Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 2) Issue #25 Pg. 08 (ft Cosmo, Rocket Racoon, Moondragon, Star-lord, Mantis, Groot, Drax, Bug, Gamora, Major Victory, Jack Flag)

This is MY favourite Rocket Raccoon artistic team. Funny, you posted pages 7 & 8 tonight and I sold pages 6 & 9 years ago, on behalf of Hennessy.

Brad Walker and all of his inking teams are definetly up there for me for these characters. Most likely my favorite, but in comparison I absolutely love the Timothy Green II work as well. The unpolished look is what I actually crave the most sometimes. Especially on the eve of AI spitting perfection in my face all the time. Timothy Green II and I had a few conversations about his artwork when I picked it up and some of the depth that I learned really connected me with his stuff. Both iterations of early Annihilation Conquest Star-lord as well as later Annihilators work, which knowing his preference of the two art styles is half the fun. I love Pelletier and Magyar, yet for me, it wasn't until the later parts of the GotG (Vol. 2) series that I truly fell in love with the characters. It is what sparked me to back read Annihilation Conquest, then Annihilation, GotG Vol. 2 crossover events, Thanos Imperative, and lastly Annihilators. That spark may have also been in part because of Brad's art being so strong. It still baffles me why he isn't all bought out of OA. I won't lie, the series starts off a bit slow. It really isn't until Phyla-Vell rescues Moondragon in issue 12 that I trully started falling in love with it, which in actuality was Wes Craigs work. I appreciate Moondragon and Phyla-Vell's love story throughout this collection mostly in part to the amazing work done by Brad Walker, Tom Raney, Mike Perkins, and Wes Craig as well as all the respective inking teams. The tears are epic when having connected with them throughout the events. Again, prior to issue 12, I had to work to stay focused when I first read it. Afterwards, War of Kings is flat out awesome and then the story works it's way into aspects that tie into Annihilation and Annihilation conquest. Thus the last half of the series is way more epic than the first half. However, Raney holds down the fort with Conquest quite well. That and as you can see I have a soft spot for Wellinton Alves. That and Andrea DiVito is an unsug hero. He didn't touch Rocket and Groot, but his work with the other characters was so readable and imersive. That and nothing even needs to be said about Ron Lim and his work with some of the early characters. He is flat out amazing and his personality breathes fresh air into every room he enters. Nic Klein's cover I am forever attached to now and there are a few other unamed artists that I appreciate even if it is not perfection and or not in my collection. Thus, with my slightly off topic response, all I can say is it is hard to pick, but I will agree, Brad/ Hennssey are flat out amazing. P.S. I wish I was doing this years ago for page 9 lol.

The Cosmo and Rocket panel - 10 out of 10. And the rest are really good, too!

Thanks Jeff! They hit home hard for me. I feel like it was reprinted somewhere for how seared in my mind it is. I went back to look around for it, but have not found it. Maybe just a moment I really connected with.

I know that you died last night
I called you up Phyla declined
Moon Dragon's mood, cause Thanos' mine
I'm not okay, but it's a fight

'Cause you're in Hennessy lines, I gotta get Thanos
Now you know what it's like to see hell alone
Tell me, how you gonna hurt Thanos, that glove, you are toast?
'Cause your tears gonna cry a river, gon' let it flow

Don't want no cry baby at my door, I'll get Thanos
Boy, I ain't the same girl I was, Walker
You're only cryin' Cosmo don't Raccoon back no more
Boy, you've Brad your chance
And you'll be the one cryin', baby

I shed a tear for her. Yep, I was the one crying baby. Ain't nothing as painful as helpessness against the inevitable.

Fantastic full-team Guardians page, awesome pick-up Ian!

The Cosmo/Rocket panel is so cool it should be on a t-shirt.

the Cosmo/Rocket panel IS pretty fantastic. great all around page with the strong character moments and emotion. nice addition, congrats!

That middle panel is my favorite!