WRITER EXCLUSIVE norse guards
Cullen Bunn on how Asgardians Of The Galaxy is more than a clever name
Cullen Bunn knew he was onto a good thing when he came up with the name Asgardians Of The Galaxy in 2015. Now that idea is set to become a reality in September as he and artist Matteo Lolli join forces to chronicle the intergalactic adventures of a new band of Norse-related heroes.
“I came up with a general mission statement, team line-up and initial story arc,” he recalls. “It was something that Marvel wanted to do, but we had to wait until the right moment to strike. That moment presented itself when the recent Infinity Wars crossover came together.”
Led by Angela, the Asgardians consist of Skurge the Executioner, Thunderstrike, Throg the Destroyer and Annabelle Riggs’s Valkyrie, although one of the most obvious candidates, alien Thor Beta Ray Bill, is busy elsewhere. “I went through several different iterations of the team,” says Bunn. “The only character who was in every version was Valkyrie. In the end, I wanted a team that offered surprises, as I wanted characters you might not expect to see working together, and who would play well against each other.”
While Marvel has recently been teasing that “The Guardians of the Galaxy are no more…”, Bunn insists that the Asgardians aren’t necessarily a replacement for Star-Lord’s motley crew. “There are some connections, as they’re in space, and Angela is part of the team, and is in fact leading it,” reasons Bunn. “They’re also dealing with Nebula, and the adventures are fun and crazy. But the Asgardians are their own team, and readers will see that there is room for both groups in space!”
Spinning out of Infinity Wars, Nebula actually provides the impetus for bringing the Asgardians together. “She gathers an ancient Asgardian weapon to help her in her quest,” teases Bunn. “The Asgardians attempt to retrieve it, but they must keep their efforts secret from the rest of their people.” SJ
Asgardians of the Galaxy #1 is released in September.