I've wanted to get back into the Guardians of the Galaxy book for an age, though I've hesitated because it's not "my" Guardians. But the allure of Kitty Pryde has drawn me back and there's a lot to like here. Bendis hits the characters right with a kind of camaraderie and humor that's solid and Valerio Schiti has a really fun style about this that just completely clicks, from the expressions on Kitty's face to how Ben looks in a space suit. With some strong background design and a look overall that's accented wonderfully by Isanove's color choices, I suspect I'll be adding a subscription to this one. Read Full Review

Any first issue is really judged by how effectively it sells the series. In the case of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, it sells me on a series that's going to be fun, with high-stakes and a lot of craziness. Some of the plot elements don't exactly feel original, and that's not necessarily a good thing, but for a book this fun I'm willing to suspend some of the criticism. This first issue is definitely a good pitch. Read Full Review

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is a nice ease back into the lands of Marvel cosmic post-Secret Wars and I really like the roster changes that have been made thus far. Bendis and Schiti are a top flight creative team and the Guardians are in good hands to say the least. Read Full Review

This is not a laser cannon to the face, this issue is more like having someone take pot shots at you with their standard issue pistol. It is not a great first issue but it's solid none the less. The creative team has a lot to do to win over audiences but they are establishing some firm ground to build upon. Read Full Review

"Guardians of the Galaxy" #1 is less "all-new" and "all-different" and more "Guardians of the Galaxy with an all-new, all-different Star-Lord and, oh yeah, Ben Grimm's here, too." The Thing slips right into the story and gives the cast a center to revolve around. Bendis, Schiti, Isanove and Petit give readers a fair amount to pique their interests, including a fight with the Chitauri, with the promise of more to come. "Guardians of the Galaxy" #1 is the first step in this new journey, but it feels like more happens in this issue than the entire previous volume, from the subplot involving Annihilus to the last page reveal of a new threat. Read Full Review

Brian Michael Bendis injects both humor and action in the first issue having the new team take on the Chitauri while foreshadowing bigger threats to the group in the coming months. Will I stay with this version of the team? Maybe, but he addition of a telepathic dog, a time-displaced astronaut, or the living embodiment of the Hawk God might make my decision easier. Worth a look. Read Full Review

This #1 wasn't the start I was hoping for, but there are enough good elements that I'll continue to check the series out. Read Full Review

Awkward pin-ups and pointless character arguments aside, Valerio Schiti's art can be simultaneously grotesque or adorable. His Groot is blessed with eager, expressive eyes when Kitty silently hints that they are bringing their artifact to Spartax for Peter Quill to check out, and he draws quite the disgusting alien when the Chitauri, Brood Queen, or a random dignitary trying to get Quill to “reproduce” with her. (The dialogue is 60s Star Trek alien-speak unbearable though) However, he and Isanove don't get much to illustrate as this issue is mostly arguments and MacGuffin finding with some decent Ben Grimm characterization and untapped potential as far as the enemies are concerned. Maybe, the full arc will read better in trade if the rest of the cast gets some semblance of an arc and Bendis and Schiti utilize the villains introduced to their full potential, but Guardians of the Galaxy is worth skipping for now. Read Full Review

Kitty Pride is a wonderful new and dynamic Star-Lord, but with the immediate reintroduction of Peter Quill as the bored Spartax ruler, it seems like it is only a matter of time before those superficial changes fall back in line with a more familiar Guardians lineup. Read Full Review

Very good start

Benefits from Bendis's trademark dialog. I love Kitty filling in for Star Lord, she brings something interesting to the table unlike Ben Grimm. Some parts seems utterly ignored though, when did they pick up this mysterious object? I seem to have missed that part. The art is excellent, great expressions and storytelling.

This new face of the Guardians doesn't really fit for me. I don't like the Thing being a member of the team (further assuring the end of the Fantastic Four at least for the foreseeable future) and although I liked Kitty in this issue, I don't love the IDEA of her being the new Star-Lord (or Star-Lady?) and leaving just like Ben her original team. The threat is not exactly thrilling for me, both because I don't know her (I understand she's a pretty new face, though) and because the ending was very cliche for the introduction of the next big enemy. On the other hand, the art was very enjoyable and Bendis's dialogues are the best as usual. I also liked the first sequence in the Negative Zone.

I thought this was a pretty good start to the new(ish) team. There is not much here easing you into the world of the GOTG. If you did not read the series before Secret Wars you will probably be a little lost. The change of Star-Lord from Peter Quill to Kitty Pryde worked well for me. Those that liked Peter will find he is still part of the series he is just stuck ruling Spartax. I have never been a huge fan of Thing but his inclusion did not distract me enough to take away from the issue. The focus still sits on the previous members. If you were a fan of the books you should continue to enjoy the series. Newcomers may not get as much from this first issue.