Comic Related - If It's Comic Related, You'll Find It Here!

Bill Gladman on the issue

Alright, this is more like it. No more picking books written by writers that I don't really like about characters I can't really stand. This time around it's about one of my favorite books written by two of my current favorite writers, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. And the book, Guardians of the Galaxy #22.

Ever since this book launched a few years back it has been consistently good, better than most even when it's not running on all cylinders and when it's on...it's really on. I can't even remember how many times in the last year I picked GoG by DnA to be "G-Man's Pick of the Week" and it's due to past issues just like issue #22.

Abnett and Lanning of the masters of Cosmic Marvel and as they always do they spin yet another exciting tale full of great characterization companied with action, intelligent story telling and their own unique brand of humor.

Guardians features one of the best casts of characters of any team book out there. The characters in this book (Starlord, Bug, Moondragon, Jack Flag, Rocket Raccoon, Drax, and Groot) really act like a real team should. Something that hasn't really been seen that often in comics since the glory days of Claremont and Byrne's Uncanny X-Men, Michelinie and Byrne's (and later Perez) Avengers, Marv Wolfman and George Perez's Teen Titans, Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden's Micronauts or Fabian Nicieza and Mark Badgley's New Warriors.

This particular story focuses on Moondragon, a character who at times has not always been portrayed in a very heroic light (see several past issues of the Avengers and the Defenders), but in this case shows that she can save the day for all the right reasons. The Guardians end up in a no holds barred throw down with the Universal Church of Truth and in the end it's the team's tactical expert (Rocket) who comes up with a plan that prevents Moondragon from giving birth to an evil entity from the Fault. An event that would have cost the lives of billions of willing sacrificial zealots who sees this creature as a God.

Also features some great moments with Drax as he explains how he managed to survive a fate that was supposed to have killed him in the previous issue, he battles one of the Universal Church's big baddies and later realizes he wants to re-connect with his daughter Heather (Moondragon).

And the final page answers a lot of questions about a certain villain and some other cast members.

Beautifully illustrated by one of the best up and coming artists working in comics, Brad Walker, Guardians of the Galaxy #22 is a fantastic book and easily the best comic I read all week. I've already seen the cover to issue #25 and I'm pretty sure I know where this story is headed in a couple of months so you best jump on board now and buckle up. It's going to be one Hell of a ride.

Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Pencils: Brad Walker
Inks: Andrew Hennessy
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover: Alex Garner
Published by: Marvel Comics

A REALM OF KINGS ISSUE! Holy Octo-mom! What's growing in Moondragon's belly, why is the Universal Church of Truth obsessed with keeping her, and can the Guardians rescue her before the planet they're on goes supernova? Find out in the series that IGN calls "Impressive...Brad Walker's pages are a dazzling sight...Guardians of the Galaxy is still standing tall and strong." Rated T

PRICE: $2.99
IN STORES: January 27, 2010