Comic Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! #1”

The Collector, Taneleer Tivan, has been busy gathering prized possessions from across the galaxy, and now he is ready to show them off in Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT #1, a new comic that ties into the upcoming Disney California Adventure attraction.

His need to show off the things that he treasures has led the Collector to open a museum in his fortress. Tours have just begun as the comic commences. The galaxy’s foremost purveyor of all that is interesting, rare, and different is running a museum of the living and even weird.

For every new museum or theme park, a special prized attraction is needed, and Taneleer will not disappoint his guests, for he has the Guardians of the Galaxy as the centerpiece of his display. Looking perturbed at their current situation, the narrative of the story switches from the Collector to the Guardians and we watch how they attempt a breakout from the Collector’s fortress.

With sarcasm, some harsh disagreements, and even a little flirting with fellow prisoners, the plan for escape hinges on what Rocket Raccoon can do.

My Opinion

There is no rhyme or reason for this series of comics, accept to connect with the upcoming conversion of Tower of Terror to Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout at Disney California Adventure. That being said, I am probably one of the few people in the world, who is not upset about this upcoming takeover of Marvel characters in the Disney Parks. Since we can’t get Marvel attractions at Walt Disney World, at least it will be in Disneyland. Just one more reason for me to travel to California.

Even though this series is all about the connection to the theme park ride, I wonder how far the series will go. Writer Christopher Hastings has written a solid comic that relies a lot on pre-existing knowledge of the five main characters. He doesn’t try to make the plot of the story complicated. It’s simple and straight forward, with the goal of escape. Guardians of the Galaxy has always been successful when the dialogue is rich between the five main characters. Even though they are confined to their cells for most of the book, the sarcastic interactions between all five is entertaining. Even without Dave Bautista bringing Drax to life, Drax is still funny.

With opening lines like “Space. Like, way out there in space to the banter between the five members of the team as they plot their escape from the Collector’s cells, this is a premise that can play out well over the course of a series. They are snarky and crass, and that’s why the Guardians of the Galaxy are loved by comic readers, movie goers, and soon to be theme park visitors.

For fans of Disney theme parks, with the opening date of the new attraction coming soon, internet chatter has often theorized on the replacement of beloved attractions at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park, Mission: Space was believed to be a target for a Guardians of the Galaxy themed attraction. A tip of the hat to writer Hastings for hilariously putting in a reference to Epcot in this story. I’m sure it will frighten many Epcot fans.

If you can’t get to the attraction when it opens this summer, Guardian of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT #1 will at least tell you what you’re missing. Perhaps the series will allow guests to extend their experience with the new attraction. What an interesting concept for theme park entertainment.

Bill Gowsell
Bill Gowsell has loved all things Disney since his first family trip to Walt Disney World in 1984. Since he began writing for Laughing Place in 2014, Bill has specialized in covering the Rick Riordan literary universe, a retrospective of the Touchstone Pictures movie library, and a variety of other Disney related topics. When he is not spending time with his family, Bill can be found at the bottom of a lake . . . scuba diving