Writer: Al Ewing

Art: Juann Cabal, Federico Blee, VC’s Cory Petit, and Ivan Shavrin

Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 19th, 2020

Immediately off the front porch, the New Guardians of the Galaxy found themselves in a pickle! Peter Quill appears to be surrounded by Artemis, Phyla and Nova are barely a match for Evil Zeus, Automatons steal the Black Hole bomb right from under Rocket, and all while Marvel Boy and Moondragon attempt to rescue none other than Hercules. And readers, that’s just the end of the last issue! So, will our new Guardians escape the clutches of these dastardly New Gods or will this be one of the shortest Guardians of the Galaxy books EVER? Let’s jump into this issue of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2 by Al Ewing to watch if the amazing Star-Lord can concoct a scheme to win him and his friends out of another jam before everything comes to a tumultuous end!

Al Ewing certainly doesn’t disappoint as issue two begins. The sheer intensity of this week’s installment was jacked up to eleven making this reader feel on edge throughout the entire script. At times, this week’s narrative actually felt so extreme that it seemed too over the top for only the second issue. I only wonder after reading this anecdote; where do we go from here? Honestly, plenty happens in such a short amount of time leaving me to wonder if the series moves way too fast. Did Ewing’s vigor kick this series off too aggressively leaving nowhere to go but down? Are we now left with issues of heavy dialogue and explanation in our future to make up for the fast-paced nature of this week’s tale? I sincerely hope not!

Don’t get me wrong; Ewing’s story this week was so much fun. Dare I say a blast or even da-bomb! The narrative will really capture readers’ attention and spark massive curiosity as to how and why the Zeus-crew is acting this way. Plus, by the end of this week’s installment, readers will feel the sheer magnitude of this issue in full force. Ewing manages to get the entire team involved making every player feel important, which is a hard task for any writer of a team book to do. Furthermore, it felt as though everyone on the team got a fair shake to contribute, play there part, and tackle these evil gods. Heck, even the clever, yet exceedingly sneaky Peter Quill, managed to take down two Gods! (cough… cough… really?!?) However, other than Peter, and a minor moment between Phyla and Moondragon, the character interactions were shallow and surface level.

Now, I understand that there is a page count that lends itself to hinder what a writer can do at times. But, my point is; this issue felted crammed when it could have easily been stretched out between two issues, maybe three, and filled in some of the gaps, character traits, drama, and added more substances and depth to the story. As much as everyone did play a role, character motivations were lacking for both the Guardians and the New Gods. Again, I sincerely hope Ewing didn’t plow through this opening battle to put on the breaks and tell small, mediocre stories about the aftermath with the team.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Ewing uses GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2 to pack a huge punch. This issue is straight-up wild! You’ll read it and afterward genuinely feel blown away by the events that transpired. And if nonstop action isn’t entirely your thing, Ewing introduces some pretty creepy elements as well surrounding Hephaestus and his Automatons, which seem ripped right from a horror flick. He masterfully ties up this issue with a clue dropped in issue one and manages to give Quill Top Billing on this go around. However, with many Top Billings, it comes with a price. Guardian fans will love this issue, as well as comic fans looking for a fun time. My biggest concerns lie solely in the context and understanding involved in the issue, the questions that remain about the New Gods for new readers, and oddity that surrounds the pacing behind what seemed to be a pretty epic story hoping Ewing didn’t jump the shark already. Pick THIS issue up and let me know what you think. I’m more concerned about the direction of the series moving forward than this single issue itself. We shall see on the series as time goes along.

8.7/10