The Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictionalsuperhero team that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning formed the team from existing characters created by a variety of writers and artists. They are the second team to operate under the name, following the original team created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan in 1969. These Guardians first appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #1 (May 2008). A feature film is set for release in August 2014.
Abnett and Lanning's work on the Annihilation: Conquest story laid the foundation for the new Guardians of the Galaxy book that they had been wanting to launch for some time.[3] Editor Bill Rosemann, who had also edited Annihilation: Conquest, provided more background: "As the planning of Annihilation: Conquest came together, it occurred to us that, if things went well, there would be a group of characters left standing who would make for a very interesting and fun team." It also provided the motivation the team would need, as "on the heels of two back-to-back wars, they're out to prevent any new Annihilation-size disasters from erupting."[4]
The title ran parallel with Nova vol. 4, which was also written by Abnett and Lanning. The two crossed over in the storylines "War of Kings"[5][6] and "Realm of Kings".[7][8][9]Paul Pelletier pencilled the first seven issues. Brad Walker and Wes Craig alternated pencilling tasks from #8 to #25.[10]
The book was cancelled in April 2010 with issue 25. Some plot threads were concluded in The Thanos Imperative 1–6 and its two one-shots (May 2010 – Jan 2011).[11]
The team appeared reassembled in Avengers Assemble #4-8 (June - October 2012)[12]
The Guardians of the Galaxy will appear in a new series for Marvel NOW! starting with issue 0.1 written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Steve McNiven. In addition to the previous Guardians, Iron Man will also join the team.[13]
Team history
In the aftermath of the Phalanx invasion of the Kree, Star-Lord[14] decides to form a team of interstellar heroes that will be proactive in protecting the galaxy, rather than reacting to crises as they happen. To this end, he recruits Adam Warlock,[15]Drax the Destroyer,[16]Gamora,[16]Phyla-Vell (the new Quasar),[17]Rocket Raccoon,[18] and Groot,[18] with Mantis as support staff.[19] On the recommendation of their ally, Nova, the group establishes a base of operations on the space station Knowhere, which possesses a teleportation system with near-universal range.[20] An intelligent, telepathic dog named Cosmo is Knowhere's chief of security and works closely with the new team. After a confrontation with the Universal Church of Truth,[1] the team meets a semi-amnesiac man who identifies himself as Vance Astro - Major Victory of the original Guardians of the Galaxy.[21] Astro's declaration inspires the as-yet-unnamed team to adopt the "Guardians of the Galaxy" name for their own.[22] When the team learns Star-Lord directed Mantis to telepathically coerce the heroes into joining the team, they disband.[23]
Rocket Raccoon decided to continue Star-Lord's mission and started a search for the missing members. He asked Bug to join the team, as well Groot's return to full size and the addition of Mantis and Major Victory as field members.
Meanwhile Star-Lord was banished to the Negative Zone by Ronan the Accuser for his actions during the Phanlanx's attempted conquest of the Kree Empire. There, he finds himself in the middle of King Blastaar's fight to break into 42 and use its portal to invade Earth. Star-Lord allies with Jack Flag to defend the prison and contact the other Guardians for rescue. Rocket's new team successfully brings both of them back, and Flag becomes a Guardian.
Elsewhere, Drax and Phylla begin looking for Cammi, but on their search they talk to a seer who tells them about an oncoming war. Phylla was able to wake Moondragon from the dead, but lost her Quantum Bands in the process. The consequence for Phyla is that she is now the new avatar of death. They went back to Knowhere and did not follow up on the search for Cammi.
Warlock and Gamora return and inform the team of the War of Kings. They split into three teams, one each to the Kree and Shi'ar, and one staying on Knowhere to coordinate. The Kree team is heard by Black Bolt and the Inhumans, but their request for peace is denied. The Shi'ar team is attacked by Vulcan and the Imperial Guard, leading them to ally with the Starjammers
Star-Lord, Mantis, Bug, Jack Flag, and Cosmo are taken to the 31st Century by that era's Guardians, who warn them of the creation of an all-destroying energy rift called The Fault at the war's conclusion. Trapped in the future, Star-Lord's team is able to get a message to Warlock in the 21st Century. Warlock is unable to stop The Fault's creation, but is able to contain it with a spell that requires a stable, unused timeline. Warlock chooses the one he previously erased,[24] causing him to become the Magus. Star-Lord's team, with the help of Kang the Conqueror, are returned to this point in the timestream. To escape, Magus fakes the death of himself, Mantis, Cosmo, Major Victory, Martyr, and Gamora.[25]
Martyr frees herself with the help of Maelstrom, and enables Mantis to call the other Guardians for help telepathically. When they come to the rescue, Phyla-Vell is misled by Maelstrom into freeing Thanos. Thanos kills Martyr, but is captured by the Guardians and taken back to Knowhere as a Prisoner.[26]
When the universe is invaded by the alternate universe, "Cancerverse," on the other side of the fault, the Guardians take Thanos to the Cancerverse in an attempt to end the war early.[27] Along the way, Drax attacks Thanos and is killed.[28] They are ultimately successful at ending the war, but Thanos is left enraged and promising to kill everyone. Along with Nova, Star-Lord remains in the collapsing Cancerverse as the other Guardians escape.[29]
After the death of Star-Lord, the Guardians disband. Still believing in their cause, Cosmo recruits another team under the name "Annihilators."[30] Rocket Raccoon and Groot later reunite and decide to continue the Guardian's legacy after the duo prevent an incident on Rocket's home world, Halfworld.[31]
The new team appears on Earth to aid the Avengers against Thanos.[32]
Reception
The series debuted to mostly positive reviews.[33][34][35][36][37][38] The May 2008 sales estimate for the first issue was 39,854 copies, making it the 61st top-selling comic title that month.[39] The first and second issues sold out;[40] they have been reprinted in a collected edition.[41]
Legacy (collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #1-6, 144 pages, hardcover, January 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3338-0, softcover, April 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3338-0)
Book 1 (collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #7-12, 144 pages, hardcover, June 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3982-6, softcover, October 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3339-9)
Book 2 (collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #13-19 and Marvel Spotlight: War of Kings, 168 pages, hardcover, November 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4127-8, softcover, April 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-4048-1)
Realm of Kings (collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #20-25, hardcover, July 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4543-5, softcover, November 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4049-2)
In other media
Television
The Guardians of the Galaxy are mentioned by the Dark Surfer in the episode "When Strikes the Surfer" of the animated series The Super Hero Squad Show.
A Guardians of the Galaxy three pack was available in November 2011 from the Marvel Universe 3 3/4" toyline. It included Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, and a miniature Groot sapling as an accessory.
Video Games
Rocket Raccoon appears in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 as a playable character. Star-Lord is mentioned by Nova and Groot is mentioned by Rocket Raccoon.
Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy will appear in the upcomming MMORPG, Marvel Heroes. Currently, only Rocket Raccoon has been revealed.[53]
References
^ abGuardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #1 (May 2008)
