Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guardians of the Galaxy |
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Debut: Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969). Cover art by Gene Colan and Mike Esposito.
(l. to r.) Vance Astro, Charlie-27, Martinex, Yondu. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Freedom's Lady USS Captain America |
| Member(s) | List of Guardians of the Galaxy members |
The Guardians of the Galaxy are a team of superheroes who appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Guardians first showed up in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 in January 1969. The first team had Vance Astro, Martinex T'Naga, Captain Charlie-27, and Yondu Udonta. Later, heroes like Stakar Ogord, Aleta Ogord, and Nikki also joined the group.
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How the Guardians Started
The idea for the Guardians of the Galaxy came from Roy Thomas. He first thought of super-fighters against invaders on Earth. Then, he gave the idea to Arnold Drake, who worked with Stan Lee to change it. They decided the story should be about heroes fighting in space. All the characters and their adventures were created by Arnold Drake and Stan Lee.
Early Adventures
The team first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 in January 1969. Arnold Drake wrote the story, and Gene Colan drew it. Even though this comic sold well, the Guardians didn't appear again for over five years. They showed up next in Marvel Two-In-One #5 in June 1974.
The writer, Steve Gerber, liked the team a lot. He used them again in other comics like Giant Size Defenders #5 and The Defenders #26–29. In these stories, other heroes like Captain America and the Thing helped the Guardians. They fought against an alien race called the Badoon. To do this, they often had to travel through time.
Getting Their Own Comic Series
The Guardians finally got their own series in a comic called Marvel Presents. This started with issue #3 in February 1976. Steve Gerber continued to write the stories. He wanted to combine superhero action with something new. The team's costumes were redesigned, and they got a new spaceship. They stopped fighting the Badoon on Earth and began exploring the stars.
Steve Gerber left the series after seven issues. Roger Stern took over writing with Marvel Presents #10. However, the series ended soon after due to low sales. The last issue was #12 in August 1977. After this, the team made guest appearances in other comics. For example, they appeared in Thor Annual #6 and The Avengers.
A comic called Marvel Two-in-One #69 changed the Guardians' story. It made their future timeline separate from the main Marvel Universe. After this, the Guardians of the Galaxy were not in comics for over ten years.
The 1990s Revival
In 1989, Marvel's editor-in-chief, Tom DeFalco, wanted to bring the Guardians back. He wanted to use their popularity to create a new team. But then he saw a plan for the original team by writer and artist Jim Valentino. DeFalco liked Valentino's idea better and approved it.
The Guardians' first comic series with their own name started in June 1990. It ran for 62 issues. Jim Valentino wrote and drew the first part of this series. He wanted it to be fun and full of action. Valentino left the series early because he helped start a new comic company called Image Comics.
Michael Gallagher started writing the comic with issue #29 in October 1992. He continued until the series ended with issue #62 in July 1995. A short four-issue comic series called Galactic Guardians also came out during this time.
Modern Appearances
A new Guardians of the Galaxy comic series started in May 2008. This series was written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. It featured a completely new team of Guardians, set in a different timeline. The original 1969 team made guest appearances in some issues of this new series.
In 2014, a new ongoing series starring the original Guardians was launched. It was called Guardians 3000 and was also written by Dan Abnett.
Who Are the Guardians?
The Guardians of the Galaxy live in the 31st century. This is an alternative timeline of the Marvel Universe called Earth-691.
The Original Team
The first members of the team are:
- Major Vance Astro (later called Major Victory): He is an astronaut from 20th century Earth. He traveled for a thousand years to Alpha Centauri while in suspended animation (like a long sleep). He is also a future version of another hero named Justice.
- Martinex T'Naga: He is a being made of crystal from Pluto.
- Captain Charlie-27: He is a strong soldier from Jupiter.
- Yondu Udonta: He is a blue-skinned "noble savage" from Centauri-IV.
Each of these heroes is thought to be the last of their kind. They had to join forces against the Badoon. The Badoon are an alien race trying to take over Earth's Solar System.
New Friends and Big Battles
As they fought the Badoon, the team gained three more members:
- Starhawk and Aleta: A mysterious husband and wife duo.
- Nikki: A young girl from Mercury who was created in a lab. She was looking for excitement.
The team also traveled back in time. There, they met 20th-century heroes like Captain America and the Thing.
The Guardians eventually defeated the Badoon. But then they faced a new enemy called Korvac. Korvac was partly created by the Badoon. The Guardians teamed up with the thunder god Thor to fight Korvac in the 31st century. Then, they followed Korvac to the 20th century. There, they joined the Avengers for a final battle.
Years later, the Guardians appeared again. They had many adventures in their future. More heroes joined their team, including:
- Talon from the Inhumans.
- Replica from the Skrull race.
- The second Yellowjacket (named Rita DeMara) from the 20th century.
- An older Simon Williams (now called Hollywood, Man of Wonder).
Martinex later left the team. He wanted to find more members to create a second group called the Galactic Guardians.
How They Connect to the Modern Guardians
The modern-day Guardians of the Galaxy team found a time-traveling Vance Astro frozen in space. He told them he was "Major Victory of the Guardians of the Galaxy." This inspired the new team to take on the same name.
In some comic issues, it was shown that a big "error" in the present day destroyed the future. Starhawk kept trying to prevent this by traveling through time. This caused the future (and the Guardians) to change many times. Only Starhawk remembered these changes, but each change still led to a disaster. In one version of the future, the alien Badoon took over the universe. The Guardians sent a warning to the present day, even though it meant the end of their own universe.
The Vance Astro in the modern Guardians team is a Major Victory from one of these changed futures. He is not the original one.
Guardians in Games and Movies
- The original Guardians appear as characters you can play in a special pack for Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. This pack is called "Classic Guardians of the Galaxy."
- Some members of the original Guardians of the Galaxy team appear in the live-action movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. These include Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord, Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex T'Naga, Ving Rhames as Charlie-27, and Michelle Yeoh as Aleta Ogord. Miley Cyrus also voiced a character named Mainframe. These characters are part of a group of space thieves and smugglers called the Ravagers.
Images for kids
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Debut: Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January 1969). Cover art by Gene Colan and Mike Esposito. (l. to r.) Vance Astro, Charlie-27, Martinex, Yondu.
See also
In Spanish: Guardianes de la Galaxia (Marvel Comics) para niños
