Guardians of the Galaxy 22 - Review and Spoilers

[agrich]

Don't read further if you don't want to be spoiled....









The Matriarch and her flunkies plan to bring forth the being of life energy that's impregnated Moondragon (essentially). Star-Lord and company show up to rescue her, with some timely assistance from the Luminals. Knowhere itself is used as a battering ram, Some nice butt-kicking by Jack Flag, Drax gets his revenge, Matriarch's forces defeated/killed. Good guys win, rescue Moondragon. Creepy being removed from Moondragon and sent back into the Fault and hopefully oblivion. Moondragon sees a vision of Phylla that assures her all will be OK.

Moondragon tells the others she's been having psionic flashes that tell her Phylla is alive. Cut to the Matriarch telling her leader that they were defeated. It's





THE MAGUS!

Who is somehow alive (and most of us have seen the cover of next month, plus knew full well this series would never survive without Warlock/Magus, Gamora et al). Indeed, Gamora, Mantis, Phylla, Major Victory and Cosmo are indeed alive, floating in stasis behind the Magus. Next month: Mad God Triumphant!


I liked it OK, was glad they wrapped up this storyline and am looking forward to stuff ratcheting up with The Magus and the entire cast next month. I think the book needs them; as a fan I know I do.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Magnus was resurrected back in the Genis Vell series, IIRC. Hopefully it's the same one here, and not another time travel clap trap crap.

[agrich]

I doubt it's the one from the Captain Marvel series. It wouldn't really make sense that that one would alter his costume to match the one Warlock most recently wore.

Since everyone else "killed" a few issues back is alive, I think that it's less a case of time travel than some illusion put forth by The Magus in that issue that made it appear to Star-Lord (and the reader) that all those characters, including Adam, were killed. A trick (Magus trick, ba-dum-Bump) that will likely be explained next issue.

[CyberCoyote]

The cosmic cube very conviently vanished after all that action (and some of the action was hard to make out). I'm just over joyed that Cosmo can return! :) I thought the issue was great as usual.. Rocket's plan was a hoot, and having the Luminals finally REALLY have the Guardians' back was a nice change.

By far this and Nova are the best comics I read from Marvel month after month. I'm fearful, though, that they may not still be in print a year from now. :eek:

[agrich]

When you get right down to it there are fewer than a dozen titles you can guarantee will be published a year from now. A few X-Books, a couple of Avengers books, a couple of Spider-Man titles, FF, Cap, Daredevil, Iron Man, Hulk. Maybe Thor. In other words, generally only books or starring characters that have been around for decades are certain to live indefinitely. I say just enjoy every new issue as it comes out and don't worry too much about what could happen down the road.

[Trey]

Can't wait for more Magus and Thanos!

[bradwalker]

When you get right down to it there are fewer than a dozen titles you can guarantee will be published a year from now. A few X-Books, a couple of Avengers books, a couple of Spider-Man titles, FF, Cap, Daredevil, Iron Man, Hulk. Maybe Thor. In other words, generally only books or starring characters that have been around for decades are certain to live indefinitely. I say just enjoy every new issue as it comes out and don't worry too much about what could happen down the road.

The Avengers books are all ending in a few months. :) Otherwise, beautifully put! All the gloom and doom only ever hurts word of mouth, anyway.

Really happy people like the book, though!

[Geezer715]

When you get right down to it there are fewer than a dozen titles you can guarantee will be published a year from now. A few X-Books, a couple of Avengers books, a couple of Spider-Man titles, FF, Cap, Daredevil, Iron Man, Hulk. Maybe Thor. In other words, generally only books or starring characters that have been around for decades are certain to live indefinitely. I say just enjoy every new issue as it comes out and don't worry too much about what could happen down the road.

Unfortunately you are right. Ironman, FF, Inhumans and GOTG are the four Marvel titles I read each month. And while I enjoy them all I feel GOTG is the best of them. We all know how fast a title can go down hill but im hoping for a long Guardians run.

[Pixie_Solanas]

The Avengers books are all ending in a few months. :) Otherwise, beautifully put! All the gloom and doom only ever hurts word of mouth, anyway.

Really happy people like the book, though!

I'm thoroughly enjoying it. And your art has been great.

[the_speedball]

I'm glad Brad Walker posted here, since I knew he came around these parts and I wanted to note something specifically to him: this was easily the best work you've done on this book! So many great things in this issue - the epic double page spread of Knowhere attacking the planet, Rocket's expression as he's piloting it, all of the debriefs (especially Drax's talking about becoming more human...great shadows in those few panels), Moondragon seeing Phyla. I've been critical of certain aspects of the art in the past, so I really need to give credit where it's due. Well done!

Along with the great story and dialogue ("Id flash you my business card, but my hands are too full of guns.") this has really made me love the series again when I was beginning to become lukewarm about it.

[nicktem]

This issue was so good I had to post something

http://cosmicbooknews.com/reviews/gotg22_review/

[steve2275]

you're right

[bradwalker]

Thanks Speedball (and Torpor!)! It's greatly appreciated! I have a blast, on this book, and every issue feels like things click more than the last! Drew Hennessy and Wil Quintana really did beautiful work that made me look good, too!! And then there's Dan and Andy....!

