Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxyis one of the hottest comic book properties going sinceJames Gunn’s live-action adaptation hit screens in 2014, but only the most committed comic book fans know that the titular space-based superheroes have been battling it out in the pages of Marvel Comics since 1969. There’s no shame in being late to this game; the Guardians themselves have emerged from obscurity time and time again to face down some of the gravest threats in the universe before returning to the ether in one form or another.
But if the modern take on Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxyis the only incarnation you know, you definitely want to look into the amazing new book from Insight Editions, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Creating Marvel’s Spacefaring Super Heroes: The Complete Comics History.” It’s an incredible tome, written by Eisner Award and Harvey Award-nominated writer/editorMarc Sumerakwith special cover art fromDale Keown, that’s positively packed full of trivia, behind-the-scenes insight from artists, writers, and editors, and an amazing array ofGuardiansartwork from nearly 50 years of publication. While it makes a fantastic coffee table book, this deep dive into the history ofGuardians of the Galaxyis well worth your time to read every page, aside, and footnote; it might even help you pin down that as-of-yetunidentified Easter eggfrom Gunn’s film!
Here’s a look at the book’s description, which should pique your interest:
The Guardians of the Galaxy made their first appearance in the pages ofMarvel Super-Heroesback in 1969, and while the team’s lineup has changed significantly over the years, their popularity with fans only continues to grow.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Creating Marvel’s Spacefaring Super Heroesdelves into the creation and evolution of the Guardians through exclusive interviews with the writers and artists who have brought them to life. Filled with incredible art from nearly fifty years of comics, this deluxe art book reveals the secrets behind the genesis of fan-favorite characters like Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot.
Complete with a specially commissioned cover illustration by artist Dale Keown, this comprehensive collection takes fans on a dynamic journey into the creation of the greatest art from five decades of Guardians of the Galaxy comics.
Here’s a look at just some of the trivia found in the new book:
Chronology
Before we can talk about where theGuardians of the Galaxyis now, we need to know where the title team began. Or rather,whenthey began.
Originally appearing inMarvel Super-Heroes#18 (January 1969), the first team was a group of 31st-century misfits who were each the last of their kind: Major Vance Astro, a 20th century Earth astronaut trapped in suspended animation; Martinex T’Naga, a Plutonian, crystalline being whose powers run hot and cold; Captain Charlie-27, a Jovian soldier with incredible strength and durability; and Yondu Udonta, a blue-skinned being from Centauri-IV who folks probably recognize asMichael Rooker’s movie character, though the characters' realities, and therefore their histories, are different. In their ongoing battle against the conquering alien race known as the Badoon, they also find the team of Starhawk and Aleta, and Niki joining them before long.
You may have noticed that none of the current heroes in theGuardiansline-up have appeared yet. Drax and Gamora were recruited by Adam Warlock in the “Infinity Watch” arc in the early 90s, though the characters were introduced separately in 70s issues of “Iron Man” and “Strange Tales” respectively, both creations ofJim Starlin. Star-Lord, meanwhile, first appeared in the 70s black-and-white issues of “Marvel Preview” and only made his official Marvel debut in the early 2000s. Rocket Raccoon also appeared in a 70s “Marvel Preview” issue before showing up in an issue of “The Incredible Hulk” in the early 80s. The final member of the modern team, Groot, infamously appeared as “The Monster from Planet X!” in an issue of “Tales to Astonish” before popping up in the Marvel-verse from time to time. It wasn’t until the “Annihilation” story arc that the team as we know it today would arrive in earnest.
Check out Groot’s arrival in our exclusive debut of the following image:
Now you may have recognized a lot of familiar names in this rundown, but I’ll bet there are comic book characters you’ve never heard of who have crossed paths with the Guardians. This book offers great looks at many of them, including surprising allies and villains that appeared over the years.
Characters
Here are some lesser-known team members who have joined up with the Guardians over the years:
Take a look at another exclusive image debut from the newGuardians of the Galaxybook showing off some uncommon allies like The Thing, Kitty Pryde, and Venom!
And here are some more obscure characters who have also crossed paths:
And not to be outdone, some villains who have antagonized the Guardians over the years include:
And Much More!
Trivia aside, it’s worth picking up this book for the amazing illustrations and cover art alone. They’re gorgeous, sometimes full-page presentations or two-page spreads. And adding content to those beautiful and kinetic illustrations are interviews with writers, artists, editors likeMike Mignola,Clint Langley,Paul Pelletier,Brad Walker,Wes Craig,Miguel Sepulveda,Steve McNiven,Sara Pichelli,Joe Quesada,Valerio Schiti,Francesco Francavilla,Dale Keown,Mike McKone,Alex Ross, and many more, plus variant covers fromPaolo RiveraandSkottie Young.
But if it’s trivia you’re after, here’s a taste of what this new tome offers:
Be sure to check out “Guardians of the Galaxy: Creating Marvel’s Spacefaring Super Heroes: The Complete Comics History”, available April 4th!
