The Old Guard Holds the Line, but the Adaptation Struggles To Do Anything New

Back in 2017, not only comics, but specifically indie and creator owned comics were flourishing. While many big titles would enjoy long and enduring runs, its possible you missed a gem in the form of Image’s The Old Guard. Written by Greg Rucka (Wonder Woman, Lazarus) and drawn by Leandro Fernandez (Punisher, American Carnage), The Old Guard (volume 1) tells the story of a group of mercenaries that are set up with a fake kidnapping and then ambushed in an attempt to reveal their secret. Their secret being that they are immortal and have been doing the Lord’s (or, ya know, the other one’s) work for centuries. The story moves from them being caught in the act of not dying after being riddled with hundreds of bullets, to being hunted for their gifts. THE OLD GUARD – CHIWETEL EJIOFOR as COPLEY in THE OLD GUARD. Cr. AMY SPINKS/NETFLIX © 2020

The movie adaptation follows this main premise along with a number of other detailed plot points. All the characters from the comic are present with some given a little more to do, maybe because of the caliber of the actor (like Chiwetel Ejiofor as ex CIA operative, Copley). The acting is mostly good as it is hard to go wrong with performers like Ejiofor and THE Charlize Theron in the leading role of Andy. Or Andromache of Scythia if you nasty. Theron, who is one of the best action stars in the game now (full stop), anchors the cast with a steely and mostly wise gravity of someone that has lived for thousands of years and has become surgica…