Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino, Vol. 1

Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino

by Jim Valentino, Al Milgrom, Ron Marz

Thrill to the exploits of the greatest heroes of the 31st century, the original Guardians of the Galaxy! Join telekinetic Vance Astro, alien archer Yondu, flame-haired Mercurian Nikki, superstrong Jovian Charlie-27, crystalline Plutonian Martinex, the mysterious Starhawk and his wife Aleta as they undertake a quest to find the long-lost shield of Captain America - a mission that pits them against Iron Man's twisted legacy, the marauding alien cyborgs called the Stark, as well as the intergalactic thieves known as Force! Plus, the Guardians confront the devil's daughter, Malevolence - and battle across time alongside the Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange and the 26th century's Thor, Dargo Ktor, against the mad god known as Korvac!
COLLECTING: Guardians of the Galaxy (1990) 1-7, Annual 1; material from Fantastic Four Annual

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Comic Book

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2014

About the author

Jim Valentino is an American writer, penciler, editor and publisher of comic books. He is a co-founder of Image Comics and served as the company's publisher from 1999-2004. Jim created such diverse series as normalman, A Touch of Silver, Vignettes and ShadowHawk. He also wrote and drew Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel Comcs.

He currently heads his own imprint at Image called Shadowline which publishes Rat Queens, Faster Than Light, Jimmie Robinson, Ted McKeever and more.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guardians of the Galaxy was originally about a team made up of lone survivors from Earth colonies in the 31st century. Collects the first 7 issues searching for Captain America's shield plus a crossover across 4 different Annuals of varying quality. The Fantastic Four and Thor chapters are pretty rough. But all the Jim Valentino stuff is actually still pretty good. This was one of my favorite series back when I was in high school. I love how Valentino incorporates the Marvel universe into the book and we get to see how characters have evolved 1,000 years later. Seeing an alien race in Stark armor was really cool. The Vision, Firelord, Silver Surfer, and Dr. Strange all make appearances in various forms. Dr. Strange as the Ancient One was also a neat idea.

I did find it interesting that both the Reavers and Taserface come from this book, even though they are wildly different in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. Sylvester Stallone's team at the end of the movie are a version of this original Guardians tean as well.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.2 stars

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After guest-starring in several main Marvel titles the Guardians get their own series. I enjoyed the future look to the Marvel universe and many of the legacy characters that appear in the series. nice art and plot. Recommended

[Zack! Empire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but it's nothing mind blowing. If you have the chance to read it, I would say pick it up, but it wouldn't be a book I'm going to go out of my way and recommend.
The art and story in the beginning, which is done by Jim Valentino, is enjoyable. There is a page in the back which shows the cover for an older collection, which has only the first six issues of this series. If I had been reading that book instead of this one, it might have been a four star book. After the first six issues there is a four part story, collected across four Annuals, and it really brings the book down. I had a hard time getting through it. I was going through the book at a fast pace, but the final story just made me come to a dead stop.
The big problem with the book is that it takes place in the far off future, so we get to see the Guardians dealing with things like, Iron Man! Captain America! and the Fantastic Four? What the hell? I know why they did this. It is a Marvel book after all, and you have to find a way to keep it part of that universe, but come on. They couldn't come up with a more creative way? Why not involve one of the alien empires, like the Kree or the Skrulls, that have been around for thousands of years, and will presumable be around for thousands more? The Marvel Universe is filled with tons of mystic and magical items and ideas as well. Why not have the Guardians run across those? I just felt cheapened by the need to have this book tie in to the present day Marvel.
One nice thing is that they include a few text pieces explaining the history of the Guardians. A nice thing to have if you want to know everything about them, but I'm assuming it covers the stories collected in the Tomorrow Avengers books, so I skipped them. I'd much rather read it in comic book form.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was NOT my cup of tea. So. Much. Exposition! I read the first issue of the 2014 Guardians run a long time ago and have watched their MCU appearances, but knew very little about their comics history. So I thought this would be a fun read - it's not. It's just another Marvel fisticuffs comic, as one of the readers at the time said to the creators. And worse than just being the sum of senseless action and tedious exposition, it reads like the worst of 60s comics. Every time I saw a reference to someone or something contemporary to when this was written I was taken aback because it feels so much older than it is. Except for the constant highlighting of Aleta's nipples by her horrible spandex costume, of course, as that wouldn't have passed the CCA's rules back in the day. And it's such a shame because the idea behind this run is so interesting. Valentino wanted to explore what could have become of the current superheroes a thousand years in the future as well as looking at what if scenarios. I should have loved this! But I couldn't wait to be finished. Only recommended if you're very into Guardians AND old timey Marvel comics with absolutely no depth whatsoever.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quest for the Shield (1-6). This first arc shows off Valentino's Guardians in all their strengths and weaknesses. My favorite part of the comic was the evolution of the 20th century Marvel Earth, here embodied mainly by the Stark. However, we also get some great characters in the Guardians and the best continuity ever for this team. Add on the wacky art and ideas of the '90s. Yes, one of the villains really is called "Taserface". On the downside, there's too much fighting and on occasion too much verbiage, all of which makes the comic drag at times. Still, the overall story is fun. [6+/10].

