<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The Guardians of the Galaxy is a fictional comic book superhero team owned by Marvel Comics. There have been two Marvel Comics teams who have taken that name.

Original Guardians of the Galaxy

The first Guardians of the Galaxy were a team of superhero adventurers in the Thirtieth Century. They are a truly diverse group from different parts of the Galaxy, and are credited with the freeing of Earth from a reptilian conqueror race called the Badoon. They went on to defend free space for the benefit of all sentients. The team first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January, 1969) and created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colon. They appeared sporadically in various titles, until getting their own series starting with The Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (July, 1990) which lasted 62 issues.

Their members follow:

Vance Astro was an astronaut whose 20th century space craft took off from Earth, having volunteered to take a thousand year slower-than-light journey to Alpha Centauri. When arrived, he discovered that with faster-than-light travel that Earth had beaten him there by 200 years. He was forced to continue to wear his skin-preserving copper alloy, and keep his blood, which was transfused with some kind of preservative fluid. Vance must continue to wear the costume and preservative blood to keep his body from disintegrating with age. During his long flight, his mind developed psionic powers which make him quite formidable. He eventually acquired one of humanities great ancient treasures, Captain America's shield. He is an alternate future version of Vance Astovik, New Warriors member Justice, who also has psionic powers.

Charlie-27 grew up on Jupiter, where people are bio-engineered to withstand the gravity there. Which is triple that of Earth. His body is eleven times more massive than the average Earth human, and is about three times as he is wide. His bones are larger and denser than the average human body, and his muscle tissue is also three times our density, giving him superhuman strength, allowing him to lift 15,000 pounds on Earth.

Martinex was from the human colony of Pluto, whose people were bio-engineered to have their bodies made totally out of silicon, to withstand the extreme cold and atmosphere of the planet. He is a professional technician, and can generate intense heat and cold from his hands.

Yondu was from Centauri-IV, and like all those of that world, has bluish skin and a brightly colored red dorsal fin. He is a native of that planet, whose tribe rejected the advanced technology of human settlers when they arrived, and took refuge in a local forest to live in harmony with the planet. He is a natural mystic, can develop a limited empathic relationship with animals, and is a master of the bow-and-arrow. He can guide his own arrows with a special four octave whistling ability, and has about 1.5 the strength of a normal human.

Starhawk is actually a composite entity of two beings, one, a male mutant and the other, a normal human female. He was the last surviving mutant of Acturus IV when mutants were culled by the normal Acturans from their society. Due to an accident with ancient technology called a “learning helmet” found in an ancient Temple of a Hawk-God, he was merged with his step-sister Aleta. Starhawk possesses a number of super-humanoid physical and energy-manipulative powers.

Nikki is from the planet Mercury, a people bio-engineered to survive on the closest planet to the sun. She can resist harmful ultra-violet radiation, and re-radiated heat energy to survive in cold harsh environments. She can see in the dark, as well as in over-bright light. She is an accomplished athlete, gymnast, and has received combat training.

The Guardians of the Galaxy traveled back in time on two occasions, where they encountered 20th century heroes Captain America, the Thing, and The Defenders, among others.

Today’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”

This second group was created by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. In Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (May, 2008), an equally diverse group of heroes banded together to save a fragile Galaxy, still recovering from the Annihilus’ fleet in the Annihilation Wave limited crossover series and the attack of the Phalanx of Kree space in the Annihilation Conquest limited crossover series. They were formed to replace the Nova Corps, the former protectors of the galaxy, with the approval of the superhero Nova, the last surviving member of the Corps. While Nova himself is not a member, the group contains some of the more popular “cosmic heroes” from Marvel Comics, all whom have long varied histories in this comic book universe.

Members of this contemporary team are:

Star-Lord is a title belonging to Peter Quill. Quill's father, Jason of Spartax, was the son of a galactic emperor, and was the previous Star-Lord. Jason landed on Earth and fell in love with an Earth woman, who was Peter's mother. Before he left, he erased her memory of him, so that she and Peter had no idea that he was anything but an ordinary human who grew up with a deep desire to be an astronaut. Eventually, an alien comes to Earth and grants Peter the Star-Lord role that is his heritage. Star-Lord has super strength, the power of flight, an element gun, and is a skilled marksman and fencer. Star-Lord has had his own series and limited series in the past.

Adam Warlock was born in a cocoon, created to be the perfect human, to be exploited by the evil group the Enclave. Called merely "Him", he didn't waste time freeing himself, and was drawn into a bunch of galactic adventures, soon taking the name "Adam Warlock". Eventually, he returns to his cocoon to recover from previous adventures, and is awakened, predicted to be the "savior of the Kree" during the Annihilation Conquest storyline. He has superhuman strength, stamina, endurance, the power of flight, and energy manipulation. Warlock has appeared in three of his own on-going series and in many other limited series in the past.

Drax the Destroyer was created from the remains of Earthman Arthur Douglas, who was killed by the evil gog-like villain, Thanos. Recreated to hate Thanos by Thanos' father Mentor, Drax was instilled with a hatred for Thanos and the abilities needed to kill him. Since he succeeded in killing Thanos, Drax needs a new purpose that is supplied by the Guardians of the Galaxy. Drax's powerful green body has superhuman strength, stamina, speed, and durability, and the ability to sense people psychically, and to emit energy blasts. He's also a masterful weapons user and fighter.

Gamora was raised by Thanos, who trained her to be the ultimate assassin, earning her the title "the world'd deadliest woman". She has superhuman strength and agility, skilled in the martial arts and the techniques of murder, and has a healing factor. She later turned against Thanos and has earned the trust of these cosmic heroes.

Phyla-Vell, the new Quasar, and the daughter of Captain Marvel. She has inherited her father's superhuman strength, flight, energy projection and absorption, and cosmic awareness.

Rocket Raccoon was part of a colony where animals were genetically altered to have human intelligence and to be bi-pedal so as to take care of the mentally ill. Rocket was soon freed to have galactic adventures, during which he has become a master tactician who is also a fearless, sharp and loyal hero. Rocket raccoon has had his own limited series in the past.

Groot was an extraterrestrial alien plant monster who became a force for good when trained by S.H.I.E.L.D. for their "Howling Commando" unit. Groot can command plant life, and grow himself from a sprig when destroyed. He can use wood and water to enhance his size and strength.