[Sentry76]

Great issue

I've really been enjoying this series, which has been a surprise since I didn't really have much clue as to who many of the main characters were.

It wasn't a surprise to see the Magus back but damn... love that guy :D

[the_speedball]

I've really been enjoying this series, which has been a surprise since I didn't really have much clue as to who many of the main characters were.

Same here. The only experience I'd had with any of these characters was Annihilation, and I love GotG.

[ShaunN]

Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely one of the best monthly titles being published right now.

A few points: the universe in the Fault is being described as a place where life has been triumphant, where it is spreading like a cancer because there is no death. I assume that this idea is linked to both the Magus and Thanos. When he first appeared, the Magus was the champion of Life in our universe - an evil being who, nonetheless, was powerful enough to defeat the champion of Death. The champion of Death, of course, was Thanos.

I wonder how the Magus and his connection to the fundamental force of Life will interact with the universe beyond the Fault? Will he find an affinity with it? Will he try to conquer it? Will it conquer him?

By contrast, maybe the opening of the Universe beyond the Fault is the reason that Thanos comes back. If Life is the problem, then the other universe needs Death - enter Thanos!

[Chiasm]

Back when it appeared that Magus and bunch of Guardians died I said on here that if they were really dead it was horrible because it was so anticlimactic or if it was a fake out it was really great writing. I'm glad to see that it was the latter and I'm kicking myself for ever doubting them.

Echoing the others in the thread. I know next to nothing about these characters pre Annihilation but it doesn't matter. The book is just so good that it keeps me coming back.

[stingerman]

Fantastic issue!

Can't wait for GoTG #25! Seem to be saying that a lot lately.

Dang, everything about this issue was so good I want to post a review in the Avengers forum so those guy pick up this issue!

:tongue:

[nicktem]

I'm still racking my brain on how the Magus faked everyone's deaths. I mean Star-Lord had a freakin cosmic cube ffs and he shot him BOOM in the head. We saw Magus slaughter everyone else? And as that issue had all this crazy time travel going on and the Magus' timeline being overlapped with ours, I'm thinking maybe that had something to do with it? mmmm.

[BooCoo]

Loved the artwork and pacing. Still have no clue (or panel) as to how they got that thing out of Moondragon.

The Phyla scene was pretty cornball, but whatever. Not interested in Thanos, he's a one note cosmic villian. Wonder who's in that cocoon, though.

[Mark_Parnell]

In a perfect world this comic would be the top seller month in and month out. From widescreen panel to panel action, to wild sci fi theories to neo religious cults and its balanced out with the smaller moments (I am looking at you Drax the Destroyer) I know the numbers are not great on this series but I am hoping Marvel allows DNA to continue on for the forseeable future!

[stingerman]

Preview: Guardians of the Galaxy #23 Colors

http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/previews/GARGAL023c_preview/

Gotta say, these do look pretty darn good.

This is Marvel's best book, imo!

[agrich]

I think it looks fantastic -- maybe Craig's best work yet. Awesome.

[Chiasm]

Craig is back. (slams head into wall fifty times). :frown:

His art is good for what it is, cartoony and whimsical, but its a horrible fit for this book.

[Starfish]

Consistently one of Marvel's best books each month. The apparent death of so many characters previously had left me with some doubts. I suspected it probably wouldn't stick, because not only would it have been a waste of so much potential, but also because the writing of this book seems to be above tired gimmicks like shock value.
So I'm glad they're back. Besides, the world needs more Phyla/Moondragon.

The only negative thing about this comic is that it's not coming out weekly.

[TOAA]

The only negative thing about this comic is that it's not coming out weekly.

Amen.


I think it looks fantastic -- maybe Craig's best work yet. Awesome.

Seconded.

[FlyingFox]

The Luminals were pretty cool. I hope we get to see more of them. And the preview pages of Wes Craig's art look pretty decent. I'm no longer dreading the nest issue as much.

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

Is Wes Craig the regular artist on Guardians now? I have to admit, his style is ruining any anticipation i've had for upcoming issues.

Combine that with the Jokeresque dialogue of the Magus, and it's even harder to like this title. Take a look at the original Magus appearances in the '70s Warlock series, and this Magus seems like a total joke. Being a fan of the original Magus saga by Jim Starlin, i've tried to like this storyline, but the clash of fantastic detailed art with simplistic cartoony art, combined with the out of character Magus dialogue that distracts from the story, i just can't get into it. :frown:

[agrich]

Brad Walker and Wes Craig have kind of been a rotating art team since around, I dunno, issue 7 or so. Generally it's been Walker for two issues and Craig for one, or somesuch. I don't have a problem with it, but evidently some do.

I'm kind of just glad this book exists at all and is cruising along into the 20s. I could probably think of a better artist or two, but I could think of some lesser ones, too.

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

I think it looks fantastic -- maybe Craig's best work yet. Awesome.

That is a nice 2 page panel. Reminds me of Mike Ploog art, maybe.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Fantastic issue!

Can't wait for GoTG #25! Seem to be saying that a lot lately.

Dang, everything about this issue was so good I want to post a review in the Avengers forum so those guy pick up this issue!

:tongue:

Anyone who's buying Avengers titles and not also buying GotG either has no taste or is an idiot.