Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Valerio Schiti
Color Artist Richard Isanove
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith
Spartax. The capital city will probably never be the same again, after Hala’s visit.
Yotat is monologuing. The Guardians are knocked out. Their fight with Hala has required that they take a little nap.
Quill finally wakes up first, asking that Yotat not kill his friends. It is the least he can do. Quill asks Yotat to wait to kill them, until after Spartax is safe. Grudge matches can wait, after all.
Yotat points out how Spartax, supposedly a big deal in the universe, should have had neighboring planets coming to aid them, by now. No one respects Spartax, with Quill on the throne.
Quill really wasn’t begging, he was distracting. Agent Venom attacks from behind while Rocket has a new gun to try out.
That is a great top panel, the team having their second wind. Quill is trying to help Drax up, but Drax doesn’t want the help. Pryde isn’t impressed with Drax turning down help.
Rocket checks in on Groot, who is in little pieces. Drax punches Yotat, to his dumb face!
Quill starts trying to help the survivors. One lady isn’t pleased that her king allowed this nonsense to happen. Pryde tries to defend him but the couple runs away. Drax continues punching. Grimm is helping children get to safety. Good ol’ Grimm!
Yotat, is good at taking a beating but has had enough and turns the tables on Drax.
Luckily, Drax is on the same team with Grimm (who I really enjoy reading about on a monthly basis) as Grimm punches Yotat off his feet. Drax gets in on the handicap match.
Quill and Pryde are happy to see reinforcements are on their way.
Agent Venom takes away Yotat’s weapon.
Now that they have a pause, Quill wants to know Yotat’s story so Pryde indulges. I do want more Quill-less stories of the missing eight months.
Knowhere. The Edge of the Universe. Located Inside the Decapitated Head of a Celestial. Three Months Ago. Kitty Pryde Narrated Flashback. Historically, she is an unreliable narrator. (I’m not so sure about that).
They were there to get supplies and show Grimm what it is like to be a Guardian.
Pryde has been forced to take showers with steam instead of water, which probably makes sense on a ragtag ship. Grimm sort of likes the steam, Pryde can understand.
Pryde calls Yotat a gangster. He’s fine with trafficking of lower species as long as he gets a cut. Yotat is trying to choke out a nice green person but Pryde phases the person to safety.
Back to the Present. Drax side kicks Yotat. I see Groot standing there, so maybe he lost pieces but isn’t completely in pieces. Grimm wants his turn but Rocket pulls seniority. I do like a main villain that the entire team needs to work together to take out, instead of a group of villains versus a group of heroes. Easier to focus, I suppose.
Back to the Flashback. We are introduced to the Knowhere Corps. I recognize Moon Dragon, Micronaut’s Bug and Cosmo the Dog. The green lady and bald guy, I need to be told who they are. I like how Moon Dragon’s costume upgrade is that her shoulders are covered – somehow.
The Knowhere Corps take over the fight and arrest Yotat. Moon Dragon, who is wearing a brown cape, invites the Guardians to dinner.
Grimm refers to the Knowhere Corps as “space cops” which apparently, he must be doing a lot lately as Rocket says he doesn’t need to prefix everything with “space.” Yotat swears to get his revenge on Drax and his friends.
Pryde wishes she let Drax finish off Yotat, as he is clearly a horrible person.
Flashback Over. Grimm gives us all a “It’s Clobbering Time!!!” and Drax joins in with a sweet kick. Drax isn’t a fan of the sweet catchphrase. Grimm promises that the battlecry will grow on Drax.
The Royal Guard, finally, arrives to get Quill to safety. Quill can’t believe that they wait until two threats are taken care of, before getting him off the battlefield. Quill wants Yotat to be arrested, and he wants Hala to be arrested too.
Quill and Pryde turn to where Hala should be, still stuck in the ground, but she’s no longer there. Few have survived being phased through the ground. I know Thor was able to do it. Quill wants Hala found, and now!
We catch up with Hala, who is dragging her body through the city, leaving so much blood behind her.
Quill and Pryde find Gamora, who Pryde has so much respect for. I can’t wait to get scenes of these two dames together!
Quill demands a medic for Gamora.
Later. Gamora wakes up in a hospital room, with baby tree Groot at her bedside. I like these two together.
Quill is being told that he is no longer going to be President. He doesn’t quite pick up on that, so Pryde has to explain it to him. I guess that means we are never going to get Queen Pryde, like I always wanted. I do like Quill calling them jerks.
Pryde phases Quill and herself through the wall, outside and to the ground. I don’t like how the green consult hates on Pryde, screw that jerk!
Look how happy the team is in that middle panel! Gosh, I really do enjoy this creative team and this entire team! I miss enjoying a monthly title like this.
Grimm makes an awesome Hichhiker’s Guide to the Universe, but he’s the only Earth person who gets the reference. I like to think that Pryde got it. Thompson and Quill don’t get the reference, they don’t read.
The Negative Zone. We’re Full Circle. It’s Just Rock-Solid Storytelling. The Brood Queen took no effort in having Spartax denounce their king. Annihilus is very impress.
The Guardians are back to being outlaws.
Next issue promises to focus on Pryde and Quill! Which makes me pretty happy!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 