MISSION SPECIFICS CALL FOR SPOILERS, SIR!

What a book. Honestly. I dug the hell out of the Annihilation storyarc, loved the return of the Human Rocket (even more than I did when Erik Larsen brought him back in the late 90s which was brief but a really good time), and really was psyched to see villains die, heroes die, and characters to CHANGE! It was like a real event. Everything promised from every major event HAPPENED in the Annihilation stuff. Seriously. Go out and read those first. I'll wait.

You done?

Already?

Onto the review:

Abnett and Lanning do an amazing job of throwing the reader headfirst into the team's first mission in almost the exact same way the team was thrown headfirst into the mission. The team-members (lead by Pete Quill, the splendiferous Star-Lord) are all giving their debriefing post mission for Mantis' records and we learn ALL of their trepidations about what they are doing. Flashbacks happen fast and furious in this story, they don't lag on, they just give the reader the sense of where the characters have been (in the event that you missed out on Annihilation) and where this new adventure will take them.

Anyways: this is a team. Drax. Warlock. Phyla-Vell (who I honestly hated for usurping the role of Captain Marvel from Genis-Vell as I was a devoted reader to Peter David's Captain Marvel series since its inception). Rocket Raccoon (just all kinds of bad-ass in a tiny package carrying a massive Liefeldian gun). Gamora. Mantis. Groot. Pete Quill. Cosmo the talking space-Dog from Russia in Knowhere.

This is also a thinking man's comic. It doesn't slap you in the face and explain everything to you. Adam Warlock has discovered a mystery in space: fissures are ripping and creatures are tearing through from other dimensions (my Mist reference, thank you Stephen King) and the Ass-Kickers of the Fantastic have to be there to stop these potential Annihilus class villains from tearing the universe to pieces.

There will be intrigue (potential wolf in the fold?), there will be love, there will be guest stars (Cap's Shield?), there will be alternate realities and time-tripping. This is going to be a blast and a half. And one cannot go through this issue without commenting on two other things (besides the spot-on characterization given to us by Abnett and Lanning, who did exceptional work in the Annihilation event and way before then on Legion among other things), the art: Clint Langley's cover is how a first issue cover should look. Strong. To the point. THESE ARE ASS-KICKERS!

And Paul Pelletier. I read some idiot today call him a ham and egg guy, meaning he was just a capable artist. I wholeheartedly disagree. Some would probably say that about Abnett and Lanning, and I disagree on all fronts. This time is amazing. Specifically for Paul, he has been a very strong artist since I discovered his artwork on a random fill-in of Green Lantern and Superboy and into his Marvel Comics flirtations (the GREAT Exiles issues and She-Hulk fill-ins and into Fantastic Four and Nova) he has been a delight to watch and view. He is a workhorse and my favorite kind of artist: one who gets the job done. He brings the awesome and he does it on a monthly schedule.

He is what makes comics wonderful. The amazing art and writing team of Guardians of the Galaxy will make this one of the most enjoyable comics to read. It sure was a hell of a good time just with issue one, I can't wait to see where the next issue goes. Pick up a copy for yourself. You will not be disappointed.