REVIEW: ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy,’ Issue #10

Guardians Of The Galaxy #10 features a tie-in to the King in Black events going on throughout the rest of the Marvel world. Published by Marvel Comics, written by Al Ewing, with art by Juann Cabal, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by VC’s Cory Petit, issue #9 led to a not-so-dead Star-Lord reuniting with the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy while issue #10 sees this reunion cut short by a symbiote dragon and the symbiote king himself.

In Guardians Of The Galaxy #10, the Guardians learn that a mysterious god-like being, Knull, is obliterating entire worlds right under their noses. However, they learn that Knull’s next target is Spartax and the Guardians try their hardest to save the nine billion inhabitants from inevitable doom. Alone, the Guardians are at a loss. Thankfully, Star-Lord has shown up just in time to flaunt his new control over his Element gun.

Although it’s wonderful to see Star-Lord safe and sound and back with the other Guardians, his reappearance and a subsequent reintroduction to the team feels not only too quick but also too convenient. Even though Star-Lord has lost some of his memories and fumbles a bit getting reacquainted with his long-lost friends, it doesn’t take long to get back on his high horse and save everyone. And his Element gun seems to be the only thing that can stand up to Knull. It feels too quick of a turnaround and it’s probably so quick because of the need to include the Guardians in the King in Black events and only for a single issue. Either way, its quick pacing doesn’t reveal any novel information on this new Star-Lord as I had hoped and although we get a snarky one-liner, Quill doesn’t feel like his old, quirky self.

The single piece of new information we do get is that Star-Lord can now excellently use his Element gun. Not only this, but we now understand more generally how it works. It’s pretty interesting, but what will be even more interesting is how Star-Lord’s reappearance will influence the next few issues and the big baddies coming up.

As always, Cabal’s art is wonderful. The character designs are consistent with past issues, but they are still excellent, from Rocket’s suit to Quill’s new get-up. In correspondence with Quill’s new costume, the colors when he uses his Element gun are beautiful. The warm colors reinforce his title as Star-Lord along with contrasting sharply against the inky darkness that Knull brings. Petit’s letters are easy to read and never overshadow the action or characters. The use of different speech bubble colors between characters and different modes of communication further assists the ease of reading.

Guardians Of The Galaxy #10 has some wonderful artwork and colorwork but because this issue appears to be the only tie-in to the King in Black event, the pace zooms by and Star-Lord’s reemergence feels too convenient.

Guardians Of The Galaxy #10 is available now wherever comics are sold.