The modern version of Guardians of the Galaxy came from meager beginnings and exploded over time.
We have a helpful guide for you.
With the success of MarvelsGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, the old question once again arises.
Where does someone who likes the movies start with the comics?
How convenient is that?
Enjoy this road map to what you better read to get into Guardians of the Galaxy.
Im trying really hard not to get into spoiler territory, but sometimes that cant be helped.
For instance, one of the books is calledThe Thanos Imperative.
That very title is a spoiler.
He was basically the Hulk with a hate-on for Thanos.
This four-issue miniseries works on literally rebuilding the character.
Drax is on a prison transport that crashes onto Earth.
Basically, he wasnt the Hulk anymore.
He became much more like Riddick.
Otherwise, heres how it works.
They did a one-shot calledAnnihilation: Prologue.
Whos behind it, I wont spoil in case you dont know.
What Iwillspoil is that by the end of the first issue, it looks like everyone is screwed.
Yes, Ronan the Accuser, crazy movie villain, is a protagonist.
His miniseries introduces Gamora to the Marvel cosmic resurgence while Drax and Cammi show up in Novas book.
Thanos is also a pretty big deal in all of this, even if he isnt the main villain.
We still dont have the Guardians of the Galaxy yet, but were getting many of the core characters.
Once those four minis end, we getAnnihilationproper.
There, its a big team-up between all the remaining heroes from the different stories.
Its really awesome and youd be a fool to skip it.
Afterwards, theres a two-issue epilogue calledAnnihilation: Heralds, which ties up a loose end in the story.
Its a decent read, albeit not essential.
Its told in the same way asAnnihilation, more or less.
The prologue shows a new threat completely unrelated to what we got inAnnihilation, but on the same level.
At the center of this is Peter Quill, who blames himself for whats happening.
Again, were given four stories that run concurrently, then funnel intoAnnihilation: Conquest.
Marvels been doing a good job with it.
As you might guess, theStarlordminiseries is a pretty big deal.
Rocket, on the other hand, is a bit more upbeat than what were used to.
Still, the beloved Rocket/Groot bromance begins here.
Oh, and Mantis is there too.
Shes kind of a big deal now.
OnceAnnihilation: Conquesthits its first real issue, we find out whosreallybehind the threat.
No, its not Thanos.
The five members from the initial movie are all here as well as a handful of other characters.
Bugs awesome and all, but I wouldnt hold my breath for him inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol.
Stuff likeSecret InvasionandWar of Kings.
Just stick with this comics 25 issues without any real distractions.
Its the most straightforward run youll get on this whole list, so take it in.
Thats whatThanos Imperativeis to bothGuardians of the GalaxyandNova.
The story is whatshouldbe the epic finale of the Abnett/Lanning cosmic run at Marvel, but not quite.
Ill get to that in a second.
The story has to do with an alternate universe called the Cancerverse.
In this alternate dimension, Mar-Vells counterpart rules because Death has been taken out of the picture.
Life itself is a cancer and it threatens everything.
Its such a big threat that Thanos is on the same side as the heroes.
This one doesnt have the same reading list gimmick asAnnihilationand its sequel.
Just readThanos Imperative: Ignitionand then the six-issue miniseries.
Theres an epilogue issue calledThanos Imperative: Devastation, but dont worry about it.
ConsiderAnnihilatorsextra credit, if only for the Rocket Raccoon backup stories.
In fact, there are some major happenings inThanos Imperativethat completely affect the Guardians roster.
Brian Michael Bendis doesnt care about such things.
He has a tendency to introduce characters in his stories written very differently from where he found them.
Guys like the Hood, Luke Cage, the Sentry, and so on.
Hell make them well-known, but on his terms.
Some huge plot points fromThanos Imperativeare completely ignored, which rightfully annoyed fans.
Or maybe he just didnt want it distracting from the initial relaunch for new readers.
This is a real turning point due to how Marvel was getting into full movie hype mode.
