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Rocket Raccoon, wearing a white suit with a red shirt, brandishes a lazer gun at the viewer, on the cover of Guardians of the Galaxy #1, Marvel Comics (2020). Image: Juann Cabal, Dean White/Marvel Comics

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Rocket Raccoon wears a suit now, and he looks great

A near-death experience can change a guy

Susana Polo is an entertainment editor at Polygon, specializing in pop culture and genre fare, with a primary expertise in comic books. Previously, she founded The Mary Sue.

The Guardians of the Galaxy started over in a new series this week, and their first adventure was to form a new team in order to kick the asses of the Greek gods, who are trying to take over space. But who cares about that, when Rocket Raccoon has upgraded his look.

The notorious RLI (that is, Raccoon-Like Individual) had a recent brush with death, when he realized that all the technological implants in his body were breaking down. Embarrassed by his condition, he ran away from the Guardians to live the rest of his days in sickly solitude on a lonely planet, but, naturally, was called into action one last time. In saving the galaxy, Rocket died, came back, and received life-saving surgery to remove all his implants. Now he’s a new man — er, raccoon — er, raccoon-like individual.

And now he wears suits.

What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. Let’s get started!


Guardians of the Galaxy #1

The Guardians of the Galaxy share a family meal in Star-Lord and Gamora’s backyard in Guardians of the Galaxy #1, Marvel Comics (2020). Image: Al Ewing, Juann Cabal/Marvel Comics

Rocket’s fit has even got a little belt! It’s very fashionable and very adorable.

Action Comics #19

Perry White tells Clark Kent that he’s thrilled to know that all those deadlines he’s missed were an act. After a pause he says, “That WAS part of the act?” in Action Comics #19, DC Comics (2020). Image: Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis/DC Comics

Superman recently revealed that he and Clark Kent are the same person, and Action Comics #19 shows the fallout in the Daily Planet newsroom. There are a lot of good hugs, and nice moments, but my favorite is Perry White’s faulty assumption that Clark Kent was just pretending to be a hot mess.

Wonder Woman #750

Wonder Woman stands on a mountain bluff on Themyscira, a waterfall and columned buildings behind her, in a pinup from Wonder Woman #750, DC Comics (2020). Image: José Luis García-López, Trish Mulvihill/DC Comics
Chains fall around Wonder Woman’s feet and a dove lands on her hand, in a pinup from Wonder Woman #750, DC Comics (2020). Image: Ramona Fradon, Sandra Hope, Trish Mulvihill/DC Comics

There are a number of nice short Wonder Woman stories in Wonder Woman #750, but for my money, the real reason to get the issue is to see elder statespersons of superhero illustration like José Luis García-López and Ramona Fradon take passes on the character.

John Constantine: Hellbazer #3

John Constantine explains to a possessed homeless criminal that he’s got to stop cherry picking Blake quotes to support his racism, in John Constantine: Hellblazer #3, DC Comics (2020). Image: Simon Spurrier, Aaron Campbell/DC Comics

Si Spurrier’s first Hellblazer story feels simultaneously like a John Constantine yarn straight out of the Vertigo era, and relevant to the modern UK. It’s been a great read and I hope for a lot more.

Excalibur #6

Rogue and Gambit make out naked in a hot spring, “This body here’s all yours,” Gambit says of himself, “And whatever you do with it... well. I’m just happy to be included ma’am.” Excalibur #6, Marvel Comics (2020). Image: Tini Howard, Marcus To/Marvel Comics

Tini Howard’s Rogue and Gambit are the sexiest.

Marauders #6

“Wear a sheet and get beat, ya racist clowns!” Pyro yells at two human-supremacists in Marauders #6, Marvel Comics (2020). Image: Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Mario del Pennino/Marvel Comics

It feels like every issue of Marauders has a mutant yelling an anti-fascist slogan at a Nazi and I say this as the opposite of a complaint.

Family Tree #3

MEgan wanders through different rooms and hallways that appear to be inside a massive tree, in Family Tree #3, Image Comics (2020). Image: Jeff Lemire, Phil Hester/Image Comics

Family Tree’s story continues to intrigue me (or perhaps it IN-TREE-GS me????), and with Hester’s talent for layouts to tell the story, I just keep reading issues.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Athena takes off her hood, revealing a tiny owl hiding on her shoulder in Wonder Woman: Warbringer, DC Comics (2020). Image: Leigh Bardugo, Louise Simonson, Kit Seaton/DC Comics
Athena’s owl sits on her shoulder, being very cute and small in Wonder Woman: Warbringer, DC Comics (2020). Image: Leigh Bardugo, Louise Simonson, Kit Seaton/DC Comics
Athena’s owl cocks its head ADORABLY in Wonder Woman: Warbringer, DC Comics (2020). Image: Leigh Bardugo, Louise Simonson, Kit Seaton/DC Comics

In a break in our usual routine, I’m going to feature this graphic novel adaptation of YA novel even though it came out two weeks ago. Warbringer is a really great Wonder Woman story BUT ALSO LOOK HOW CUTE ATHENA’S OWL IS.

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