Malevolence (7). Having finished his MacGuffin quest, Valentino really seems to be firing on all cylinders here. We get a great expanded origin of Starhawk (with a twist), a terrific new villain in Malevolence,and some exciting foreshadowing [7+/10].

The Annuals. In contrast, the annuals are quite subpar. They manage to undercut the Korvac Saga while simultaneously creating a tedious repeating narrative. In each annual, the Guardians have a pointless fight, face an all-powerful Korvac power that can't be defeated, then defeat it by some deus ex machina. I also think the decision to set it before the series proper was a bad one, because it meant that nothing of note could happen. The only good thing about the stories is the ability to see bits of the future of the Marvel universe [3/10].

Overall, a story of two stories. The actual comic is good, while the annuals are bad, creating a muddling middle.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid I loved the original Guardians of the Galaxy that was set in the 31st Century. This was a relaunch that had tons of potential and Jim Valentino did a great job and was clearly having a lot of fun with the characters and concepts. This volume also contains a four-part prequel story appearing in several annuals that had some pretty awful chapters, but wrapped up well with the Silver Surfer story and then the Guardians of the Galaxy chapter. These aren't great comics, but they are fun comics and Valentino deserves a lot of credit for taken these characters to new heights and revitalizing this franchise.

Note: fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy films - these are not the Guardians you're looking for. ;)

[Vail Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically, you only pay attention to this team in the hopes that they somehow team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy we all know from the movies.
But heck yeah, DO YOU WANT HOKEY SCI-FI NONSENSE THAT EVEN STAR TREK WOULD BALK AT?
Yes? Then this is your jam!
...
Seriously, how did we go from noble-warrior-race Yondu to redneck-space-pirate Yondu?

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reprints Guardians of the Galaxy (1) #1-7 and Annual #1, Fantastic Four (1) Annual #24, Thor (1) Annual #16, and Silver Surfer (3) Annual #4 (June 1990-July 1991). The Guardians of the Galaxy are on a quest to find Captain America’s legendary shield. Finding themselves in battle with a race called the Stark and facing a threat from a group called the Force, they will face challenges that could change them to the core. Plus, the return of Michael Korvac means a time-traveling trip for the Guardians that has the potential of ending in disaster!

Written by Jim Valentino (with additional writing by Al Milgrom, Ron Marz, Tom DeFalco, and Len Kaminski), Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino—Volume 1 is a Marvel Comics space fantasy. The collection features art from Valentino, Al Milgro, Ron Lim, Ron Frenz, Alex Trimpe, and Herb Trimpe and also contains the four annual crossover story “The Korvac Quest” from the annuals of Fantastic Four, Thor, and Silver Surfer. Issues in this collection were also collected as part of Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino Omnibus and Guardians of the Galaxy: Quest for the Shield.

Guardians of the Galaxy was my comic in the early ’90s. I had a lull in collecting for a while but comics like Guardians of the Galaxy, New Warriors, and Excalibur brought me back by having characters I always liked in their own series. Rereading Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino—Volume 1 brings back fun memories of soap-opera style comic books that have the fun that I feel I’m missing from modern comics.

The story is very, very traditional comic book. Valentino isn’t reinventing the wheel with Guardians of the Galaxy, but what he does is bring a lot of different characters together that have worked together like a family for years. Other than their run in Marvel Presents, we didn’t have much insight into the Guardians, and Valentino’s comic begins to flesh out the characters.

