Groot Review (Jeff Loveness, Brian Kesinger)

I Am Groot. 

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(Translation: 

I know the Guardians of the Galaxy movie was a massive hit for Marvel Studios a couple years ago but really - a Groot solo comic? Yeah, really. And, like the movie, beyond all expectations it’s really, really good! 

On their way to Earth for a holiday (Groot’s mysterious choice of destination), Rocket and Groot’s ride breaks down in the middle of space - and that’s just the beginning of their troubles. After Rocket is nabbed by a space pirate for his bounty, Groot must track down and save his best friend - with the help of the Guardians? Nope, a group of complete nobodies. Bring it on! 

The general story of the book is quite amusing. We meet a trio of Skrulls that’re like the Three Stooges, a robot called Mantron, the pinnacle of 1996 technology (complete with floppy disks!) and Groot teams up with the Silver Surfer and Dawn Greenwood to save a planet from a Power Cosmic-guzzling alien slug monster. But the issues that focused on Groot’s character were the ones I loved best. 

A little background if you’re unfamiliar with Groot: he’s a tree-like alien creature who can only say the words I Am Groot. Understandably it leads to some communications problems as hardly anyone besides Rocket can understand Groot and it’s something we see Groot dealing with as he saves a space bus-load of people who think he’s attacking them (this scene was the first inkling you get that this is book is something special). Upset, he thinks back to the first time he met Rocket - in jail of course – and the same communications issue came up. It’s a fun, utterly sweet and touching episode to see as the prickly Rocket slowly warms to the lovable Groot and a lifelong friendship is born. 

Once Groot - joined by Mantron and the three Skrulls - find the space pirate and Rocket, I was losing interest, thinking writer Jeff Loveness was going to do the usual superhero big fight finale to wrap things up quickly and boringly; how wrong I was! (I’ve never read a Jeff Loveness comic before so I totally and unfairly misjudged him.) Baby Groot makes an appearance - yup, the Jackson 5-loving breakout star of the Guardians movie is in this comic! So good. And Mantron, sweet Mantron - I shed a few tears over this supporting character we just met in this comic. I must be on my man-period because that rarely happens! 

And STILL Loveness kept the brilliance flowing with the final issue as we find out why Groot wanted to go to Earth in the first place. I won’t spoil it but remember the first ten minutes of Up? Yeah, you’re gonna cry when you read it like I did (again). Losing my shit twice over a fucking Groot comic?! Yes, oh god, it’s so beautiful! 

Brian Kesinger, bring it in you talented sumbitch, drawing our hero in all his glorious incarnations so damn skilfully! The Groot-ified Marvel heroes were a highlight but I adored Groot Galactus. When you’re doing a cosmic Marvel comic, you’re taking in who knows how many worlds and alien species so hats off to Kesinger for his vision and imagination in bringing the universe to life! 

Groot is the full package: a great story with a wonderful cast of characters full of fun scenes, creative art, witty dialogue and bursting with heart - so many feels! Highly recommended to all comics fans wherever you are in the cosmos - I Love Groot!)

Groot