Guardians of the Galaxy #.1 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

First, I have to say that I'm not entirely sure why Steve McNiven decided that Peter Quill was going to be the rakishly good-looking blond son of a regally good-looking blond prince, but, man, I am so OK with that decision.

Although I've read almost the entire Galactic Marvel oeuvre -- from "Annihilation" to "Annihilation:  Conquest" to the "Thanos Initiative," not to mention the entire "Nova" series -- I didn't pick up the "Guardians of the Galaxy" series.  It's mostly because I picked up all the aforementioned series in one fell swoop, as part of a mad back-issue spree inspired by following the adventures of Richard Rider.  By the time I learned -- in the wake of "Annihilation" -- that a "Guardians of the Galaxy" series existed, I already felt like my plate was full.  But, I've always regretted that decision, given that I loved the characters involved.  Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Mantis, and Rocket Raccoon formed a pretty hilarious group and I can't believe that I didn't take the plunge.

But, the past is the past.  Here, Bendis gives me a second chance.  This issue focuses mostly on Peter Quill's origin story, something that Bendis does well, really capturing the tragedy and snark that exists at the core of the character.  He has Peter declare that his goal in life is making sure that the galactic forces that gave him life -- and then promptly ruined it -- don't interrupt other Earthers'" lives the way that they have his life.  Bendis isn't great at conveying emotions, but he does manage to show a Peter who has spent most of his life on his own.  He was raised in orphanages and foster homes only to leave Earth to go roam the galaxy, without a Nova Corps or Quantum Bands to make it an easier prospect.  Even his team, the Guardians, was decidedly C-List.  But, with the addition of Iron Man to the roster, Bendis implies that Peter Quill is having his moment and nothing about Marvel NOW! excites me more than that.

Along the way, Bendis also sets the stage for future stories.  For example, Peter glosses over how he discovered the fact that his father was J'Son of Spartax and implies that he has met him.  Moreover, Bendis hints at wide-scale war raging throughout the galaxy, one that seems to promise an endless number of possible stories.

Unfortunately, the one story that Bendis doesn't tell is how Star-Lord is still alive.  After all, we saw him "die" with Nova and Thanos in the Cancerverse at the end of the "Thanos Imperative."  But, given that Thanos appeared (however briefly) in "New Avengers' #2 and Quill appears here, it's clear that they survived.  If they did, then I want to know where Richard Rider is and I want to know NOW.  Until that question is answered, it's going to be hard for me to fully engage with this story.  But, I'm definitely along for the ride.