12.16.2008
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 was an excellent read despite my skepticism. If you have been reading the Guardians of the Galaxy series you know that the Secret Invasion tie-ins kind of brought the lowest point in the series thus far. I mean the series was staying afloat with these tie-ins, but it was nothing compared to what it was, I call this period a hiatus although, it did have one major plot point spin out and that was the dissolution of the Guardians after all the members found out that Star-lord aka Peter Quill used Mantis’ powers to nudge them all into joining the team.
Well, with the invasion done Lanning and Abnett are free once again to do what they do best and that is write compelling cosmic stories and while I was on edge about where the series was going to go removing these star players in the cosmos from the equation, Lanning and Abnett prove they could compel readers with characters no matter who they are. In Guardians #9 they take a rag tag group of hero’s nobody on 7 continents would recognize as legitimate role players and manage to lay the path for the Badoon invasion or at least give it some meat.
For the fans of the former team who were not to happy with the departure, don’t fret too much because Quasar, Adam Warlock, Peter Quill, Drax and Gamora are still there in the issue and we even get the sense of where they will fit into the picture. Adam Warlock is actually intending on leading the church, Gamora is tagging along and I love the new chopped short-hair style they have given her. Meanwhile, Drax and Quasar are off on their own adventure looking for Cammi and Star-Lord is in bondage at the feet of Blastaar. This should be the start to a new arc in the Guardians of the Galaxy, I promise to try and contain skepticism in the future, shut my mouth and read the titles.
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11.05.2008
Guardians of the Galaxy #6 was an okay title to read this week and I really mean okay just because with the necessity to tie-in to the Secret Invasion it has been lackluster. I miss the space war and travel feel of Annihilation. The extended stay on Knowhere has drawn out the series and dulled it’s sharpened edge that Abnett and Lanning seemed to have honed for their titles. The comedy and drama are there, but the action seems unwarranted and many instances and very fruitless given the opponents.
We have the reveal of the Skrulls and we have the reason why, the only problem is that the information ultimately leads to nowhere. Really Drax takes actions that are not needed, neutralizing everyone in order out figure out who the Skrulls are and then getting into a fist fight with the Luminals which is reminiscent of a fight between brothers and sisters. The biggest play in the whole series is the “dismantling” of the Guardians because the team figures out Star-Lords deceptive practices to get the team together.
It wouldn’t be much of a series if it was just six issues, but ultimately this little mini ended right where it began on Knowhere and hopefully it springs back to life after this little side step from its quality read.
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10.03.2008
Guardians of the Galaxy #5 is the big reveal, who are the Skrulls? I told you that you would have never guessed and I guarantee a lot of you were in the dark, some of you probably figured it out, but I doubt it was many. Either way this side track from the main story that is going on was a nice departure for a break and gave the Guardians something very tangible and real for readers to fight. I am not saying they need it, but as a fledgling series without legs it couldn’t hurt, it definitely markets the series to readers who may have not known about it. Fans of Abnett and Lanning are probably without a doubt reading this.
So who was the Skrull… no one was, but Cosmo, the security dog, was definitely aiding them and he and Adam Warlock are definitely going to be battling in the next series. I love the Guardians of the Galaxy series and the entrance of old Guardian members from alternate time lines like Major Victory and Starhawk is interesting. Drax taking on the formidable Luminals, the Avenger alternate equivalent by himself definitely has him living up to his name as the Destroyer. All in all the series is good, not spectacularly mind blowing like Abnett and Lanning’s work on Annihilation, but its definitely a good start. STAY TUNED FOR THE ULTIMATES VOL.3 #5 later today…
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9.25.2008
I know I am playing catch up with a lot of these series and trying to get back on track and some of you probably want me to catch up on a specific title so if you do then go ahead and say so, but starting tomorrow I will give a new entry and an entry to a title I have been missing in order to catch everyone up. I left off Guardians of the Galaxy with issue #3 and we are already on issue #5so I really need to get that back on pace, so here goes the Guardians entry into the Secret Invasion.
