GALACTIC ORIGINS

Charting the guardians’ comic book roots

While Dan abnett and andy lanning are responsible for bringing the current team together in 2008, the guardians of the galaxy also owe a huge debt to the work of Jim starlin. in fact the whole marvel cosmic universe is inspired by the superheroic space operas that he wrote and drew in the 1970s. starlin also created Drax the Destroyer and gamora, who made their respective bows in 1973’s Iron Man #55 and 1975’s

Strange Tales #180, along with other prominent characters like Thanos and adam Warlock. “Jim starlin is one of my favourite creators, and his work on Warlock and Captain Marvel are benchmarks for me,” says abnett. “it was a pleasure to use those characters and, i hope, honour that legacy.”

star-lord’s first adventure – the work of steve englehart and steve gan – appeared in 1975’s Marvel Preview #4 while rocket raccoon’s inaugural outing, by Bill mantlo and Keith giffen, was in Marvel Preview #7 the following year. The stan lee/ Jack Kirby/ Dick ayers created groot is actually the oldest of the guardians, dating back to 1960’s Tales To Astonish #13.