Comic Info
Comic Name: Guardians of the Galaxy (Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning
Artist: Paul Pelletier
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2009
Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #2
Reprints Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #1-6. Star-Lord and Warlock’s newly formed team is finding to find direction and a name from their base of operation in Knowhere. As time rips begin to appear all over the cosmos, the team finds a relic of another team called the Guardians of the Galaxy. Now with a name, the Guardians of the Galaxy set out to protect the galaxy from the increasing rifts in time, political problems on Knowhere, and the threat of a Skrull invasion.
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning spin the Guardians of the Galaxy off the Annihilation: Conquest series and it is obvious that they like the material and original team which had its own series in the 1990s. The art of Paul Pelletier is good and distinctive, but at the same time a bit generic “super-hero” comic art. That isn’t a bad thing, but there isn’t much that really stands out about the art. The issues in this volume are also included in Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Volume 1.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #6
Story-wise, it is nice to see the original Guardians popping up in the series (Starhawk, Vance Astro…please drop the Major Victory title…it wasn’t good then and isn’t good now). Abnett and Lanning do a nice job incorporating major story arcs like Secret Invasion into their stories without allowing them to be disruptive (I would rather read a ten issue Secret Invasion storyline by Abnett and Lanning than the real Secret Invasion series).
What stands out about Guardians of the Galaxy is the fun assembly of characters. Vance Astro is a nice addition but Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) is a great team leader because he just constantly makes errors. Rocket Raccoon is fun to see in a “serious” comic and it is always nice to see the return of the Warlock crew (Adam Strange, Drax, Gamora) and Phyla’s relationship with Moondragon makes her a good match for the team.
Guardians of the Galaxy is a fun comic full of fun characters. Even if you aren’t a “space opera” fan, it is pretty accessible. The characters do have long histories so a bit of research into them might help in understanding them (though a few of them like Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon’s histories have been retro-fitted due to changes). Check out the Guardians of the Galaxy…the fate of the universe might depend on it. Guardians of the Galaxy 1: Legacy is followed by Guardians of the Galaxy 2: War of Kings—Book 1.
Related Links:
Guardians of the Galaxy 2: War of Kings—Book 1
Guardians of the Galaxy 3: War of Kings—Book 2
Guardians of the Galaxy 4: Realm of Kings
