Guardians of the Galaxy #9 Review
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Juann Cabal
Colours: Federico Blee
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
It’s impossible to discuss this issue without covering a massive spoiler. It was revealed at the end of the previous issue, and the front cover also gives the game away, but if you want to read the issue completely spoiler free then you should stop reading.
With that out of the way, onto the review. This issue is all about Star Lord. Believed to have been killed off near the start of Al Ewings run on Guardians, we learn here that that’s not completely true. As far as spoilers go that’s all that we’ll say, but that reveal in itself is a massive spoiler. It’s been clear from the moment Al Ewing took over the reigns from Donny Cates that he was paying homage to each of the characters histories which had been conveniently rewritten following the first MCU Guardians of the Galaxy film. At each stage he’s made it abundantly clear of the reverence he has for their origins, and has been incredibly respectful to all that’s come before all while shaping them into his own, very unique, team of Guardians. If he continues to treat the source material so well while making them his own the future of the Guardians looks very bright indeed.
So this issue focuses on Star Lord, his history with The Master Of The Sun, and bills itself as the official origin of Star Lord. It feels like Ewing is setting up a number of future storylines here and delves into a lot of brand new territory for the Guardians. The story he tells here is a little different from the typical Guardians fare, and how well it’ll go down with fans remains to be seen. It promises to be divisive. While it’s an important part of Star Lords tale and is certain to have plenty of ramifications for the series going forward it isn’t necessarily compulsive reading the way earlier issues have been.
Juann Cabal’s art has been exceptionally good throughout Guardians of the Galaxy, and this issue is no different. Al Ewing challenges him to change Quill’s look throughout the issue as time passes, which he does in a really clever way. Just like Ewing has with the writing, Cabal has put his own stamp on the Guardians. He’s made them more faithful to their origins while respecting all of the changes they’ve gone through over the years. This issue gives him the opportunity to redefine Quill and it’ll be interesting to see the form that takes as the series progresses. In this issue Ewing also challenges Cabal to draw some of the crazier locations that the Guardians have been to as well.
Federico Blee has also been doing a great job with the colours throughout the series, Guardians of the Galaxy perhaps being a little more colourful than a number of other comics out there. This issue in particular makes sure that Blee is using the full palate of colours available to him.
Long time fans of Marvels cosmic tales will no doubt lap this up as they have the rest of Ewing’s run on Guardians. Not the strongest tale in the series so far it feels like important setup for future storylines, and an important part of Star Lords tale. The art and colours continue to be absolutely stunning. Cabal and Blee look set to be amongst the best artists on an ongoing Guardians series.
Artist: Juann Cabal
Colours: Federico Blee
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
It’s impossible to discuss this issue without covering a massive spoiler. It was revealed at the end of the previous issue, and the front cover also gives the game away, but if you want to read the issue completely spoiler free then you should stop reading.
With that out of the way, onto the review. This issue is all about Star Lord. Believed to have been killed off near the start of Al Ewings run on Guardians, we learn here that that’s not completely true. As far as spoilers go that’s all that we’ll say, but that reveal in itself is a massive spoiler. It’s been clear from the moment Al Ewing took over the reigns from Donny Cates that he was paying homage to each of the characters histories which had been conveniently rewritten following the first MCU Guardians of the Galaxy film. At each stage he’s made it abundantly clear of the reverence he has for their origins, and has been incredibly respectful to all that’s come before all while shaping them into his own, very unique, team of Guardians. If he continues to treat the source material so well while making them his own the future of the Guardians looks very bright indeed.
So this issue focuses on Star Lord, his history with The Master Of The Sun, and bills itself as the official origin of Star Lord. It feels like Ewing is setting up a number of future storylines here and delves into a lot of brand new territory for the Guardians. The story he tells here is a little different from the typical Guardians fare, and how well it’ll go down with fans remains to be seen. It promises to be divisive. While it’s an important part of Star Lords tale and is certain to have plenty of ramifications for the series going forward it isn’t necessarily compulsive reading the way earlier issues have been.
Juann Cabal’s art has been exceptionally good throughout Guardians of the Galaxy, and this issue is no different. Al Ewing challenges him to change Quill’s look throughout the issue as time passes, which he does in a really clever way. Just like Ewing has with the writing, Cabal has put his own stamp on the Guardians. He’s made them more faithful to their origins while respecting all of the changes they’ve gone through over the years. This issue gives him the opportunity to redefine Quill and it’ll be interesting to see the form that takes as the series progresses. In this issue Ewing also challenges Cabal to draw some of the crazier locations that the Guardians have been to as well.
Federico Blee has also been doing a great job with the colours throughout the series, Guardians of the Galaxy perhaps being a little more colourful than a number of other comics out there. This issue in particular makes sure that Blee is using the full palate of colours available to him.
Long time fans of Marvels cosmic tales will no doubt lap this up as they have the rest of Ewing’s run on Guardians. Not the strongest tale in the series so far it feels like important setup for future storylines, and an important part of Star Lords tale. The art and colours continue to be absolutely stunning. Cabal and Blee look set to be amongst the best artists on an ongoing Guardians series.
A Look Inside
