Guardians of the Galaxy #14

   When it comes to numbering its issue, Marvel likes to have its cake and eat it, too.

   Thus this issue, #14, is billed as a "Double-Sized Anniversary Issue!" Ah, but what issue is it? Nowhere in the issue does it explain.

   I believe this is considered to be issue #200 of Guardians of the Galaxy, which would include all the issues from the '70s and '80s version of the team, and all the mini-series covering the adventures of the modern version of the group (which actually has very little to do with the original team of freedom fighters, as far as I know).

   This is the issue where everything goes wrong for the team, as the members are attacked while everyone's off following their own pursuits.

   (And why is Venom in this title now? Apparently he was traded to the GotG by the Avengers in a comic I didn't read - perhaps for a player to be named later.)

   It's written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Nick Bradshaw, one of Marvel's newest and brightest talents. The second half of the issue gives us a look at Groot's (strange) history, and another short story that sets up an interesting meeting that I can't talk about for fear of spoiling the fun (but it's a meeting that's long overdue).

   I've been enjoying this series so far, but it still needs to give us a good reason to like these characters (or even root for them to win). So far we haven't seen a lot of that - which is surprising, since characterization is Bendis' strong suit.

   But there's a lot of hoo-hah action, so that helps.

Grade: B+

--------------------