Between Books - Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon & Groot Steal the Galaxy

My Welcome to Level Seven co-host picked up Marvel's first original prose novel and immediately devoured it.  As much as I like to give him a hard time, he does have pretty good taste and if he likes something I probably will like it too.  So I immediately began to seek this out since there was a strong chance that I would like it and the fact that it was a first offering from one of Disney's main lines.  And I was really excited about Guardians of the Galaxy too!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon and Groot Steal the Galaxy by Dan Abett follows Rocket and Groot during a Guardians' hiatus.  Left on their own, the two adventuring heroes get mixed up in galactic intrigue when they provide protection to Recorder 127 of the Rigellian Intergalactic Survey, an android which is also the ultimate recording device.  Recorder 127 has seen something, something shockingly enough that he actually does not remember.  And every major galactic empire is trying to capture him and either use him for their own purposes or keep others from acquiring him.  Those they must run from include the Kree and the Nova Corps.  And one of those hunting their new companion is their fellow Guardian Gamora.  The secret of what Recorder 127 knows and cannot remember brings them to the offices of Timely Inc., a corporation with far reaching economic power in the galaxy. 

One of the things my distinguished co-host said was, "If you liked The Hitcherhiker's Guide to the Galaxy you will enjoy this book."  And he sent me updates as he read the book letting me know how much fun he was having.  And there were characters I know and like, personally I was a Rocket man.  But I really failed to find myself getting into the text.  This did really frustrate me.  I want to love this book.  I want prose novels to become a success for Marvel.  I could see how Abnett was wanting us to have fun with him.  But the detailed discussion of cups and the state of hot drinks never really worked for me and failed to provide me the expected payoff.  And Rocket repeats the meaning of nearly every Groot speaking moment, when I wish we as readers would have been asked to figure it out ourselves more often.  So while I wanted to be in the moment, I completely failed to be.  It was like some bit of mind was blocking my enjoyment.  Maybe this is how the Between Wife felt when she expressed doubt about seeing a movie with a gun totting vermin.  Maybe I could not make it real for me without the images of a comic.  And I found this really disappointing since I loved Dan Abnett's run on Guardians of the Galaxy.

For Marvel fans this is an universe you are familiar with.  There are discussions of Kree-Skrull roles, Adam Warlock's former companion Pip makes an appearance and we even go to the Negative Zone.   But Star-Lord and Drax are absent, so is Cosmo but I may be the only one who cares.  

We get to see and read about these through the eyes of Recorder 127, who despite being artificial is a really liable character who cares for his companions.   And he attempts to provide context to you the Earthbound reader with numerous pop-culture references.  So as a reader I did really want him to find his freedom and I think you will too. 

In the end the book was fun, but it is something I would not recommend buying at full price if asked.  I borrowed a copy and I am quite satisfied.  If anything I would criticize Marvel for not realizing a discounted electronic version in a timely manner.  It is a fun summer read.  And it is full of adventure, Rocket and Groot interactions.  If you liked the movie, there is a good shot you will enjoy this.  And really I did liked Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon and Groot Steal the Galaxy but I wanted to love it.  And while I do believe Rocket and Groot are a good pair to offer up in the first novel, I really wanted this to be a home run book.  Perhaps my expectations were just too high, this happens to me a lot!  And I hope my expectations still run high the next time Marvel releases a prose novel. 

Between Books - Avengers vs. Thanos

To provide a minor spoiler, I was saddened that the Iron Man 3 did not provide an overt reference to the villain Thanos. Since we were teased that Thanos was involved in the events of The Avengers I have assumed that he would return to the Avenger Initiative sometime in the near future. In fact I assumed that we will find that the movies of Phase 2 were all linked to Thanos, even if we are not shown the obvious clue in the first viewing of these offerings. The number of Marvel Thanos related projects, such as Avengers vs. Thanos, helps reinforce to me that Thanos is coming and I want to know as much about this super villain as I can.

Avengers vs. Thanos collects Thanos’ early appearances in the Marvel universe starting with Iron Man #55 in 1968 into appearances in the last 1970s. The stories frame Thanos as the conqueror of the moon Titan who seeks to expand his reach onto Earth. Amongst the tools that Thanos uses to implement his schemes are the Cosmic Cube. Readers also see a reoccurring pattern where Thanos uses people as puppets. Many of these stories go beyond Earth and have galactic settings as the scope of Thanos’ ambition grows. Throughout these stories Thanos fights the Kree Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Adam Warlock and the Avengers. Along with the introduction of Thanos the volume also introduces Drax the Destroyer and Gamora.

My first thought is where are the Avengers? I think readers should safely assume, by the title, that Thanos will be fighting the Avengers team throughout the volume. This is largely wrong. For the bulk of this volume Thanos’ major opponents are either Captain Marvel solo or Adam Warlock. The inclusion of the Avengers of a team is rare, though Avengers like Iron Man may have solo adventures against the Mad Titan. Honestly, I think a better title would just be Thanos! But honestly that title probably would not get casual comic readers to grab it off the shelf in a bookstore, where a link to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avengers would.

I think one of the biggest revelations for me was that Drax the Destroyer was created solely to fight Thanos. And despite his non-human appearance, he is in fact a deceased human. This helps me understand why Star-Lord Peter Quill is able to get him to rejoin the Guardians of the Galaxy when he clearly does not trust Quill. He still has an attachment to his home. Also, in this volume we see the origin of another Guardian Gamora, who was raised by Thanos. However, her discovery of plans for a global genocide turned her away from her master. So to me this book supports The Guardians of the Galaxy film much better than it does Avengers 2.

The stories themselves are products of their times. But I feel that they are good quality when compared against other stories of that era. The art also varies, but overall what is presented is good stuff. I would not call the book one of the greatest trades I have ever read. But I did think it was good. But I am glad that I borrowed and did not buy this volume since I am likely not to pick it up again.

Thanos is coming to the Marvel Cinematic universe. While that Thanos will likely differ from the one in comics, Avengers vs. Thanos recounts the source material of Thanos’ early appearances including first instances of key Guardians of the Galaxy. The volume is definitely an interesting read from those wanting to prepare themselves for Thanos and his future confrontation with whatever Avengers are in the hero stable in the future.



For more reviews like this about the Marvel Cinematic Universe visit www.welcometolevelseven.com.