ROCKET RACCOON #1 is on sale July 2, 2014.
The Good
A Rocket Raccoon comic written and drawn by Skottie Young. It's exactly what you would hope and dream of. Similar to fellow Guardians of the Galaxy teammate, Star-Lord (who also gets his own solo series this week), Rocket is a character that's been around since the 70s. The fact that he's so darn cute and has such an attitude makes him ooze with charm.
This new series does take place in continuity. It should also be noted that this is a T+ series. There is some implied language (using your typical #$%* format) as well as the fact that Rocket just might be quite a ladies' man creature. Similar to the idea that Star-Lord is capable of having his own adventures away from the other Guardians, that's what we're seeing here.
Skottie Young's art style is enough to bring a smile to your face. That makes it the perfect fit for this series. While Rocket Raccoon may come across as a cutesy character, that's not necessarily the case. For a little critter that often uses big guns, Young manages to easily capture his essence in each panel. There are also plenty of moments you'll find yourself chuckling to yourself. I absolutely loved the conversation between a couple of background characters early in the issue. At the same time, it's absolutely not a parody issue. We do see the other members of the Guardians doing their things. They are drawn in Young's style but as you become immersed in the story, you won't think twice about it appearing differently from the style in the regular Guardians title.
Young also sets up a story here that explains why Rocket is handling things on his own and not necessarily with the rest of his team.
The Bad
Part of me wishes this was a full fledge "all-ages" title. Unfortunately many associate "all-ages" with "kids book." Clearly this isn't a direct critique against this issue. You can see by the score how much I enjoyed it. I just feel this is a book that could help usher younger readers into comics due to Young's visuals and humor. I don't necessarily agree it's a "Teen Plus" title but I can see why it's not all-ages. Parents can and should use their discretion in determining whether the younger readers in their lives would be allowed to check this out.
The Verdict
This book is an example why we should all cheer for the comics in our lives. Skottie Young's writing and art sets the perfect tone for Rocket Raccoon's solo adventures. Don't assume this is going to just be a fun romp of an adventure featuring the lovable Rocket. You will find plenty of attitude and mayhem Rocket's been known to generate. Many of today's comics have the same feel to them and Skottie Young brings a breath of fresh air to our reading list of comic books. A Skottie Young book about a space-fairing talking raccoon-ish creature with big guns and a bigger attitude may not be for everyone. I would highly encourage those to give this a try. It's safe to say, you're going to have a blast reading this book. I love the fact that this comic exists.
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