In addition to expanding on the Guardians of the Galaxy’s origins, the “future” allows for a ton of fun characters. We revisit immortal characters like Firelord and the Vision in this collection and see how characters like Tony Stark influenced the future through the Stark. You get descendants of current characters as well as demonstrated with Malevolence (aka the daughter of Mephisto)…Valentino continues this as well as introducing new characters to the Guardians in later issues which change the dynamics of the team.

Guardians of the Galaxy is just a fun title. I coveted each issue when it was released and stuck with the title far beyond when it began to faulter. This collection (and most of the Valentino issues) represent one of the fun little runs of a sudsy-soapy sci-fi series…Guardians Assemble! Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino—Volume 1 is followed by Guardians of the Galaxy by Jim Valentino—Volume 2.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia.

That's probably the main reason to get this book. Because despite this being one of the better offerings of the 90s Marvel titles, it's not really that good. The art while seviceable, isn't really a draw to buy the collection. While the story and characterisation are pretty simple. We've got the leader questioning himself. The love triangle (two of them even) and your inner team bickering.

I always liked how the original Guardians looked and thought they were interesting when they showed up in the Avengers or the Defenders., and of course there was that little known tale called the Korvac Saga where they were featured somewhat. However due to not being old enough to have a job with the accompanying income, I wasn't able to buy this series when it came out. Fast forward to today, and I'm able to fullfill my childhood wish by getting this collection.

Yeah, it hasn't really aged that well. The fun thing about the 90s comics from Marvel, is that you can instantly tell when a comic you're reading was published at the time. And that's not really a good thing. The Guardians fight a villain called Taser-face. You guessed it, he can shoot tasers from his face. This character evolves into a new character as the series unfolds. Spoilers, his new name: still very 90s. He gets even more spikes to his costume to boot. Because, "extreme".

So this trade collects the first 7 issues of the title, and the 2nd Korvac Saga storyline which was a crossover in certain Marvel titles' annuals at the time. It includes the letter pages of the first few issues, as it summarises the entire history and all the appearances of the Guardians of the Galaxy untill that point. As a starting point to get to know the original Guardians, you don't get much better than here. Though I would reccomend actually getting the first Korvac Saga trade, as opposed to read the summary in text form here.

Apart from the introductions, we get to see blips to how the Marvel Universe looks in the Guardians' future timeline. And those blips usually turn out to be the adversaries for the team. And the ideas are fun. Like say what happens when an alien civilisation gets their hands on Tony Stark's technology, or Silver Surfer with the Quantum Bands, or what happens in volume 2 with Wolverine's offspring and a new Phoenix.

The plots are fun, however the art and writing in my opinion don't really do these ideas a lot of justice. Probably also because this comic was aimed at early teen readers. Which shouldn't be a fault. But looking at it with today's eyes, and knowing how comics have evolved, I didn't really get that much enjoyment from it. So 3 out of 5.

[HSB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this after being introduced to the Guardians by the recent films and found this at once wholly unfamiliar and extremely enjoyable.

If you, like me, are one of those who came in late, there's no gun-toting raccoons or sentient badass trees anywhere in the picture in this early stage of the character's development.

Instead you have an entirely different set of guardians all of whom are the survivors of an interplanetary cataclysm and who - through the course of Vol 1, race back and forth in time to prevent further interplanetary cataclysms or embark on a quest for Captain America's shield.

At least one review I read here bags on the series for cynically tying into Marvel's existing franchise (it was originally written in the early 90s) instead of venturing forth into unexplored territory, but having experienced and even enjoyed some of the products of the peak-cynical tie in era, the throwbacks in this struck me as legitimate and very enjoyable.

As for the tone of the book:

Reproduced in Volume 1 is a fan letter which says 'I could do without another fisticuffs comic.'

To which Jim Valentino replies: 'Uh-oh Mal, looks like you're in for a disappointment here! We think that there are more than enough angst-filled 'mature' comics out there already. We like to remember a time when comics were fun and that's just what we intend to do here - have some fun and, hopefully, along the way tell some good stories!'

Having powered through all of Volume 1, I'd say Guardians fits that brief pretty well - and while there's a certain degree of depth and reckoning with the consequences of actions - the tone is mostly breezy and lighthearted. Which is kinda how I like at least some comics to be, which is why the very high rating.

[Adam Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects Issues 1-7 of Jim Valentino's run on Guardians of the Galaxy from the 1990s with the original team. The book also collects the four-part Korvac Quest which has the Guardians crossing over with the Fantastic Four, Thor, and Silver Surfer before concluding the story in their own annual.

