Superhero Origins: Guardians Of The Galaxy

Superhero Origins: Guardians Of The Galaxy

They are a team of superheroes determined to protect the galaxy. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origins of The Guardians of the Galaxy.

As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline which unfolded in 2008’s “Annihilation: Conquest” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” #1, and was expended upon in “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!”.

This obscure superhero team first appeared in 1969’s “Marvel Superheroes #18”. They were introduced as a group from an alternate time line responsible for protecting the galaxy from powerful threats of the 31st century.

This team included members that represented the last of their kinds. These included 20th Century astronaut Major Vance Astro, who had been found in suspended animation, Martinex, a crystal alien from Pluto, Charlie-27, a soldier from Jupiter, and Yondu, a blue-skinned savage from the Beta Centuri star system.

Together, they fought a hostile alien race called the Badoon. Their adventures took them through time, causing them to fight in the present along other more popular and more recognizable Marvel superheroes.

Interestingly, the team was eventually brought back with a 2008 reboot. However, this refocused on a completely original cast and storyline.

Taking place in yet another alternate dimension, the new team was forged by a half human inter-planetary policeman named Peter Quill, otherwise known as Star Lord.

Having already experienced two intergalactic crises, including an attack by a cybernetic alien race called the Phallanx, Star Lord had dedicated himself to setting up a pro-active team of galactic protectors in order to prevent a third major incident.

Recruiting other superheroes that had survived the massive battles, he proved a strong team leader and master strategist. His strength as a warrior came from his signature Element Gun, which was capable of firing any of the four elements, and his augmented strength suit that granted him the ability to travel through space.

He also provided the team with a base of operations, his sentient shape shifting ship, which he simply referred to as called “Ship.”

At first, he enlisted the services of such characters as the artificially created super human Adam Warlock, Thanos’ adopted daughter Gamora, Drax The Destroyer, and Quasar, the successor to the quantum powered Captain Marvel.

Even more interesting were his recruitment of Rocket Racoon, an anthropomorphic animal packing heat as the team’s master marksman and tactician, and Groot, an extraterrestrial being that closely resembled a tree.

Together, the Guardians would jump into action whenever an imbalance was detected in the universe, showing up to intervene and diffuse situations before they could become insurmountable.

In 2012, much of the team appeared in the cartoon series “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”, accidentally getting drawn into a battle with the Avengers team while tracking a cosmic threat.

Following this high profile introduction, the team was confirmed to be heading towards the big screen for a 2014 high budget adventure with the potential to cross paths with Marvel’s Avengers film franchise.

Are you a fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy, or still scratching your head about the tree and gun wielding raccoon? Let us know in the comments section! For more great videos, subscribe to WatchMojo.com.