The cover to issue #2 has Gamora, one leg up, hands wrapped around her sword staring defiantly at a group of soldiers as she swings her blade - which is the exact same pose she had when we were introduced to her in issue #1. Wheres the imagination, Steve McNiven, why the repetition? Repetition is basically the watchword for issue #2 as a whole. The fight in issue #1 where the Guardians tore into a Badoon ship headed to Earth is repeated here except with London as the backdrop and the ships multiplied by six. So whats happening is Peter Quills (Star Lord) estranged dad, JSon the King of Spartax, has informed him that Earth is now off-limits to all extra-terrestrial lifeforms and consequently the evil Badoon have decided to attack Earth. The Guardians have shown up to defeat the invading force in a scene reminiscent of the Chitauri in The Avengers movie, albeit on a smaller scale. Between the fighting, we get cut scenes which are set six weeks ago at the Council of Galactic Empires where King JSon has gathered the leaders of various alien races and reiterates what we already know from issue #1 - that Earth is off-limits from extraterrestrial contact. This scene takes several pages to play out and all it does is underline the fact that Star Lords dad is a bit of a jerk, and a sneaky one at that, and, through his conniving, basically invited the Badoon to have a crack at Earth, knowing his son would step in. In other words, its a pointless retread that was summed up more succinctly in a single page in the last issue. The action is ok - Rocket has some great scenes - but theres no tension as we know the Guardians are going to defeat the Badoon easily - what, you think the series ends here with our heroes killed by generic bad guy templates? And thats basically the whole issue. Guardians fight aliens and inevitably win, while King JSon tells you in a more drawn out way what he already told us in issue #1. Steve McNiven is joined by Sara Pichelli who also pencils this issue. The art is still sensational and the action scenes are as beautifully rendered as the static, expositional Council scenes. Justin Ponsors colours are really something too, they really make the images pop. Im still not crazy about Star Lords new outfit - in some scenes his headpiece looks like a bikers helmet with flames painted on! Bendis does what Bendis does, which is to say his script is decent though he still manages to drop in a few clunkers that take you out of the story at weird moments. Star Lord asks Rocket what hes doing to help Iron Man whos unconscious and Rocket replies Ill tell you what I am! A genius of myself. which doesnt make sense. Then later in a scene similar to the one in issue #1 where Star Lord asks Iron Man Iron Man - whatre you doing here? You invited me Oh right, Bendis has Iron Man ask Wait! Why is this happening? leading to a smash cut where were told exactly why this is happening. These are small things but with a writer as experienced as Bendis youd expect a more polished final product than one peppered with these sloppy writing errors.
This series seems to be becoming less interesting with each passing issue, starting with a brilliant #0.1, then a promising issue #1, and now a so-so issue #2, when really it should be doing the opposite - getting better and more involving with each issue. As it is, issue #2 doesnt really add much plot-wise but theres lots of explosions and fighting that Im sure will satisfy some fans. The #0.1 issue indicated that this series would have more substance and explore some different angles to the standard Marvel superhero story but this issue just reads like any other generic superhero team comic.
Guardians of the Galaxy #2 by Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven and Sara Pichelli is out now at your local comics shop and online at Comixology and Marvel Unlimited