Review: Wastelanders: Star-Lord #1

Starlord: Wastelanders #1 is a strange book. It is a one shot but still feels like a filler issue. Including a villain as massive as the Shadow King into this dystopian future should allow for massive story-telling, conflict and a great battle. Instead most of this issue is Shadow King remaining hidden to readers as we must deal with his powers bringing to surface Starlord’s survivor’s guilt.

The art is often the best part of the Wastelanders universe and this issue continues that tradition. Brent Peeples and color artist Cris Peter do extraordinary work bringing back old friends with a dark, shadowy edge.

The issue begins with Starlord calling to reflect on his recent battles and the Milano’s repairs with Vision’s daughter Viv. He heads to Westchester and the X-Mansion which has been destroyed with the Xmen wiped out. He mourns Kitty Pryde just as she appears to him. The other X-Men and various heroes appear in turn to seemingly haunt him for abandoning them.

Quill begs for forgiveness but the visions grow monstrous and taunt his failures before the Shadow King stands revealed. In exchange for freedom from Cerebro, the Shadow King offers Peter a life free of regrets and mindless nostalgia. Starlord ends the battle abruptly, refusing the offer and destroying cerebro. The issue ends with Viv arriving with the Milano which Peter renames The Pryde in memory of Kitty.

This issue deals with important themes but fails in its execution. There just isn’t enough of the battle with shadow king to make the conflict seem worthwhile. Ultimately Starlord’s is able to get through his guilt. But it feels like a false exercise as it is entirely a strategy by Shadow King rather than Starlord truly dealing with his own feelings about the actual heroes that passed. It is very similar to what was done way too many times in DC’s Blackest Night crossover. Having a villain simply try and fail to make a hero feel guilty does not matter if readers don’t feel the emotional turmoil of the hero.

Writing: 2 of 5 stars
Art: 3.2 of 5 stars
Colors: 3.6 of 5 stars

Overall: 2.9 of 5 stars

Writer: Rich Douek
Art: Brent Peeples
Colors: Cris Peter
Publisher: Marvel

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.