REVIEW: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ Issue #2

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 is published by Marvel, written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, art by Kev Walker, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, and letters by Cory Petit. Star-Lord and Mantis go to one of Peter’s old friends to try and convince them to take action that could save a whole area of space from Grootfall.

This issue splits the party, possibly in order to tell stories in three different stretches of time. In one, there is Star-Lord, whose confrontation with his old friend is pertinent to the rest of the comic and fuels the plot and the structure. Then there is Nebula and Gamora, off on a side quest that threatens to damage Star-Lord’s own plan, but seems to have consequences for the next issue. Then there is Drax, who is quiet and appears to be uninvolved. But I had a hunch that what he does by the end of this issue could be important later in the series. The comic is quite slow, focusing on building tension through conversation. There is exposition and backstory but it is managed well, not too much and split over scenes so it isn’t all at once.

When Guardians of the Galaxy #2 does kick into action, it is sudden and then cuts loose. The fights are loud and chaotic, switching between the locations seamlessly. And through all of this, especially the last part of the book, there is a feeling that the ramifications of what happens here will lead to devastation. There is a solemn tone to the final pages, and I was left contemplating a lot after reading this issue.

There is a lot of dialogue and great character moments in this issue. This version of Star-Lord that you see here may be peculiar to fans coming straight from the MCU, but it is in character with how he acts in the comics. He is a planner and can be grumpy and serious. That is not to say he isn’t goofy, but that is largely due to how much faith he has in his own plans that no one else does. He could be considered the most serious Guardian in this issue. Mantis is gleeful and exuberant, Nebula has a wicked glint in her eye and Gamora is so sarcastic it’s hilarious. As for Drax, he is extremely mysterious, staying out of the issue and saying very little until he needs to. 

The art is magnificent. There are some fantastic designs. From the ominous dark cloud of Grootfall to some of the technological transformations that Nebula goes through, there is a tremendous variety to what you can find in this book. The alien that Star-Lord finds is awesome and detailed, with creepy eyes void of emotion. Both Gamora and Nebula look especially brilliant in Walker’s art style, with the use of heavier line weights making these faces clean and distinct. 

The colors deserve high praise. Space itself looks ethereal and gorgeous with some bright luminescent glowing and providing warmth within a cold environment. Star-Lord himself has very muted tones, still wearing his cloak that makes him look like Clint Eastwood, but the others are extremely vibrant. The letters are terrific and easy to read.

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 continues to set a new tone for the group. There are many moments of excitement and ridiculous fun, especially when the fight scene starts. But it is clear that the events that happened before this run started have scarred some of the characters and left them troubled. The Western influence on the series remains whilst being adventurous with alien designs and settings. Ranging from tense standoffs to oddly serene periods of reflection, this is a cosmic book that retains an atmosphere.

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 is available wherever comics are sold.