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Tomorrow Avengers: A Late Introduction To Marvel's Guardians

STK614910Elizabeth Heyman writes;

It feels odd, at this point, to be posting anything about Guardians of the Galaxy that doesn't directly refer to the upcoming big budget film. However, with two books published within a week of each other that both carry the title, it seems wrong to ignore the print side of things. While last week saw the release of issue #4 of Bendis' recent run on the comic, this past Wednesday delivered a 48 page one-shot, subtitled Tomorrow's Avengers.

Yesterday's one-shot is actually the printed collection of the four recent Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel Infinite comics that were previously only released on Comixology and the Marvel mobile app. The side-series is still authored by Brian Michael Bendis but features three different artists. Michael Avon Oeming draws the Drax comic and Ming Doyle pencils the one for Rocket Raccoon while Michael del Mundo provides the art for both Groot and Gamora's chapters, giving each its own very distinct style.

These very separate stories act as a preface for the current running main title, but by no means should they be considered origin stories for the characters. Rather, they inform readers as to where Drax, Groot, Rocket, and Gamora were before being rounded up by Starlord for another go at being an intergalactic defense league. The release's greatest accomplishment is its ability to lend a basic understanding of each individual's character development and background to readers who are not already familiar with the team from the 2008 run.

The collection opens with Drax amidst a far-off, violent confrontation that is as dark and explosive as Oeming's art makes it out to be. Drax's adversaries in this chapter manage to antagonize him during the fight in such a way that briefly addresses the obstacles he has faced in his past while being chased felon. It's a good way to introduce his origin while still remaining current.

Following this act is Groot's chapter, but since he can't explain much beyond his name, we read the story from the perspective of the young farm girl inspired by Groot's crash visit on her rural planet. Although this heartwarming tale is a completely isolated incident that connects little to his past and reveals nothing in his future, it does demonstrate the caring, protective nature that is essential to the character.

The only issue that really leaves any questions to be explored in the future is actually the comedic Rocket Raccoon's. Doyle's art makes sure to display as much physical comedy as Bendis's dialogues do verbal, but the comic also hits a serious note while addressing the mystery of Rocket's true origins. His curiosity as to whether there are more aliens like him reveals the lonely, more melancholy side of a character that most people only think to exist as reoccurring punch line.

Gamora's is the last story featured and it doesn't say much about her so much as it demonstrates why she's the most dangerous woman in the galaxy. Though both the visuals and the narrative did set her up to appear as a Moses-like figure, they mostly reiterate the tension between her and her notorious father, Thanos, possibly providing answers as to why she is being hunted in the main title book.

The question that most readers are asking at this point is why Marvel would release this side comic now when it's so after the fact. The printed collection does feel like a second thought by the company, as the original releases were really more of an attempt to promote the publisher's latest digital initiative than anything else. The art is even designed to work with the animated style of the Infinite Comics' digital setup. Marvel must have later seen the series' potential to explore each character's pathos and persona while not taking speed away from the current plotline.

That task is especially important now as the editorial staff seem to be rushing to fit in new characters and plot development in only a few issues (see issue #4 and the preview for issue#5). By doing so the series is expected to be well established by the time the 2014 film release date comes around.

"Tomorrow's Avengers" should really be read as "Next Summer's Avengers-like Movie" as that's what the comic is really setting up for. It's an easy way to better familiarize audiences with the characters in a short period of time without distracting the current storyline. Given its slightly steeper price of $4.99, I wouldn't call it a necessary buy, but it certainly is an entertaining and revealing read.


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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