In Review: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2020-) #4

Synopsis: The true Guardians have formed at long last – and their first mission is to defend a vital energy pipeline from a gang of unscrupulous ecoterrorists…including a rogue Nova, Moondragon’s other-dimensional doppelganger, and a raccoon in a suit.

The Story

After the death of Starlord aka Peter Quill. The Guardians have separated into two teams. One is headed up by Rocket Racoon while the other is being run by a grief-stricken Gamora. When Gamora’s team is tasked with killing Rocket Racoon. All kinds of craziness breaks out as Moondragon’s other-dimensional doppelganger intercedes and cuts her connection with any help including that of Marvel Boy.

The Artwork

Juann Cabal provides some pretty decent artwork for an issue that takes a while to get going. I loved the art for when Marvel Boy spat on Drax rendering him utterly stoned in a far-out land within his own mind. But it was the art on the last couple of pages that really impressed as we see the reintroduction of The Dragon of the Moon in what is a fairly epic final page.

Overall

Its been somewhat of a wait to get this issue with the pandemic causing all sorts of problems within the comics industry. So it is fair to say that I was happy to get this issue. Even though it feels a little underwhelming from what has come before. That said, I get the sense that this story is likely to warm up some more in the next issue. Seeing Gamora go off the rails and take on a job to effectively kill her former teammate Rocket Racoon is a bit of a shocker, but seeing her agree to it so easy has me wondering somewhat.

I loved the fact that Rocket is basically chilling on the planet and knows full well that the person that owns said planet is out for his blood.  Somehow I think I will put my money on the Racoon, but given that we have already lost Starlord (Or have we). I’m not sure about how confident I would be to make such a bet.

Overall. Kind of an expositional issue to set out the new order of things.