The book gets a lot right. In general, Valentino makes the characters far more likable than when Steve Englehart was writing them in the 1970s. The first six issues comprise an epic story arc that has the Guardians hunting for Captain America's shield. The climax is interesting based on the nature of the final tests they face and the results, as well as Vance Astro giving an absolutely epic speech.

Issue 7's not that bad either. The art remain good and the story has a clever story telling method even though there's not a ton of substance to it.

The Korvac Quest is probably what makes this book three stars instead of four. It tells the story that Korvac when he apparently died, he sent his energy forward in time and the Guardians travel forward to stop it from reaching Baby Korvac. It's not bad, but it's not great. The Fantastic Four and Thor entries are okay (although with a Thor hammer wielder from the future), the Silver Surfer entry has some good ideas but feels pointless once you reach the end. Despite the title, the only portion of the Korvac Question actually written by Jim Valentino was the Guardians of the Galaxy Annual. While that story's not perfect, they do have to deal with some key dilemmas, and in terms of getting a desired result, it doesn't turn out well. It's a solid story, but taken as a whole, this four parter was disappointing.

Still, the strength of the first six issues do make me curious to check out more Guardians stuff from this author.

[Chris Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The late eighties were a weird time to be buying Marvel comics: I gravitated to stuff like Walt Simonson’s Fantastic Four run but although I bought a lot of other superhero comics around that time, they seemed a bit directionless and lacking in the focus of some of the more author driven stuff. This early Guardians book typifies that feeling, with some great ideas - the Stark, in particular - lost in a sort of weird mush of generic heroics and even more hackneyed villains. One of these, the amazingly named Taserface, eventually turns up in the second GOTG film mainly so they can laugh at his name (a little harsh, as it appears a ten year old literally came up with it), but generally as characters go, both the goodies and baddies are less defined in terms of their writing and more by their archetypes. If you kind of like your heroes like Ben Grimm, here’s Charlie 27 for example. As such there’s some pleasure to be had in a bunch of catchphrases slugging it out, but it wears itself out fairly quickly. The latter Korvac stuff is a bit more sprightly but feels like it’s cramming in a lot more exposition instead of actual plotting plus it does tend to show you how dull, say, said Charlie is when he’s literally with the Thing and you realise how much of a knock off he is

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two main stories here, and the disparity between them keeps me from feeling more positively about the book as a whole.

The first story, originally published as issues 1 through 7, is excellent. Valentino establishes the team for a new generation of comic fans, and the quest for Captain America’s shield sets the foundation for the entire series. In the time-honored Marvel tradition, the team isn’t a perfectly-functioning unit so a measure of friction adds some good interpersonal conflict that I’m looking forward to seeing play out through the series.

The second story was published in the 1991 annual cycle, with appearances from other Marvel characters. This felt more like the sporadic appearances the team made in the 1970s and 1980s, but the story surrounding Michael Korvac here isn’t nearly as interesting as some of the classic Avengers-Korvac stories. For the purposes of continuity the second story happens before the first but it’s presented in publication order here so it reads a bit backward.

The first story is worth reading, but it may not be easy to track down in collected format outside of this volume so this might still be the best way to get a copy despite the shippable Korvac story.

[Marcelo Soares · Rating 3 out of 5]

É divertido.
Naquele esquema Marvel anos 90, lançando tudo que é gibi por mais inusitado que possa parecer na esperança de algum emplacar. Não foi esse.
Os Guardiões da Galáxia já tinham aparecido em boa meia dúzia de histórias dos Vingadores, mas agora eles tem um título próprio; aparece como eles encontram o Vance Astrovik, a busca pelo escudo do Capitão América, a origem do Starhawk, alienígenas que se utilizam da tecnologia Stark, o Senhor do Fogo como protetor universal e, claro, viagens no tempo e alguma coisa do Korvac, porque sempre tem que ter o raio do Korvac na história.
É divertido, mas é só isso mesmo.

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like these Guardians of the Galaxy. Vance Astro was a weird mix of seventies hero stuck in the 31th century. The others from around our solar system and then from other worlds was a fun mix of comradery and compulsion to take care of others since they all lost their worlds, families, and friends.

Jim Valentino's stories are fast paced and fun. Guest stars like Firelord, Thor, Silver Surfer, FF, and others of the marvel universe keep them significant.

