Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Review

Written by: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Art by: Kev Walker
Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover art by: Marco Checchetto
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: April 12, 2023

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 begins a new ear on the frontiers of space when the Guardians enter a lonely mining colony to force an evacuation before an unstoppable force ravages the planet.

Is It Good?

Hmm, okay. Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is not bad. It’s too soon to tell if the story is turning out well or even great, but this issue is a serviceable start.

Presumably, Marvel intended this relaunch to come out in concert with the forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3 film. That’s good synergy on the part of the Publisher and the studio, although, from the looks of this first issue, the comic and film will have practically nothing to do with each other besides the titular team.

Kelly and Lanzing’s story centers on the Guardina’s infiltrating an Old West-style mining town on a lonely planet because something big is coming, and they must convince the residents to evacuate. After a saloon singalong and a Main Street shootout, the Guardians eventually convince the residents to evacuate when the uber-destructive force enters orbit – Grootfall.

How did Groot turn into a Celestial-sized planet killer? No explanation is given, and that’s about it.

In effect, a brand new series picks up in the middle of a predicament, presuming the first issue builds enough curiosity and momentum to entice readers to return for issue #2. Is the first issue captivating? Probably not for some readers. Again, it’s okay and a bit weird, but calling it attention-grabbing may be an overstatement.

Kev Walker’s art is aces in this issue, so at least the comic is visually engaging. The character designs are memorable, hinting at whimsical flourish on flowing fabrics and appendages. The coloring application by Hollingsworth is fantastic, and Petit gets a chance to shine with interesting narration box designs.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts:

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 picks up in the middle of an odd adventure with a mystery twist that shows promise. The art is excellent, and the predicament of a particular Guardians member is intriguing, but it’s too soon to tell if the journey is worth the cover price.