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James Gunn and Kevin Feige, if you happen to read this, please, say it ain’t so.
The Guardians of the Galaxy movie concept art was revealed to the world at the New York Comic Con which left some scratching their heads and still others left wondering who the heck is the raccoon.
Of course, if you have been a Marvel Cosmic fan you have known all along that books like Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy have been some of Marvel’s best comic books, albeit without all the editorial press, advertising and hooplah.
Back in 2005-6, Tom Brevoort and Andy Schmidt launched Annihilation with Keith Giffen at the helm. The mini-series saw the character of Richard Rider – not Sam Alexander – take center stage as he helped save the Universe along with a rag-tag group of heroes.
Eventually, Giffen would head on over to greener pastures at the direct competition, with Annihilation: Nova writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning taking over Marvel Cosmic with the launch of Nova. From there, DnA would write the next Marvel Cosmic event known as Annihilation: Conquest that would see a second Marvel Cosmic ongoing series, the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Abnett and Lanning would write both of the series in addition to a couple more event titles and a few more mini’s for the next couple of years. Seems they did a good enough job as Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige took notice and green lit a Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
However, that is when Marvel Comics chose to cancel that line and place both titles on “hiatus.” Of course, they weren’t really on hiatus – DnA weren’t coming back – and the characters that brought fans back to the world of Marvel would not be coming back as well.
In their place, Marvel Cosmic has been rebooted with the likes of a new Kid Nova, Sam Alexander, one that stars in the Disney XD Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.
Guardians of the Galaxy would return in the less than well received Brian Michael Bendis written and Mark Bagley drawn Avengers Assemble that left more questions asked and featured a storyline — that left not only Marvel Cosmic fans scratching their heads, but fans of Marvel in general.
Marvel would then go on to announce two new ongoings, a new Nova featuring Sam Alexander from head of Marvel TV Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness, and a new Guardians of the Galaxy by the scribe aforementioned, Brian Michael Bendis, with Steve McNiven on art.
Both books appear to be completely different takes than their precessors, as they are watered down versions of the heavy sci-fi based themes of the DnA run. Maybe a comparison between Star Wars Episodes IV and V, and Phantom Menance would apply.
Along with the new Bendis Guardians of the Galaxy book it was announced that Iron Man would be joining the team. Bendis, in previous interviews, described Tony Stark as the “Captain Kirk of outer space” and offered that Stark would be getting it on with all the fine alien ladies. We can also guess that Tony Stark will be outfitting the former rag-tag group of space adventures known as the Guardians of the Galaxy with high-tech weapons and armor. Already we have seen inklings of the new look as well as artist Steve McNiven saying a complete redesign of the DnA costumes as well as Starlord’s helmet are in the works.
Obviously you can see where I am getting at, and that is that a billionaire playboy like Tony Stark would not fit with a rag-tag group of space defenders like the Guardians of the Galaxy. Actually, Thor would make the most sense as Thor has a heavy cosmic background, origin, and of course is an alien as well.
Bendis has deemed his Guardians of the Galaxy the “Cosmic Avengers” in that they will be guarding the Earth. Fans recall when DnA first mentioned the Cosmic Avengers to the delight of 2010 San Diego Comic-Con crowd.
As of late, Marvel Comics have been following Marvel Studios almost to the “tee.” Marvel Comics has moved their entire line-wide range of comics, which include the X-Men, into the Avengers “universe,” and has in turn, relaunched with the Marvel NOW banner, following in the footsteps of DC Comics massive successful reboot of the “New 52.”
So it comes to no surprise that now Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to be attached to the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. We’ve already seen Tony Stark in space at the end of The Avengers, now fans can look forward to Tony Stark bickering with Rocket Raccoon.
The website ComicBook.com says that Iron Man might be assembling with the Guardians of the Galaxy, that while Robert Downey Jr.’s contract would need to be reworked, they are hoping he is part of it.
I’ll be honest, it does make cents as the movie would obviously really be “Iron Man 4,” much like the comic book with Tony Stark and Iron Man overshadowing the Guardians of the Galaxy.
But it’s now what I want to see.
Suggested further reading: The Decline Of Marvel Cosmic