Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: What you need to know from the comics

All ahead of the crew's return when the second film from the franchise hits screens on 28 April

The Guardians of the Galaxy made their proud introduction to the MCU with their 2014 feature film debut and, with a sequel now on the horizon, it’s inevitable that their mythology will be expanded upon somewhat in their upcoming outing.

So, with the help of DK’s new visual guide on the subject, Guardians of the Galaxy: The Ultimate Guide to the Cosmic Outlaws, we’ve collected together some of the essential facts and histories to keep yourself clued up as we head deeper and deeper into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Guardians of the Galaxy were originally introduced in 1969 by writer Arnold Drake and artist Gene Colan; however, they were far from the Guardians that we know now, consisting of thousand-year-old astronaut Vance Astro, super strong Jupiter colonist Charlie-27, and diamond-skinned Martinex. It’s only the Guardians’ fourth member, Yondu, which film fans will recognise.

It took until 2008 for the Guardians we see in the MCU to take shape, after a re-design by writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, alongside artist Paul Pelletier; teaming together Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot – though with the addition of Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell.

Star-Lord

Star-Lord's origins in the MCU are quite different to the comics. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set to introduce us to his father, Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell); though, in the comics, his father is, in fact, Prince J’Son of the Spartoi Empire.

In that version, J’Son’s spaceship crash-lands on Earth and one Meredith Quill pulls him from the wreckage. She lets him stay with her while he regains his health and repairs his craft, with the two falling into a relationship, though J’Son departs from Earth without the knowledge that Meredith would soon give birth to their son, Peter Quill.

Upon learning of Peter’s existence through his exploits as Star-Lord, J-Son soon becomes fixated on getting Peter to accept his royal duties as successor to the Spartoi Empire; through traps, deceit, and even brute force.

In the film, Star-Lord’s favoured weapon is essentially an intergalactic stun gun; but in the comics, he wields the Element Gun, with the ability to fire all four elements – air, earth, water, and fire.

Groot

Groot was born and raised on Planet X, but was later exiled for destroying several members of his race when he caught them tormenting small mammals. He’s known for having the power to control all plant matter, which includes being able to transform his own hands into blades.

Gamora

Thanos not only adopted and trained Gamora, as in the film, but also altered her biological makeup to give her enhanced speed, stamina, and agility; alongside an accelerated ability to recover from her injuries.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket was originally genetically enhanced to essentially act as an intergalactic prison guard: the keeper of the Loonies, the insane humanoid inmates kept on the quarantined colony Halfword.

His famous kinship with Groot, however, first grew out of his need for someone to carry his heavy set of artillery, though the pair soon became fast friends.

In the comics, the death of Drax’s family at the hands of Thanos actually occurred when he started life as a human whose car was attacked during a trip through the Nevada desert and his soul transferred to a new body; all so that he could become Drax the Destroyer – a weapon Thanos’ father could use to destroy his own son.

Yondu

Yondu was born and raised on Centauri-IV, the first planet outside of the Solar System to be colonised by humans. However, his people were slaughtered in an invasion, and he was captured and taken to Earth, where he began his adventures as a member of the first Guardians team.

His tribe brought him up on a simple, hunting-based existence; his arrows are made of Yaka – a metal that can only be found on his planet – and, as we’ve seen in the films, are sonically controlled in flight by whistling.

Mantis

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s newest member of the team acts as both psychic and counsellor; having been trained in the comics by the Priests of Pama deep in the Vietnamese jungle, ever since she was a young child.

She can sense feelings and communicate telepathically with the use of her antennae, while also taking advantage of her training in the martial arts to sense and target her enemies’ weaknesses.

Thanos

Looking ahead to Avengers: Infinity War, the comics’ narrative arc sees Thanos fuelled by his obsessive love for Mistress Death, who has been his constant companion since he was a child, and who has increasingly pushed him towards dark deeds. First off, the killing of thousands of his own fellow Titans. Then, after acquiring all six Infinity Gems and creating the Infinity Gauntlet, wiping out half of all life in the universe. A little excessive, yes.

DK's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Ultimate Guide to the Cosmic Outlaws is available from the 30 March from here.