Comic Info
Comic Name: Guardians of the Galaxy (Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning
Artist: Brad Walker/Wesley Craig
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2009
Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #15
Reprints Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #13-19 (June 2009-December 2009). The Guardians of the Galaxy find themselves caught in the middle of the war between the Shi’ar and the Kree. With the safety of the universe caught in the balance, the Guardians set out to try to meet with each side to broker peace. When the peace talks fail, a new threat arises in the form of Warlock’s alter ego the Magus’ return, and a time jumping adventure begins for Star-Lord and his crew that could mean the death of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the destruction of the universe.
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning continue to make Guardians of the Galaxy one of Marvels best and under-appreciated titles. What is nice about the series is that it involves multi-series crossover limited series, but still feels like its own title. Plus this follow-up to Guardians of the Galaxy 2: War of Kings—Book 1 features nice art by Brad Walker, and Wesley Craig give some variety to the series. The issues in this volume are also included in Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning: The Complete Collection—Volume 2.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2) #16
This collection of the Guardians of the Galaxy really ties into the old Guardians of the Galaxy series. It would be nice to see a complete return to the original Guardians of the Galaxy or their ’90s series, but if this is as close as we get, it is good enough. The first half of the issues collected in the book are heavy on fighting and really involve the War of Kings limited series, but the second half is almost its own adventure. The writing allows for a shocking ending in issue seventeen and the redo ends up with a very Guardians of the Galaxy (aka screwed up) attempt to correct it in issue nineteen. It is little things like this and the teams imperfections that make Guardians of the Galaxy fun.
The realistic style of Brad Walker for the first few issues are a great contrast to the more comic book styles of Wesley Craig in the second story arc. Both artists are good, but they work well with the writers’ styles and the stories that they are trying to tell. Wesley wouldn’t work for the first few issues and Walker wouldn’t work for the last few issues.
Guardians of the Galaxy: War of Kings—Book 2 is a solid space fantasy and shows that the series is continuing to develop. It is well written with great illustrations and should be tried out by the readers who may have passed it by. With the recent push of Guardians of the Galaxy (including a massive big screen movie), it is worth going back and reading the origin of the current team and a far version than presented by Brian Michael Bendis. Guardians of the Galaxy 3: War of Kings—Book 2 is followed by Guardians of the Galaxy 4: Realm of Kings.
Related Links:
Guardians of the Galaxy 1: Legacy
Guardians of the Galaxy 2: War of Kings Book 1
Guardians of the Galaxy 4: Realm of Kings
Guardians of the Galaxy 1: Cosmic Avengers
