I may have never had as much fun reading a book than when I read Tom Angleberger’s Rocket and Groot: Stranded on Planet Stripmall! The author of the Origami Yoda series and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Beware the Power of the Dark Side delivers a fun and quirky adventure featuring everyone’s favorite characters from Guardians of the Galaxy; Rocket and Groot.
This illustrated book is unlike any other book you have read as it is written as a series of “Captain Log’s” from Rocket with Groot interjecting his classic line throughout. The logs are recorded by Veronica, the galaxy’s most dangerous superintelligent tape dispenser, which also serves as a recording device and doodle machine, who also chimes in throughout the story. Rocket takes advantage of the doodle function, which end up appearing throughout the book.
The style is not the only thing that is unique about this book. Let’s talk about the plot. After battling space piranhas, Rocket and Groot (and Veronica) crash land on a planet which ends up being one giant strip mall. Once they explore the mall they discover maniacal yet customer friendly robots and killer toilets. Sounds crazy, right?
Well, that’s just part of the fun that is included in the pages. Angleberger found a way to find a way to channel what makes these characters special, in a book that is appropriate for all ages. Kids that might not be ready for the comics and the films can develop their love of Rocket and Groot while adults can have fun reading the books along with their children (or own their own. It’s that good.)
I hope this is not the last time we get to journey with Rocket and Groot in this medium. Marvel Press has proven that Rocket and Groot can carry their own project, and have a lot of fun doing it.