Although I doubt this is the reason most of you are following this series, I feel compelled to note that all of Captain Marvel’s scenes from this issue were cut, because Bendis felt it conflicted with the tone of the issue. Sorry Carol Corps, you guys got the short end of the stick, but will Agent Venom fans find something to enjoy from Flash’s past?
Guardians of the Galaxy #15: Stranded
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Nick Bradshaw& Cameron Stewart
Inks: Walden Wong & Nick Bradshaw & Cameron Stewart
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Nick Bradshaw & Justin Ponsor
Editor: Mike Marts and Xander Jarowey
Editor-In-Chief: Axel Alonso
Story:
- Rocket Raccoon awakes to find himself being experimented on by the Kree, as he is now their property
- Gamora, daughter of Thanos, finds herself on trial by the Badoon for father’s crimes, as she is now their property
- Drax the Destroyer finds himself on trial by the Shi’ar for his own crimes, as he is now their property
- Groot finds himself being torn apart by young Brood, as he is now their property
- Agent Venom is left stranded, when the Skrulls attack him, disguised as the Secret Avengers
- Peter Quill offers to serve under his father as THE STAR-LORD, if he will release his teamPeter is informed it is too late to save them and he manages to break free on the Spartax home planet
Thoughts: I can sum up this review with four words: More Of The Same.
This issue moves at a glacial pace, even though we barely spend more than two pages on each character’s predicament. And even the time spent with the characters is useless… The only one who adds any progress to the story is Peter Quill, who manages to escape on the final page. The pitstops with each character is far too short, except for Flash’s, which only serves to take the one free member of the team and imprison him; why couldn’t that have been done last issue?
The art is decent, save for some few minor issues (stuff like Flash looking like he’s crying when he’s deducing), but I really wish we had Bendis regulars like Pichelli or Marquez doing this series. Bradshaw is fine for the X-Men Universe, especially when he’s handling the young mutants over in Wolverine & The X-Men, but he’s not an artist I want to see stick around on Guardians.
I’m also legitimately disappointed that it wasn’t actually the Secret Avengers that showed up, but I guess if they were around we wouldn’t have unsolvable situation that Captain Marvel will somehow resolve.
Verdict: This is a key set-up issue to the story, so I can’t recommend skipping it, but I would suggest waiting for trade, where you can fly past this issue in about five minutes, and get to the (hopefully) good stuff.
Pros:
- Nothing is bad
Cons:
- Glacial Pace
- Meh Art
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“no one mined” ugh, grammar
And why has no one not mined the creative possibility behind Flash/Venom and Felicia? That seems like a waste (which pretty much describes Felicia’s character since 2009)
@2 Yeah I think the original plan was to have Agent Venom and Black Cat join him instead of (or with) Black Widow and Silver Sable
“Although I doubt this is the reason most of you are following this series, I feel compelled to note that all of Captain Marvel’s scenes from this issue were cut, because Bendis felt it conflicted with the tone of the issue.”
Please tell me you don’t actually believe that. Because I find it hard to believe that they went through al of that trouble, and didn’t bother to TAKE HER OFF THE F******’ COVER!!!! I don’t even care about the book, and I find this offensive!
… didn’t Slott do something similar to this in “Ends of the Earth?”
COVER: “And now CAPTAIN MARVEL!”
BENDIS: “… there is a fine century long tradition of things being on the cover that aren’t in the book and I gladly hold that tradition”
An apology for this issue after an apology for the “Why is Venom on the team?!” thing last issue.
I see a trend…