Last year, we looked at 3 issues of this series from around and after War of Kings. Here, the cast is still picking its way out of the mess Secret Invasion tie-ins caused, where it was revealed Star-Lord had Mantis telepathically nudge several members of the team into joining.
Given the roster, it's a miracle no one got stabbed, but Drax left to search for Cammi, Phylla-Vell in tow (they're not in this issue.) Earlier, the team fought the Universal Church of Truth, so Adam Warlock's decided to confront them, with Gamora. Warlock tells the "Matriarch" he's the messiah their religion foretells, and while she allows there is prophecy of a Warlock, how do they know it's him? Adam vows to prove himself by saving the universe from the "war of kings" his visions warn of, and departs.
This leaves the Matriarch with a conundrum: if Adam Warlock's out and about, who's in the cocoon the Church already has? Whoever it is, they don't appreciate the Matriarch touching the cocoon, but she still seems determined to have it opened as soon as possible. ('As soon as possible' won't be for over 10 issues, and it won't be her doing when it happens.)
Feeling guilty, Star-Lord went solo to investigate reports from Kree space and found them building a Babel Spire like the Phalanx had, as a potential defense. He objected, Ronan overruled, and Quill wound up dumped in the Negative Zone, into Blastaar's hands. Sorry, King Blastaar, busy trying to break into the prison Tony Stark and Reed Richards built, so he can invade their universe.
Quill agreed to negotiate with the prisoners (the guards fled through the portal and sealed it behind them.) He instead teamed up with former Captain America sidekick Jack Flag (in a wheelchair after Bullseye knifed him in the spine in Ellis' Thunderbolts) to try and get some help and keep Blastaar out. Unfortunately, one of the prisoners, Skeleton Ki, opened the prison gates, so Blastaar's inside and pissed at Quill. The Guardians - Rocket, Mantis, Major Victory, Groot, and Bug - tried to teleport to Quill's location, but the locator was in his helmet, which was he wasn't wearing. So they landed in the middle of Blastaar's army.
Quill and Flag are in the middle of fighting off three inmates they got into it with last issue when Mantis telepathically locates Quill and sends the coordinates to Cosmo, who beams them to Quill to make the save. Especially as King Blastaar Kool-Aid Mans through the wall just in time to watch the Guardians and Jack Flag teleport away. Still, Blastaar soon controls the prison, everyone either joining him or dying. On the joining side? Skeleton Ki, who is ordered to find a way to open that portal, or else.
(Abnett and Lanning never pay off Blastaar's anger at Quill saying he'll act as negotiator then immediately switching sides, but they also never did anything with any hard feelings about Mantis' continued presence on the team after her part in Star-Lord's manipulations.)
Later, the Guardians visit Earth to tell Reed Richards and a couple of those dickheads from the Initiative comic (the soldier with the bionic arm who always ran down the New Warriors, and the literal Nazi mad scientist) to never open the portal. None of the Earthers seem all that impressed by Star-Lord's explanation they're the Guardians of the Galaxy. Reed should at least know Mantis and have some idea who Major Victory is, right? Ben Grimm teamed up the with OG Guardians, and the future New Warrior version of Vance is Ben's buddy. Then again, Quill refers to them as the "Fabulous Four," so there's disrespect and ignorance flying all directions.
Back in Knowhere, a doctor fixed Jack's spine with space medicine, but he's got nowhere to go, seeing as he's a criminal on Earth, and hates 'cosmic stuff.' So he joins the team. And Major Victory visits the Starhawk (not one he knows) the team captured a few issues ago, who keeps speaking of an 'error' that signals the end of everything.
{5th longbox, 91st comic. Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #10, by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (penciler), Victor Olazaba and Livesay (inkers), Wil Quintana (colorist), Joe Caramagna (letterer)}
2 comments:
I love Blastaar. A big angry bear/cat thing who runs around punching things.
The Abnett/Lanning stuff is the most I've ever seen of him, and he's played as a thug playing at being high-class, with all his "King Blastaar" stuff. He's still treated as a threat, but one that can be outsmarted or manipulated without too much trouble.
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