Legendary Star-Lord #5

Writer – Sam Humphries
Artist – Paco Medina
Inker – Juan Vlasco
Colours – David Curiel

Star-Lord is in a bar drinking with a Kymellian and listening to his story about how his people were attacked by the mysterious Mister Knife’s Slaughter Squad.  He also goes on to relate how they were after one particular object, The Black Vortex.  Peter of course, listens to Lucien as best he can, but also having to stop to take a call from Kitty Pryde as he missed their holo-date.  This issue features everything you love about Star-Lord including funny banter, action, hilarious quips and his absolutely carefree attitude.  Sam Humphries has been doing a stellar job on the book, making it even more of a must-read than the regular Guardians book.  The Black Vortex event that is coming up sounds quite interesting and it all begins here.  Kudos go out to Humphries for also bringing the Kymellians into the story as they are rarely featured in any title, even though they are quite the unique alien species.  The best line of the book has to be when Peter calls Lucien ‘Beta Ray Filly.’  It is probably the funniest line to be found in any book in ages.  Paco Medina continues to deliver the goods with some really strong pencils and he gives the reader some great visuals with the design of the Slaughter Squad.  This is definitely one of the best and most light-hearted books on the stands today and really worth your time if you have not been reading it.  Great stuff from the Humphries, Medina and the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe.

4 out of 5

John Carter, Warlord of Mars #1

Writer – Ron Marz
Artist – Abhishek Malsuni
Colours – Nanjan Jamberi

What a difference a relaunch makes!  Ron Marz comes on board as the new writer of the title with Abhishek Malsuni on pencils and to say this book was refreshing would be an understatement.  The story is intriguing and really sucks you in with a mystery as you want to know who the man in the shadows is, all the while providing a nice introduction to Mars and its people as well as the main characters that will be starring in the book.  It does everything an introductory story should and unlike the previous series, you actually cannot wait to get the next issue.  The pencils by Abhishek Malsuni are beautiful, a far cry from the sparseness that the last series sported and while that previous series did have a certain attraction to it, they were not as detailed nor as eye-catching as Malsuni’s are.  Marz seems to have a good grasp of the characters and the world they inhabit so there is no worry that he will mishandle them or have them do things they would not normally do.  The book finally feels like the science-fiction epic it should be, with tons of action and a threat that might just give John Carter a run for his money.  This is exactly what the title needed and it is one of the best things that Dynamite has done with the property.

4 out of 5