In 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy was the surprise smash box office hit, as it turned out people like cheesy music, gun-toting raccoons and idiot man-child protagonists. Marvel did what they always do when something is unexpectedly popular: They flooded the stands with books that could be tied to the hot thing of the moment. In addition to Guardians of the Galaxy (still being written by Bendis), there was a Guardians of Knowhere mini-series, Asgardians of the Galaxy (groan), and Skottie Young's Rocket Raccoon book, there was this.
Dan Abnett sets the book in 3014, with the Guardians - Vance, Charlie, Yondu, Martinex and Starhawk - fighting the Badoon. Except these Badoon are enough of a threat to be on the verge of conquering the entire universe. And the Guardians have a new teammate, an Earthling named Geena Drake, who is the only one able to notice that the timeline keeps slipping and things keep changing.
Abnett has some fun mixing and matching concepts. Gladiator of the Sh'iar is somehow still alive. A Star-Lord, complete with Ship, is around, along with the last Nova. Abnett repurposes the Stark, and Gerardo Sandoval gives them all a giant eyeball look that reminds me of a creature from Doom. Galactus is still kicking, naturally, although now he's "The Old Hunger". Shades of that Walt Simonson FF story where Galactus keeps growing until he's like a black hole devouring the entire universe.
The story shifts to the 21st Century, so that this crew of Guardians can meet that version (which includes Venom at this point in time), and confront the threat the Guardians of the Galaxy usually face when they come back in time. I'll give you a hint: sometimes he's half machine, the other times he's a glowy pink guy with incredible power. Nico Leon draws those last three issues. I think he's better suited for the banter and confusion the two teams face when they run into each other. He has a knack for the kind of expressive art you need to carry that kind of thing, so it isn't just talking heads.
Gerardo Sandoval drew the first five issues. His work has bit of Joe Mad-inspired look to it, especially in the musculature and whatnot. The amount of teeth and the jaws that seem able to unhinge at will. The 31st Century must have very advanced orthodontics. Those issues are spent with the team on the run and badly confused while they try to figure out what Deena is talking about, or why some of them don't remember being teammates. Everyone is tired and on edge, and Sandoval's art makes them all look kinda nuts, so it works.
The book got canceled at eight issues because of Hickman's Secret Wars, but Abnett managed to work that into the conclusion, so it could have been worse.
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