After reading and reviewing the fantastic Thanos: The Infinity Finale I knew I wanted to read more stuff written by Jim Starlin. Being the week Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters, I also want more Guardians in my life. Enter this new series!
Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: Adam Davis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
So what’s it about? Read the preview here!
Why does this book matter?
Aside from being written by Jim Starlin, it’s also drawn by Alan Davis who is well known for his detailed and classic look and feel. This is a five part series that’s sure to add a classic Marvel feel to one of the most popular superhero teams today.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Starlin writes each of these characters well with all their usual dynamics and personality traits on display. This is a version of the team that’s happy with each other and ready for the next score. They’re also all sporting their classic looks, which includes Groot who isn’t in baby form or sporting his vine dreadlocks. The writing style has a classic feel too, with plenty of time spent setting things up and offering some character wrinkles as the story progresses relatively slowly. The story itself basically opens with the team in very deep debt, taking on a job to shuttle a religious artifact, and then said job being interrupted by Pip. Yep, the troll character appearing in the Thanos Infinity Finale is back and his teleportation powers are being put to good use.
I’m not really sure what is going on here.
The basic idea of the Guardians shuttling a religious artifact is a clever one, particularly because none of them are religious. It also allows Starlin to introduce an unknown cosmic bauble that’ll defy expectations and put our heroes through the ringer.
Alan Davis draws a strong issue, and again it’s got that classic feel with a standard layout and plenty of detailed panels to come with it. Knowhere looks particularly amazing and the opening’s creepy in a science fiction sort of way. Of the group, Star-Lord has a Chris Pratt vibe about him, with big facial expressions to convey his dramatic personality.
Hey look, a Playboy bunny, literally!
It can’t be perfect can it?
I’m at a loss for what is going on in the opening pages which have to do with Entropy. They don’t factor into the story just yet, which makes you wonder how or when that’ll happen. Speaking of when things will happen, the pace of the issue is slow. There isn’t filler per se, but a lot of decompression as the characters talk about a plan, change their mind, talk about the gig, and take their time to get things going.
Is It Good?
A slower, more classic Marvel story that’s good for anyone interested in a classic comic feel. Starlin and Davis are delivering a slow building story that may just be best read collected, but as far as first issues go it sets up the heroes and their adventure well.
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