Review:
Darkstar & The Winter Guard #3

Winter has come early to the Marvel Universe this summer as Darkstar & the Winter Guard #3 hit stores this week. This third issue marks the epic conclusion to the triumphant return of the Russian superhero team fans have come to know as The Winter Guard and an end to what has been a truly groundbreaking run for the award winning creative team of writer David Gallaher and artist Steven Ellis, that will hopefully not be the duo’s last foray into the Marvel Universe.

For those unfamiliar with The Winter Guard think of them as Russia’s very own version of the Avengers complete with their very own oppressive government operatives to keep them on a very short leash. Over the years The Winter Guard has popped up in various titles sometimes as villains but more often as heroes not quite gaining the spotlight they deserved. Never before has the team had its own title until now and although this limited series comes to an end in issue #3, it appears that perhaps this is only really the beginning.

Last year Gallaher and Ellis whose previous collaboration happens to be the multiple award winning werewolf cowboy web-comic High Moon, debuted on the printed page with a one shot comic called HULK: Winter Guard that introduced an all new line up of Russian superheroes wearing the familiar costumes of some of the Winter Guards long lost members. With fans eager for more Gallaher and Ellis delivered with this limited series that has now come full circle and hopefully set the stage for something bigger.

Without spoiling anything, Issue #3 delivers a final showdown between The Winter Guard and a certain baddie aided by a familiar alien race that doesn’t quite have shape shifting down as good as the Skrulls. Yet rather than opt for page after page of massive destruction and powerful explosions this issue continues what has been an exciting story from the start accompanied by some of the best artwork these characters have ever been captured in.