I really struggle to believe THIS was the story Bendis was "dying to tell for years" like he claimed... because it was a confusing mess of discrepancies, nonsense, and retcons that both relies on you having read the Thanos Imperative, but also shows that he himself didn't do much reading on it due to how little it meshes with what was going in in that story.
Even within three issues, the continuity falls to pieces. Can you die in the Cancerverse or can't you? Is it "Ryder" or "Rider"? What's the deal with Star-lord's blonde hair anyway?
And, ultimately, it accomplishes almost nothing. We knew Richard tried to sacrifice himself in the Thanos Imperative... and they repeat that here. Nothing new. Nothing original. It was a WEAKER version of a much better finale we already got years ago that didn't bring anymore resolution or closure to proceedings. It could've been done in ONE issue, not three.
It's a mess. The only positives I can say is... well, comic book death. There's no body. Richard's still out there, waiting... probably for a writer that actually cares. I'll be waiting with money in hand when that happens.