5 Major Highlights from 2008’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

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After two intergalactic wars almost annihilated Marvel’s cosmos, the universe needed new heroes, and the Guardians of the Galaxy banded together to answer that call in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2008). While heroes like Star-Lord, Gamora, and Rocket had worked together before, these fan-favorite stories cemented this team of misfits and outcasts as the Marvel Universe’s greatest cosmic protectors.  

Out now, the Marvel Unlimited app has dropped the Infinity Comics adaptation of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2008) #1-12. Infinity series GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: SOMEBODY’S GOT TO DO IT digitizes this story in a mobile-friendly, vertical format exclusive to the app. To get you prepared for the run, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most memorable moments from this blockbuster story by creators Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Paul Pelletier, Brad Walker, Wes Craig, Carlos Magno, and more.

THE GUARDIANS ASSEMBLE

The modern Guardians of the Galaxy assembled in the wake of two universe-shaking epics, ANNIHILATION and ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST. After those intergalactic wars left the universe on the brink of collapse, Star-Lord formed the Guardians to fix the damage to space-time that those conflicts caused. As the galaxy’s official first line of defense, Star-Lord also wanted the team to take proactive steps to prevent more cosmic chaos. For the first team of Guardians, Peter Quill and Mantis brought together several of the heroes who helped end the ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST crisis, including Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Adam Warlock, a young sapling Groot, and Phyla-Vell’s Quasar. With support from Cosmo the Spacedog, the Guardians started off protecting the universe from their base in Knowhere, an ancient Celestial’s unattached head that floats closer and closer to oblivion.

[RELATED: Marvel 101: Knowhere]

THE GUARDIANS’ NEW LOOK

When the Guardians of the Galaxy officially became a team, they were a group of independent heroes without too much in common. However, that changed when issue #1 presented the team in their iconic navy-blue costumes with red trim. These outfits were modeled on a modified version of the uniform that Star-Lord and a few others wore during ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST. While Quill, Rocket, Groot, and Mantis wore similar uniforms, Adam Warlock, Drax, Gamora, and Phyla-Vell incorporated the blue-and-red color scheme into their distinctive looks. Although the Guardians’ members still personalized their costumes, this color combo gave the crew a unified appearance that announced their presence as a formidable team.

MAJOR VICTORY RETURNS

Before Star-Lord formed his team, the original Guardians of the Galaxy operated in a future timeline where they protected Earth and the rest of the Solar System from Badoon alien invaders in the 31st century. The leader of that team was Major Victory, a telekinetic hero who wielded Captain America’s shield in battle. Just as the original Avengers discovered Captain America frozen in ice during one of their first missions, the Guardians found Major Victory frozen in a block of time during one of their first missions. Although Major Victory struggled to remember who he was and why his mission to the past was so important, he still inspired the Guardians to borrow his old team’s name.

[RELATED: Meet the Guardians 3000]

ROCKET’S NEW GUARDIANS

Shortly after the Guardians of the Galaxy formed, the group split apart when they learned that Mantis had telepathically manipulated them into joining the team. However, the galaxy still needed heroes, so Rocket formed his own team of Guardians! To work with Mantis and the now-adult Groot, Rocket recruited Major Victory and Bug, an insectoid hero who was offended that he was not invited to join Star-Lord’s initial team. On their first mission, Rocket’s Guardians faced the Badoon and their terrifying zombie troops. While Rocket complained about missing his old teammates in that fight, this group became the Guardians’ new core team, and all of Rocket’s old teammates eventually rejoined. 

STAR-LORD’S PRISON BREAK

Star-Lord and Rocket originally forged a friendship when they were captured and imprisoned by the Kree. And after Star-Lord’s Guardians split up, Quill and Rocket found each other once again in another prison. After losing a battle to Ronan the Accuser, Star-Lord was sent to the Negative Zone, where Blastaar captured him. The cosmic tyrant wanted Quill to help him invade Earth by infiltrating Prison 42, a Negative Zone prison built during CIVIL WAR to hold unregistered heroes and villains. Stuck between Blastaar’s alien army and the prison’s unguarded super-powered inmates, Quill called out to Rocket’s Guardians. After fighting through the chaos, Rocket’s team found Quill and rescued him, before welcoming Star-Lord back onto the team and blasting off to their next adventure.

Read the complete series GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: SOMEBODY’S GOT TO DO IT on the Marvel Unlimited app and enjoy access to hundreds of other vertical Infinity Comics, including stories starring the Guardians of the Galaxy!