Skrulls are aboard the knowhere station and they detonated a bomb doing massive damage, now the Guardians the knowhere council is trying to figure out who and what is behind everything. This is leaving the knowhere council pitted against the Guardians of the Galaxy. If you have read Guardians of the Galaxy #5 then you know what and who is behind all of this, if you haven’t then you are in for a real surprise. I guarantee most of you wont see it coming.
Drax appears to be the primary suspect in the case and Peter is doing everything he can to hold it together. The writers try to play some interesting moves by making Peter wear his mask more in the issue and having people take a look at that, but its done too obviously. The real interesting part is when you find out how Peter actually got the team to form in the first place. Mantis mentally manipulated them all. Well Guardians of the Galaxy #5 is full of surprises and revelations so we will get into that soon, until then enjoy.
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7.12.2008
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have been phenomenal writers on the Annihilation series’, Nova and a whole lot more there is little reason to doubt that what they would push out for Guardians of the Galaxy. They take some unknown’s and known’s and manage to weave a believable tale that excites the reader all while maintaining the integrity for the power levels of the characters we are dealing with. I don’t think you could ask for much more out of a pair of writers. To boost the fact, the rotating stable fo artist on all of these series have been excellent, somehow maintaining a constant consistency to the artwork bringing the story to life.
Guardians of the Galaxy excels where a lot of books fail because of the very premise that most of the characters on this team are unknowns who the writers somehow make us believe in and want to learn more about. Other than Adam Warlock, the rest of the cast are D-list cosmic superheroes, but they are compelling in reading. I had very little idea who Star-Lord was when I first picked the Annihilation series, but I find myself wanting to read more because of his character going into issue #3 of Guardians of the Galaxy. The only character in the entire series I can say I am just not that interested in is the new Quasar, I have no clue why, but I find myself glossing over her exploits, I like Groot and Rocket Raccoon more than I like her and the comedic relief Rocket Raccoon provides is just priceless.
I can’t say I am simply floored by the series thus far, it has not been bad and it has not been great, but it has been good and a little above expectations. I was a little disappointed that Abnett and Lanning didn’t use this issue to focus a bit more on Major Victory. I mean yes, they had him fight a character named Starhawk throughout Knowhere, but nothing much was revealed about Major Victory and why Starhawk even showed up in the first place before teleporting out. Starhawk is the son of Kismet and Quasar is the alternate timeline history where the Guardians were first created. This character is almost like Adam Warlock where he lives over and over again and because he is a pre-cog he is always messing with things trying to make things right or better, although not always successful so the reasons for his arrival can be many.
The issue is more exciting toward the end as the Guardians of the Galaxy are dealing with the Universal Church of Truths Cardinals. These beings are like the Sh’iar Imperial guard Gladiator, they can do anything they believe they can do by tapping into a vast amount of faith from the numerous followers. The followers prayers are stored in tanks like gasoline or something. This is where the idea got a little to weird for me, but interesting. Drax and Star-Lord’s response’s during the battle with these beings is just priceless, check out the scans. As the tides of battle turn we also get to see Gamora’s bravery and commitment to the team in a way none of the rest of the Guardians have ever seen which is surprising. The panels actually bring back memories of Chronicles of Riddick when they are on the penal planet and the Furion walks out into the scorching heat.
The end to this chapter as I told you yesterday proves that Marvel wants to get it’s continuity in line and that all roads do in fact lead to Secret Invasion. The Church apparently only met up with the Guardians in order to confirm that Adam Warlock was in fact Adam Warlock, because they have a person in a cocoon who they believe is Adam Warlock. Just how far does Skrull technology go? that they would be able to fool the Universal Truths read outs. They seem to confirm at least by their data that the Adam Warlock with the Guardians is indeed Adam Warlock. As I revealed to you all when we read through the last 2 issues the Universal Church of Truth’s deity is actually Adam Warlock in the form of Magus. Abnett and Lanning are doing a lot of hat tipping to the original Guardians of the Galaxy comics, which also brings their alternate timeline story and makes it actual continuity, which I have to say I respect a lot, it is always nice to see writers pay homage to those who did great work before. I like this series and with three of them under this blog’s belt, 2 more successes and it will become a regular. Let’s see how this will tie into Secret Invasion.
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