By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Will Quintana (colors)

The Story: War of the Kings rages on as Vulcan tries to rebound from the devastating counter attack  by the Kree and Inhumans. The Star Jammers and the Guardians of the Galaxy make their move to rescue Lilandra from Gladiator and the rest of the Imperial Guard. All of this transpires while in the background the Inhumans struggle with their leadership over the Kree.

What’s Good: The only good thing to come out of Secret Invasion is whatever is happening in the Marvel Cosmos. War of the Kings is at the top of that bracket and this issue doesn’t disappoint. Between Vulcan’s craziness, the Inhuman’s suspiciousness, and the Star Jammers’ boldness, there is a lot to like about this issue. It reads like a block-buster movie; or should I say, a GOOD block-buster movie.

Gladiator has always been one of my favorite characters and in this issue we learn a ton about his personality as he quickly becomes the star of this series. His decision at the end of the issue, though expected, will have an enormous impact on this series. I’d like to see him more involved in the greater Marvel Universe. Perhaps he could visit earth and, I don’t know, like, kill the Sentry. Dead. Forever. Oh well,  just an idea.

It’s obvious that Abnett and Lanning are spinning a winner here. Their pacing, dialogue, and scripting are almost flawless. Additionally,  the art style is perfect for this series. Paul Pelliter’s pencils and Rick Magyar’s heavy inks are fabulous.

What’s Not So Good: It’s basically non-stop action in these pages. I would have liked to have seen more development with what’s going on with the Inhumans. The scenes involving Crystal were interesting but a little frustrating in their ambiguity. Also, Crystal’s character is on one hand  to be an intelligent and measured diplomat, but on the other, innocent and gullible to the true intentions of the rest of her royal family, which is a little contradictory.

Conclusion: If you’re looking for a fun and engaging read, then the War of Kings is for you. No doubt what transpires in these pages will shape the Marvel U for the foreseeable future. However, if your into cosmic Marvel than this will cement your convictions. But if not, this series won’t convert you.

Grade: B+

-Rob G

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier (Pencils), Rick Magyar (Inks), and Will Quintana (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: In my opinion, Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most consistently entertaining and visually impressive books Marvel puts out. It effortlessly blends action, comedy, and drama into one hell of a satisfying package. The question now is whether or not the series can maintain momentum since Secret Invasion pulled the team apart. My guess is that it can.

The Story: The issue opens with a glimpse into a devastating future as described by Starhawk, who is being held in captivity by Cosmo the dog for precautionary reasons. Apparently, humanity’s future is doomed unless Starhawk can manage to correct an error occurring during the present time. Meanwhile, Rocket Raccoon’s new team of Guardians answer a cry for help from a colony in need that seems to be facing problems strikingly similar to the ones Starhawk spoke of. Adam Warlock seeks to find out more information regarding the Church of Universal Truth with the help of Gamora. As for Drax and Quasar, they are out in search of answers regarding someone named Cammi. And Starlord? Well let’s just say that he’s got problems as well.

What’s Good: Despite all the characters in play in this issue, the creative team once again knocks one out of the park. While mostly set-up for the future, the storyline provides for some great character work and extremely good looking artwork. While I may not have fully grasped the implications regarding some of the plot beats, I found myself completely entertained, thanks to the colorful cast of characters. Simply put, Guardians of the Galaxy #7 is another great chapter in an awesome series that seems to get better all the time.

What’s Not So Good: My only major complaint with the issue is that I felt a bit lost regarding some of the plot beats. While I am sure Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning will catch me up with everything next month, some of the impact regarding the story was simply lost on me.

Conclusion: If you aren’t reading Guardians of the Galaxy, you should be. ‘Nuff said.

Grade: B+

Looking for a Response: Anyone want to catch me up on what I might have missed regarding some of the stuff in this issue?

-Kyle Posluszny