arc it will be interesting to see how the writers resolve the conflict. Will the heroes simply rescue Ms. Grey, will Gladiator be forced to admit the woman he’s judging isn’t the same one who committed the atrocities, or will the intervention of an outside force (Jason? The Phoenix?) tip the scales? Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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