Page 45 Review by Stephen
Kitty Pryde: "I hate space. I've had very bad luck in space."
Yes, you have.
Third book of the current GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY series and the fifth book of ALL NEW X-MEN both written by Bendis with a great deal of mischief and charm. Moreover Pichelli and Immonen are such a perfect match that you won't see the join.
They're thrilling and yet subtle artists with complete command of body language and interaction which is vital when you're working with Bendis because interaction is all. Also, I see so many teenage superheroes bulging with muscles whereas here the young X-Men are as lithe as you like.
In MARVEL MASTERWORKS: UNCANNY X-MEN VOL 5 an adult Jean Grey lost control of the Phoenix Force and gobbled up a sun, effectively committing genocide as its orbiting planets' populations went with it. The Shi'Ar put her on trial, not least because she turned rather tetchily on them as well. They basically made sure she was dead.
Now a much younger Jean Grey has been whisked from the past to the present along with her team-mates, the Shi'Ar have found out, want to put her on trial and basically make sure that she's dead. The point is put to the Shi'Ar's Gladiator over and over again that this Jean Grey has not yet committed the crimes she's being charged with and possibly never will. Gladiator really doesn't care. He's not interested in justice, he's out for blood. He basically wants to make sure that she's… yup.
Guardians and X-Men to the rescue.
It's some of Bendis' best writing recently, with Shi'Ar telepath Oracle acting as counsel for Jean Grey so effectively stuck in the middle. There's plenty of playful dialogue between both sets of friends, like Star-Lord to Gamora:
"What is a Canada?"
"It's cold and distant. You'll love it."
Rocket Racoon has christened Gamora and Angela the Murder Girls. They are effective, Angela believing in decapitate first, ask questions never. Sending her into battle as your advance party is good strategy.
"Gentlemen… It's time to move to the second part of the plan. But I have to warn you… it's a little messy in here."
"Angela, will you marry me?"
"You're too short, Rocket."
"This is Gamora.."
"Oh. Then I'll think about it."
One of Bendis' many endearing trademarks is the complete lack of defensiveness he imbues his characters with when it comes to gender and sexuality. Here's the delightfully juvenile Bobby Drake (Iceman), given to squealing "Yike-a-hooty!" when attacked and who, as drawn by both artists, continues to be an absolute sweetie.
"I just like talking to the talking raccoon. It makes me feel like a Disney princess."
"We're here because… princess?"
"What? I'd make a better princess than you."
Amazingly the Guardians' sentient, bipedal tree's singular declaration "I am Groot!" has yet to wear thin. His name is indeed Groot, but he's not necessarily introducing himself. "I am Groot" could mean any number of things from, "I don't like line dancing at the best of times but you're treading on my toe" to "If you think I'm wearing mauve, you are very much mistaken".
Dale Keown and Jason Keith's cover to ALL NEW X-MEN #23, published in the back, plays with this beautifully.
