'Guardians of the Galaxy' #1 Review: Band of misfits faces their deadliest enemies in Al Ewing's new story
This article contains spoilers for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' #1
The Guardians of the Galaxy have faced countless enemies since they were formed during the 'Annihilation' event and now they're ready to enjoy a time of peace and quiet. Unfortunately for them, the universe has other plans.
Al Ewing and Juann Cabal unite to tell a story for the ages in the new 'Guardians of the Galaxy' series that looks like it's going to be part of the build-up to 'Empyre', Marvel's upcoming summer crossover event. Judging by the first issue, it looks like this is going to be an epic story that touches both on the Guardians' relationships with each other and their place in the greater cosmos.
Issue #1 introduces the Olympian gods as the villains for the first arc of the new series, appearing in a much darker form than we've ever seen them before. It looks like Zeus and his children have abandoned their duties as gods of Earth and have become cosmic pirates, razing peaceful worlds to the ground to further their own unknown agenda.
What's worse is that the universe itself is more fractured than ever right now. The Kree, for example, are divided by civil war, with one faction following the Supreme Intelligence and the other being led by a new emperor whose identity is being kept secret by his followers, though readers would know by now that he's none other than Dorrek VIII, better known as the Earth hero Hulkling aka Teddy Altman.
Gamora, Drax and Groot are happy to take a vacation and get some much-needed relaxation but Rocket and Star-Lord aka Peter Quill can't help but join the fray, meeting up with Nova aka Richard Rider, Moondragon, Phylla-Vell and newcomer Marvel Boy for a suicide mission to New Olympus. Peter's clearly feeling guilty about leaving Gamora but he's not going to get a chance to deal with that guilt just yet because their plan to blow up the Olympians has gone sideways (as most 'Guardians' plans do).
Juann Cabal and Federico Blee do an amazing job as the issue's artists. Each page is a thing of beauty and Cabal excels at both wide, expansive panels and closer shots. Ewing has already captured attention to the story with the reintroduction of Hercules as a prisoner on New Olympus. It's been a while since we've seen Herc in action and we're sure he's going to become a very valuable new addition to the Guardians.
'Guardians of the Galaxy' #2 is scheduled to be released on February 19.