Rocket Raccoon #1 Review: 99 Problems And A Girl IS One

Like Rocket Raccoon himself, it’d be pretty easy to be cynical about the timing of his new ongoing series. I mean, it’s not a coincidence that this book is making its debut less than a month before the Guardians of the Galaxy movie comes out.

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So it’s up to Rocket Raccoon #1 to convince readers that it isn’t just a gimmick to get more people in the theaters, and the presence of an artist with one of the more distinctive styles in mainstream super hero comics, Skottie Young, definitely helps. His cartoony, slightly exaggerated sensibility is as perfect for this title as you’d expect, giving the title character a frantic, hyperactive air. There are small details worth taking in as well, like the sound effects (“pinky out click”) and signs.

Young is also the writer, and while he’s no stranger to that role either, it’s not unfair to say he has more to prove in that area. This debut issue shows that he’s got a nice touch with comedic scenes — the opening scene where a guard tells his partner that he finds a show about a living planet (probably Ego the Living Planet) “too far fetched” is especially funny — and he puts Rocket into an interesting predicament by the time the last page reveal arrives.

Yet he needs to be careful about falling into some well-worn tropes, which we can discuss as long as you’re alright with …

SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT!

During his time away from the Guardians, we learn that Rocket enjoys saving and romancing space princesses. He also likes bringing his dates to watch Groot in action in what appears to be an interstellar pro wrestling circuit.

The date gets cut short as Rocket learns he’s wanted by the authorities, and his frenzied escape from the law ends up with Groot in pieces (no worries, he’ll grow back) and our hero running through the sewers. Bleeped-out bad language and poop jokes end up a big part of Rocket’s conversation with Star-Lord as he tries to figure out why he’s suddenly public enemy number one.

Turns out he’s been accused of multiple murders, and while Rocket has been known to take some lives, he says those acts “are accounted for and justified.” His plan to avoid the heat involves turning himself in, leaving us time to be hit by two developments: Rocket may not be the last of his kind, which is a big part of his backstory, and the group framing him is apparently made up of all his ex-girlfriends.

The first is a pretty common theme in comics, or genre fiction in general for that matter, and the second has been done in all kinds of movies, books, etc. Still, the issue flows so well and is enjoyable enough to read and look at that Young has earned a chance to show us all where he’s taking this story. If newbies pick this up because they want to see what’s up with the talking raccoon in the movie trailers, they probably won’t be disappointed.

Favorite moment: Apparently all Groot needs is a single splinter in order to recite his one line of dialogue. You know the one.

Final thought: Some of my exes won’t talk to me, but framing someone and trying to have them killed? That’s just cold.

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