"The Trial of Jean Grey"
The Guardians of the Galaxy get a reminder of Earth when they cross paths with the All-New X-Men during the TRIAL OF JEAN GREY! When an alien race discovers that the original Jean Grey is back on Earth, they decide to hold her accountable for the acts of the Dark Phoenix, and it's up to the Guardians to help the X-Men save her. You won't want to miss the first encounter between two of the biggest franchises in the Marvel U!
Crossing over with last week's ALL-NEW X-MEN (also written by Brian Michael Bendis), this seemed like an odd crossover but you can clearly see how it will work. Brian Bendis and Sara Pichelli are taking these characters to new heights. In an issue that isn't heavy on the action, we get to know them a little better and that gives a connection that makes readers want to come back for more. Pichelli's art is gorgeous and Bendis' combination of storytelling and wit makes the issue a fun read. If you haven't been reading GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY lately, now is definitely the time to start (or should I say "NOW" is the time?). Read Full Review
Yes, the cover bugs me. No, this was not at all the story I was expecting. Despite both those things though, I cant really imagine enjoying this issue any more than I did. Honestly folks, if you enjoy fun, usually humorous adventures on a cosmic scale and you havent started reading this series yet, I really think you are doing yourself a disservice, and this issue is as good a place as any to jump on board"that is why theres a big (somewhat misleading) number one on the cover after all. Read Full Review
I find I like the series in spite of itself, mostly because of the humor - and the unique nature of the team, though I'd really like to learn more about each character (most are blank slates at this point). Read Full Review
I'd say my first issue back with the Guardians was a fun one, and a productive one story wise. I'll be sticking around, in part because I want to see how the crossover plays out, but also because I like this books direction. Read Full Review
While I truly enjoyed the issue I am hoping this will be the only pairing where we only get one half of what's going on. I get why it was done for the start of the crossover and while I appreciate it, I don't think that it'll need to continue in the same viewpoint. I'd love to see both comics pushing the story forward from this point on since the two teams have now met up and not, say, 'All-New X-Men' just following Jean next issue while at the same time the Guardians and the rest of the X-Men are looking for where she's being held prisoner. I get wanting to give everyone screen time but now that they've met up. I think we can safely just push forward full speed ahead. I hope so at least. Read Full Review
I've been burned recently with bi-title crossovers, but it's hard to be cynical when presented with such enjoyable artwork wrapped around a sincerely fun story. If you have love for either title this is an event you need to be on board with, and if you are mildly interested this is a good place to start. The Guardians of the Galaxy will be a big deal this year and The Trial of Jean Grey will be a story new fans may come back to revist. If this issue is any indication, they would be well served, IF Bendis can stick the landing. Read Full Review
Guardians of the Galaxy #11.NOW accomplishes a lot while building up something that feels like a memorable crossover. Highly recommended. Read Full Review
Guardians of the Galaxy is beautifully drawn and maintains it's humour and charm as it takes on it's first big crossover event. This is a joy to read. Read Full Review
Guardians of the Galaxy #11.NOW is cut and dry without losing flavor. It's a delicious morsel that sets the stage for a cosmic X-Men showdown that brings in another franchise which gets its time on the silver screen this summer. It's very possible fans of the All-New X-Men series will see enough here to want to continue with the series even after the crossover's finished, and I'm hoping Marvel doesn't give us the old bait and switch by taking some of the creatives off this book. Read Full Review
Bendis and Pichelli complement each other so well. This issue is a great jumping on point for new readers. You won't be confused if you don't follow the cosmic Marvel universe, but you will miss some small nuances. You also don't need to follow All New X-Men either to grasp what's happening. But I would recommend you do. Read Full Review
Jump onto this crossover with this issue even if you missed chapter one, from the first page I was sold on the great art and storytelling. I look forward to more as the trial continues. Read Full Review
I'm not really looking forward to title jumping into yet another crossover, but on the other hand the galactic ramifications of Jean Grey's trial make for an unique situation that fits this team perfectly. We don't get much from Rocket, Groot, or Drax, but the early stuff with Quill is fun as is the continued female bonding of the murder girls. Worth a look. Read Full Review
Sara Pichelli is kicking ass. Even if you have no investment in these characters, no interest in this story and no desire to read a Bendis book (you have a bad attitude, you know that?), then you will still find something to enjoy here thanks to Pichelli. She draws some of the most expressive looking characters in the comics biz. If you have to have a book where a bunch of people stand around and talk for most of the time, then you should probably have Sara Pichelli draw it. She's top notch, a superstar in the making. Read Full Review
The writing could have been edited down, but Guardians of the Galaxy #11 is a fun issue. Read Full Review
Bendis is up to his old tricks (Mametian dialogue, a bit of overwriting, Skrulls) but he balances a large cast exceptionally well. He reintroduces characters in the context of the story without beating the reader over the head with exposition. Read Full Review
Characters and dialogue: A+. Plot and pacing: B-, but that comes with the territory. Making me want to read more about their adventures with Tony Stark in space: sold, I'm in. Acting as a point of entry for an ongoing series: C-, but it does a damn sight better job of it than Thunderbolts did. Read Full Review
Guardians of the Galaxy #11.NOW had all the makings of a fantastic second chapter to this crossover with All-New X-Men. Unfortunately specific story choice made by Brian Bendis left me disappointed with how things ended. With this issue ending up in the same exact spot that All-New X-Men #22.NOW did Bendis devalued the importance of these first two chapters to the crossover. And that is the worst feeling to have because now I feel like I wasted $8 on a story that shouldve only taken no more than 30 pages to tell. Hopefully, with this awkward two-part introduction out of the way the latest Jean Grey/Phoenix story can truly get underway. Read Full Review
Much like its "All New X-Men" counterpart, "Guardians of the Galaxy suffers from being mostly setup and no payoff. To the point where both issues end (SPOILERS) on the same panel, and so the story literally doesn't move further ahead. The backstory is fleshed out, but a quick glance at any of the promo materials for 'The Trial of Jean Grey' would reveal basically the same information. Instead it's the humorous and fun writing of Bendis and the always dependable art of Pichelli that make the issue an enjoyable read despite its short comings. Read Full Review
The issue does a lot of the busy work needed to set up "The Trial of Jean Grey" on the Guardians side of things, but it is largely just a mirror issue to last week's "All-New X-men". Having read the issues as they came out I sort of went into this issue having known what was going to happen already which kind of ruined it. Presumably you could have read this one first and then the "Al-New X-men" issue and that one wouldn't have been as much fun, but my point is one of the issues loses its shock value when they both have the same ending. If you've been reading "The Guardians of the Galaxy" and you want to keep tabs on your favorite characters you'll probably be interested in this issue but if you're just following the event you only really need to read one of the "issue #1"s. Read Full Review
"The Trial of Jean Grey" is an acceptable but boring comic that forces Bendis' two franchises to share a tale at a time where the two concepts really have no other reason to cross paths. I have no doubt the emphasis placed in "Guardians of the Galaxy" #11.NOW on a resurgent Skrull Empire will have a heavy hand in this storyline, but for now the paper-thin pretense that smacks of subterfuge and boggles my mind in its ability to appear as a convincing notion between the members of the Galactic Council. With the first chapter and the gigantic exposition complete, I hope "The Trial of Jean Grey" can pick up some speed and that "Guardians of the Galaxy" can find its missing heart along the way. Read Full Review
Really good except for the boring bits about Jean Grey. Pichelli is a master of sequential art!