The off color nature of the latest incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy is the real trick to this team. There’s no other team quite like them because they can be goofy, violent, and funny from panel to panel. The “All-New” flavor of the series just started which brings with it all those things and spectacular art.
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Aaron Kuder
Publisher: Marvel Comics
So what’s it about?
The official summary reads:
The second chapter in the historic team-up of history’s greatest vigilantes is here! The Shadow must convince Batman of his innocence so the two can seek out their true common foe, the Stag, before he takes out Batman’s greatest allies. Co-published with Dynamite Entertainment.
Why does this book matter?
Truth be told I wasn’t 100% sold on the first issue and that’s even after speaking with the creators! The balance seemed a tad off, but boy did Gerry Duggan and Aaron Kuder kill it on the Free Comic Book Day comic. If that doesn’t sell you, well you just don’t know what fun is.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
I see Escher designed this place.
Starting with the end of this issue and working backwards, Duggan does a great job furthering the cliffhanger of the last issue with some big reveals. It’s a clever idea and one that ties very closely to Groot in a way that should be a hell of a lot of fun moving forward.
Much of the rest of this issue is about the team figuring out how to do the Grandmaster’s bidding and steal an egg from the Collector. The thing about comics these days is they’re pretty short, but when two crackerjack creators can deliver character, story and action efficiently you’d swear the book was twice as long. You’ll feel that after reading this issue. From Drax’s reluctance to fight continuing to be an issue, to Gamora hiding something, to the incredible scope of cosmic beings on display (seriously, the Collector is HUGE), there’s so much to love. From how they break in (it’s gross but funny) to being forced to see their deepest fears (it’s very revealing) Duggan seems to have a conversation-worthy scene one after the other.
Kuder draws an even better issue than the first one with great detail throughout. An interesting style/story choice of when to use backgrounds adds a nice touch to character moments (so we’ll focus on them), but the amount of detail thrown into the Collector’s collection is fantastic. Kuder gives the space a weirdness that’s understandable, but also cosmic and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Collector’s collection is in the top three locations artists want to draw (with the Batcave being first of course).
Where did he find an Orange Julius?
It can’t be perfect can it?
Nitpicking time here, but there is one panel where Star-Lord’s hair goes from hard spiky to crazy everywhere fro. It’s an odd change of look that threw me off for a second.
Is It Good?
Without a doubt this book reads like it’s worth double what you pay for it. Duggan and Kuder are writing an exceptional series that stands out.
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