In a case of striking while the iron is hot, Brian Bendis is joined by the legendary “Guardians” team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for the this anniversary jam session. Meanwhile, the march toward the $4.99 price point continues!
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Andy Lanning, and Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Nick Bradshaw, Todd Nauck, Jason Masters, Phil Jiminez, and Gerardo Sandoval100th issue ANIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
• 45 years in the making! It’s finally here!!! The 100th issue of Guardians of the Galaxy! (Okay it’s actually the 101st, but we had an X-Men crossover to get through! Sheesh!)
• It’s an all-star celebration of the most popular super team of 2014 as cosmic captain Brian Michael Bendis welcomes Nick Bradshaw (WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN) to the team!
• As the GOTG gets ready for new members VENOM and CAPTAIN MARVEL, there are unexpected dangers that promise to tear the team to its core.
• Plus in this special double sized anniversary issue…two special back up stories by former GOTG writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning!
First off, it’s hard not to look at the cover and just smile a little bit. It’s so over-the-top, so grandiose, and encompasses the past, present, and future of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The fact that it’s drawn by Nick Bradshaw is pretty joy inducing as well. Like any good anniversary issue, the 101st issue “Guardians of the Galaxy” consists of multiple stories that, like the cover, encompass a wide range of the Guardians’ history
In the main story, Brian Bendis picks up from the crossover with “All-New X-Men,” launching the Guardians into a new story-arc. Joining him is artist Nick Bradshaw, fresh off “Wolverine and the X-Men” and “Inhumanity.” Bradshaw’s exaggerated cartooning may seem like an odd fit compared to the artists that have proceeded him, but anyone who saw his “Wolverine and the X-Men Annual” #1 knows that this guy has a knack for cosmic.
Unfortunately, Bradshaw isn’t able to tackle the story on his own, and is assisted by Todd Nauck and Jason Masters. That’s not to knock either artist, by any means, but neither style meshes particularly well with Bradshaw’s, giving the tail end of the story a rather disjointed feel.
The story centers around a trap that is sprung on three groups of Guardians, scattered across the galaxy. The first segment finds Starlord, Rocket, and Groot under attack by Spartax ships. The second features Gamora, pursued by the bounty hunter on her trail. The third, and arguably most enjoyable, is a hilarious team-up of Drax and the newest Guardian, Agent Venom.
The explanation for Venom’s addition to the team is handled rather matter-of-factly. I for one searched high and low for an editor’s note, directing me to the relevant issue I must have missed, but lo, there is none (maybe that’s for the upcoming Free Comic Book Day issue to address). Nevertheless, he is certainly a welcome addition. Bendis writes Flash Thompson as wonderstruck neophyte to the Guardian’s space adventures. This is extremely ironic, consider the character wears a symbiotic space alien. This characterization brings an intriguing duality to the table. The presence of the Venom symbiote itself sparks several potential plot points that are tailor made for a team of “Cosmic Avengers.” Venom isn’t the only new member added to the team, as a fan-favorite heroine appears near issue’s end to save the day.
The middle story, a minimalistic Groot origin penned by Andy Lanning and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, is quite surprisingly the best of the bunch. It is arguably also the most suitable story for folks curious about the upcoming film. This simple tale of Groot heroically defending a group of small, defenseless mammal folk (that look suspiciously like Rocket Rackoon), packs a powerful emotional punch. It’s amazing how much power and meaning Lanning packs into the phrase “I am Groot.” Of course, that meaning comes in equal part from Jimenez’s gorgeous and evocative pencils.
The final story is also the most surprising, and potentially the most game-changing, of the three. Written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Gerardo Sandoval, this tale jumps one thousand years into future. Yes, that means exactly what you think it does, the return of the original “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Overall, it’s a simple tale of rebel heroes protecting a group of refuges. Each Guardian is introduced in grandiose fashion, introducing him to the reader as if for the first time. Sandoval’s style is loose and extremely kinetic, not particularly noteworthy, but more than serviceable to the story. The simple short has an equally simple resolution, but the implications are anything but.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” #14 is a fun, if somewhat uneven, ode to the property’s legacy. Each story contained in the issue is strong on its own, but fail to coalesce as a collective unit. However, fans of the both the current and previous runs on the book are sure to find something to enjoy within these pages.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – Browse/Buy.
