Comic book rant... This is in reference to the current Guardians of the Galaxy ongoing series (no movie spoilers). I started reading the reboot of the series several years back when the Annihilation series started up. I had no interest in the Guardians themselves, but it featured the return of Bug from the Micronauts, who was one of my childhood faves. Fell in love immediately, even with my general dislike of talking animals; became a Rocket fan overnight. Followed the series until its cancellation around the time of the War of Kings series? Anyway, like most comic series, it dropped off my radar. Picked up the newest relaunch of it, loved the art for the first six issues by Sara Pichelli, was so-so on the story, and just caught up with all of the issues last night. Now...lets get into my issues with the comic... Im reading this book to read about Guardians of the Galaxy. THOSE characters. And yeah, given the efforts that were put into the movie and the subsequent success of it, I kind of expected to see some good talent on the book. After Pichelli, I cant really say that Marvel had their best artists on the book. Not to knock the work of those who followed her, but it wasnt for me, I dont think they were right for the book (and one of the artists I really LOVE his work, but not here) and none of them were as good as her work. That being said, I can forgive art I dont like if theres a good story. But...again, Im reading this book to read about the Guardians. NOT Iron Man, who joins the team for the first several issues. Not Angela from Spawn, who joins after that. Not Ms. Marvel. Not Flash Thompson Venom. Not the All New time displaced young versions of the X-Men. Not to have a couple of issues of a book thats not even 12 issues into its first set of stories be interrupted by the Infinity crossover in a way that totally disrupts the current storyline, interjects a couple of crossover issues that I feel like Im coming in during the middle act of a movie and then leave without getting the ending and then trying to pick up the former story, and then do it all over again with the Trial of Jean Grey. Seventeen issues in, and Im still looking for what was great about the previous volume after Annihilation and with the movie itself: a relatively self contained sci-fi story about a group of Marvel Cosmic Heroes thats separate for the most part from the rest of the Marvel Earth Bound Universe. Instead, I get a mish-mash of characters from elsewhere in the Marvel Universe, guest starring in a book with the Guardians of the Galaxy logo on it. Oh, one minor visual nitpick...the looks of Star Lord and Gamora were pretty well defined in the previous volumes, with Star Lord sporting the mask we see in the movie, and Gamora looking pretty much like shes looked throughout her history at Marvel. With the relaunch of the book, which happened after we already knew what the characters would look like in the movie, both characters looks totally changed, with Star Lords costume resembling his more classic look from when he first appeared back in...what, the early 80s?, and Gamora having a rather generic looking space suit (and Iron Man had an absolutely horrible suit of armor that was inexplicably designed to resemble the Guardians look). Took me a few issues to get used to these looks, but Sara Pichelles beautiful art won me over (except for Iron Man, who never belonged there). And now, after a little over a year, were changing Star Lord to look like his movie version. Oh, and this cool gun he had, that was a gift from his Dad that was made just for him and so far hasnt exhibited any shape changing abilities, has now morphed from its very distinctive look that its had in the first 15 issues or so to now resemble Star Lords pistol from the movie. A lot of nit-picking, but the main gripe is I want to read a book about the Guardians, the characters I was excited to see in the movie. Not be distracted by a revolving door of supporting characters from elsewhere in the Marvel U who come and go so quickly that they serve no purpose whatsoever than to essentially jump up and down in front of you waving a big flashing sign that says Look at me! Look at me! Im so cool Im in this book!. I cant in good conscience refer any fans of the movie to the current Guardians series. I can only suggest they go pick up the various Annihilation books that launched the reboot of the team from several years back. ...and anxiously wait for Adam Warlocks inevitable appearance in Guardians 2. Rant Off.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:19:21 +0000
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