I look forward to reading Vol. 2 of this the original group of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read later issues of this run back when it was new, but it's still pretty striking how different it is from the modern Guardians. (Especially Yondu.) In fact, I don't know that fans of the modern Guardians would get much out of this series. Anyway, this is fine future superheroics, with some neat ideas about a 31st-century Marvel Universe (such as the Stark). The Korvac Quest was kind of disappointing, though, except for the Silver Surfer installment. (B)

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guardians issues 1 through 7 are pretty pedestrian but fun 90s style super-hero comics. Valentino doesn't do anything too wild, but it's an entertaining and breezy read.

The four annuals that make up Korvac Quest are a totally different beast, though. I enjoyed FF Annual 24, but it's pretty stupid. The continuity patch they put on top of the Korvac Saga is super dumb, but I still liked this more than Shooter's original Korvac Saga. Thor Annual 16 is a dull story about future Thor. Silver Surfer Annual 4 is just an awful story with the Guardians acting super out of character and a final sacrifice that is immediately undone. Guardians Annual 1 ends in a really dumb manner, but at least Valentino makes it modernly entertaining.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this run of GotG when it first came out back in the day, so this was a return visit to an old favorite. I liked the stories, but one challenge that comes with trade paperbacks is that each of the first four issues more or less starts by introducing the cast members in a panel - it gets a little repetitive when you are binge reading issues. Valentino's run is a lot of fun and he slowly starts building the world of this version of the 31st Century of the Marvel Universe.

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

the first half was entertaining enough without being riveting, but the second half of the collection wasn't as good.

[Jeffrey Greek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good stuff for it's time, but damn there's a lot of exposition.

[Merzbau · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2

[G Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. not what i expected.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at work since I was really curious about the background of the Guardians of the Galaxy after seeing the film recently. To be honest, it is one of the superhero teams I had been fairly ignorant of for quite a while. This is a set of stories that take place over a variety of comic titles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The heroes highlighted are the original team, which is mostly made up of a variety of genetically engineered humans from colones on planets with within the Solar System, a man from today who finds himself now in the 31st century, and one alien from world where earth's sole extra Solar System colony is located.

They are definitely a fun group of heroes, and they have a variety of powers as they work together to take on a group of alien cyborgs called the Stark, who have modeled their culture after Iron Man technology, search for Captain America's shield, and take on the Force, a horrible power that seems set on taking over the galaxy.

It was quite the fun read, and I found myself regretting that I had been so unfamiliar with the team for so long.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This exists at a strange angle relative to the "Marvel Universe." It really feels like someone bought the rights to a series of 1950s short stories and then said, "Let's find a way to connect it to Marvel Comics."

Most it is relatively interesting, but parts are exceedingly tedious because the authorskeep hitting the same notes, e.g., "One who knows," the importance of Captain America's shield, Yondu's mystical last member of the tribe thing . . . .

Also, the villains seem to be dispatched by quasi-deus ex machinas.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The original Guardians of the Galaxy. Yeah whatever, though given it's age it could have been much worse. It was readable but not especially interesting. The characters and setup were all pretty dumb and kind of cardboard feeling. The writing felt like the writers thought they were being witty but mostly it felt flat. The artwork wasn't bad again considering the age, but it wasn't all that good either. 2.5 of 5.

[Matthew Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Due to it's intermittent distorted natural timeline things can be a little awkward for some readers but the pure novel approach as a fun/light-hearted action romp it proves to be a lot of fun to read. And, as an added bonus there is plenty of great moments to feed speculation/insight for the Marvel movies of the same title. The short of it all; it made me feel like a kid again as I immersed myself into the inked world of colorful heroes and punny dialog.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's funny to me how much '90s comics are like '60s comics, because when I was 12 and GotG was initially hitting the shelves, I would've discerned a difference. This is a good thing, though as this volume doesn't veer away from goofy, fast-paced fun. The problem with the pace, however, is that much is explained away in narrative blurbs and thought bubbles.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The team members' abilities are interesting, but there is a lot of information dumping that might not bode well for everyone. After all, each reader has his or her own reaction. It is also kind of weird how two characters share the same body.

[Anneli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent stuff! Not at all what I thought it'd be.. Not that I really had any thoughts going in. All I know I had a good ride with this read. Nice journey. :-)