While the roster changes a little bit, it has a rather interesting approach.
You have the five movie characters and the others are attempts to get more eyes on the franchise.
For example, early on, Iron Man joins the team.
If you dont know who Angela is, dont worry about it.
Just enjoy her fun BFF relationship with Gamora.
If anything, at least read the fifth issue.
Its a self-contained story with a hilarious gimmick.
While not as cartoony, it had the same goofball adventuring feeling as Rockets book.
Though with great power comes great conflict.
On the flipside, it comes towards the beginning ofGuardians Team-Up.
The Guardians team up with different Marvel heroes in each issue as told by a different creative team.
After that, its theBlack Vortextie-in issue.
Once thats settled, we get a bunch of done-in-ones.
Gamora fights alongside She-Hulk.
Rocket works with the Pet Avengers.
Gamora swashbuckles with Nightcrawler.
Drax tries to heist with Ant-Man.
Silver Surfer and Groot do mopey space stuff.
Star-Lord joins forces with Spider-Man.
Then to finish it off, Deadpool and Rocket team up to face their mutual enemy Macho Gomez.
Groot insists on visiting Earth and it doesnt take long in their trip for Rocket to get captured.
Plus the Silver Surfer shows up again.
The book features a new origin for Groot and even retcons how he and Rocket met.
Sadly,Annihilation: Conquestis swept under the rug.
I absolutely recommend reading this.
Read Groot Volume 1 on Amazon
WHAT IF?
INFINITY: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Marvel released a batch of comics relating toInfinityin one way or another.
But the most enjoyable one centered around the Guardians.
By the end ofInfinity, Thanos was imprisoned in amber and the Illuminati secretly held them captive.
This story shows the Guardians becoming aware of this, leading to a full-on Guardians vs. Illuminati battle.
STAR-LORD (2015-2016)
See, onceSecret Warsis over, Marvel goes full-on crazy with Guardians stuff.
While Ill get to the rest in a bit, Star-Lord is the one that feels rather important.
Its a follow-up to Humphries previous run, but essentially tells two stories.
The latter is about expanding on the background of a major development in the mainGuardians of the Galaxybook.
The other is a new look at Star-Lords origin.
Namely, it introduces Yondu into the fold.
Now we get to see a movie-friendly take on him that exists in the present.
Apparently, hes the ancestor of the classic hero.
If anything, its worth powering through just for the explosive finale.
Once thats done with, we get a bunch of one-shots until Nick Kocher takes over.
Feeling like an outcast among his superhero team, Drax decides to go off and kill Thanos.
If anything, read it for Hepburns art style.
BUT…what if there was another team?
Not only that, but each issue has a backup story by a different creative team.
One of which is co-written by Darryl DMC McDaniels.
Sure, why not.
In fact,Groundeds the label they use for this and the next entry on the list.
That means we get five issues of Rocket grumbling at how much Earth is the worst planet.
Well, Earth sucks, is the thing he says at least twice an issue.
Man, Rocket vs. Kraven.
How did it take us that long to get to that pairing?
At least Rocket has the excuse of being an alien.
Peter Quill was born here.
Its just…spending a lot of years in space will change your perceptions about home, I suppose.
Hanging out with Logan leads to barfights and those arent smiled upon by the law.
Ironically, he starts paying off the fine by becoming a bartender at a supervillain bar.
Not only is it the main five, but Groot is now stuck in his baby form for reasons.
Back in space, the team is full of mysteries.
Gerry Duggan is the writer here and its the first step in his big, upcoming cosmic eventInfinity Wars.
The Duggan run continues into a story arc calledInfinity Quest.
Groots transformation, Gamoras secret, and the recent heists are linked and building towards something massive.
Start Here: All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.
On a new planet, hes stuck in a glitchy reality best compared to the Bermuda Triangle.
This ones just plain weird.
Cute, but weird.
Its a little out there, but good fun.
Heres the short version of the reading guide.
