TheGuardians of the Galaxyhave an opportunity to be reimagined completely in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not long after Peter Quill retired onscreen from the team to close out the MCU trilogy, the MCU is expected to reboot afterSecret Wars. This could mark a new beginning entirely for the Guardians of the Galaxy.
If Marvel were to tear open a new chapter with anew team of Guardians of the Galaxy, they have plenty of potential adaptation material to choose from.There are decades worth of story arcs featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy that would be ripe for introducing into the MCU.
10The Korvac Saga Indoctrinates the Guardians into the Marvel Universe
The Avengers#167-177 by Jim Shooter, David Michelinie, George Pérez, and David Wenzel
While"The Korvac Saga"is technically an Avengers story, it is among the most significant Guardians stories for the simple fact that it officially introduces and indoctrinates the team into the modern Marvel Universe. The original iteration of the team was quite different from what it is today, as the original Guardians were from the 31st century.
Members Vance Astro, Yondu, Nikki, Aleta, Charlie-27, Starhawk, and Martinex travel back in time to the 20th century in order to stop a godlike cosmic villain named Michael Korvac, teaming up with The Avengers to do so. If not for the introduction ofthe original Guardians squadin this story, it’s hard to say if the team would be as prominent as they are today.
9AnnihilationBuilds the Foundation for The Guardians of the Galaxy
Annihilationby Keith Giffen and Andrea Di Vito
While this story isn’t necessarily about the Guardians, it remains an essential story in the group’s overall journey. Published in the mid-2000s,Annihilationhas becomeMarvel’s best crossover event, if only because it largely built the foundation for the modern age of Marvel. This arc singlehandedly comes to define Marvel’s cosmic hierarchy, and brings the modern iteration of Guardians together.
The story brings together familiar mainstays for the stable, such as Star-Lord, Nova, and Drax the Destroyer, whom the series puts in overtime trying to bring back to prominence.Annihilationsucceeds, updating the character for the present day while also portraying him as the badass he’s known for being worldwide.
8Annihilation: ConquestBuilds the Formation of the Guardians of the Galaxy
Annihilation: Conquestby Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Tom Raney
IfAnnihilationis a precursor to the Guardians of the Galaxy, then the event’s sequel is where the team actually properly and officially takes shape.Conquestis what officially launches the modernGuardians of the Galaxyseries, as imagined by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, which itself proves influential for the franchise in the long run.
This was back when Star-Lord’s recruits were still unnamed, as they were often referred to as The Dirty Dozen, but the sentiment was clear asStar-Lord, in his best pre-MCU costumes, wished to recruit a strike force of outlaws.Annihilation: Conquestups the ante from the original by pairing all of these heroes against an even more formidable adversary: Ultron.
6AnnihilationCulminates withThe Thanos Imperative
The Thanos Imperative#1-6 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Miguel Angel Sepulveda
Spinning directly out of Abnett and Lanning’sGOTGseries is a six-part miniseries where the heroes are still dealing with the consequences of theAnnihilationevent, albeit with a catch. At this point, a Thanos fresh from coming back to life is under their watchful custody. In addition, a world called the Cancerverse, where life defeated Death, is ready to engulf Earth-616.
With the Cancerverse upon them,the Guardians begrudgingly work with Thanosto save the galaxy. The stakes are every bit as monumental as they sound, and the story plays like the culmination of a major Marvel saga. It’s essential reading that too often gets overlooked, not just for Guardians fans, but for Marvel purists and completionists alike.
5The Guardians of the Galaxy Join the X-Men to Capture the Black Vortex
Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortexby Sam Humphries and Ed McGuinness
An oft-forgotten and underrated story arc brings the Guardians and the X-Men together by way of Peter Quill and Kitty Pryde’s long-distance relationship. The story ties deeply into Star-Lord’s cosmic lineage as the outlaw acquires the Guardians and X-Men’s help to steal an item powerful enough to gift someone Celestial powers, called the Black Vortex.
The Black Vortex gave new cosmic formsto multiple X-Men and Guardians, but some will remember it best for watching Peter take the next step in his love for Kitty by proposing. This event has a lot to offer fans of both franchises. It masterfully balances out the themes and tropes of both franchises without one overshadowing the other.
4The Guardians and the X-Men Stand for The Trial of Jean Grey
All-New X-Men#22.NOW - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 #13
Perhaps the most importantGuardianscrossover with theX-Mencomes in the six-part“Trial of Jean Grey.“As a spiritual sequel to the"Dark Phoenix Saga,“the Shi’ar targets a time-displaced Jean from the days of the Original Five, forcing her to stand trial for crimes she has yet to commit.
The Guardians and X-Men are determined to protect the young Jean. It’s rare to see Marvel tap into a more political lens, but it’s refreshing, especially when it’s a lens that has since become integral to Guardians’ cosmic storylines. TheGuardians helped add to X-Men lorein one of Marvel’s most creative events.
3Brian Michael Bendis Takes Over For the Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3by Brian Michael Bendis and Valerio Schiti
Brian Michael Bendis is well-loved for adding his pen to characters like Ultimate Spider-Man, Daredevil, and creating Miles Morales. Not enough people praise his run on Guardians of the Galaxy. The ideas he would introduce would soon become ingrained in vitalGuardianslore. In addition to expanding the cosmic side of the franchise, he simplified Peter’s origins.
As Star-Lord’s backstory started to become a bit complicated, Bendis' contributions helped simplify matters, bringing more focus to his relationship with his father, J’Son. Not every change and integration he’d make wouldenter the MCU, but Bendis’ contributions have largely helped shape Guardians as a team and franchise in the comics space.
2GrootfallMarks the Fall of the Guardians
Guardians of the Galaxy: Grootfallby Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Kev Walker
In what is easily the biggest change in the status quo for the Guardians of the Galaxy since the Abnett/Lanning era, theGuardians of the Galaxy are cowboys, and most importantly, they are separated. The team is split when it becomes apparent that a galaxy-eating Groot has become a villain. A divided team creates a new dynamic and drama.
It’s compelling to see how the story unfolds from page to page and issue by issue, especially when familiar faces like Queen Victoria, Emperor Hulkling, and Wiccan enter the picture. Not to mention, the western-style action makes for an exciting prospect. For Guardians of the Galaxy fans, the“Grootfall”arc is filled with twists that challenge the team.
1Imperialis a Guardians-Centric Event
Imperialby Jonathan Hickman and Drawn by Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello
While not an outright Guardians of the Galaxy story, it is Guardians-centric, particularly as it revolves around Peter Quill and his political allegiances. One of the main focuses of the story is his birthright as heir to the Spartax throne. The prospect emerges as a conspiracy in which political leaders across the galaxy are suddenly assassinated.
This draws attention from superheroes like the Hulk, but also demands anew roster of Guardians of the Galaxyto form to investigate these mysterious murders, especially as it all starts to hit too close to home for Star-Lord. Politics and sci-fi also go hand-in-hand with stories starring theGuardians of the Galaxy, and this is the most ambitious attempt.
