Marvel Just Confirmed a Huge Harsh Reality for the Guardians of the Galaxy (& The MCU Should Listen)

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The Guardians of the Galaxy have become incredibly popular thanks to the Marvel movies, but their comic book history isn’t quite as strong. While the movies are fantastic, the comic versions haven’t always lived up to the hype. Interestingly, two members – Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon – consistently shine, both in the comics and on screen. What’s particularly notable is that these characters are usually more compelling when they’re operating outside of the main Guardians team in the comics.

Currently, Marvel Comics has two separate story arcs focusing on Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon, but these adventures don’t involve the Guardians of the Galaxy team. Similar to how it’s been since the *Annihilation* storyline, these characters are at their best when they’re working solo, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe could benefit from exploring that dynamic.

Star-Lord is Always Better When Working With Nova, Not the Guardians of the Galaxy

Okay, so I’ve been following the *Imperial* storyline, and it’s HUGE. Marvel’s really trying to shake up everything we know about its cosmic side, and it feels like a total reboot. It’s still unfolding, but the Grandmaster and Maximus are clearly the masterminds, with Black Bolt seemingly mixed up in it all. They’ve essentially sidelined major players like the Kree, the Skrulls, and even Wakanda, keeping them out of the fight. But there’s still hope! It all comes down to Star-Lord, Nova, and Shuri – they’re the only ones who can actually stop these guys, and I’m really excited to see how it plays out.

Star-Lord has always thrived on strong friendships. While he’s known for his connection with Gamora, that relationship wasn’t as central in the movies as it was in the original comics. In fact, his most significant bond was with Nova, a close friendship that wasn’t explored on screen. Star-Lord consistently shines when paired with his best friend, Nova.

I honestly think this dynamic between Star-Lord and Nova is even better than what we saw in *Imperial* – they’re truly one of Marvel’s greatest pairings! It all started way back with *Annihilation*, which, while it launched the new Guardians team, was really about those two leading the charge against Annihilus. They even tried to create some romantic tension with Gamora, but honestly, everyone just wanted to see the awesome friendship between Richard Ryder and Peter Quill. That bromance was way more compelling than any love triangle!

Great writers could make the banter between these two friends more captivating than the battles happening around them. While Nova hasn’t appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet, there’s been talk of a Disney+ special featuring the character. It would be best for the Guardians of the Galaxy to remain separate, and if Star-Lord does return, it should be alongside Nova. This could help restore Peter Quill’s popularity after his controversial choices in *Avengers: Infinity War*, potentially redeeming his character in the eyes of fans.

Rocket Raccoon is Always More Interesting With Other Heroes

Rocket Raccoon has been absent from the town of Imperial, and it seems he was captured by an alien called Doctor Xanto Starblood. Introduced in 2012’s *Wolverine and the X-Men*, Xanto initially appeared to be a benefactor to Spider-Man, even rescuing him from a deserted planet. However, Spider-Man later discovered that Xanto was actually a villain, capturing various alien creatures – much like The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and quickly moved to free them.

Spider-Man discovered Rocket Raccoon among the captives, and Rocket responded with a classic witty remark upon seeing Peter. This sets up a potentially entertaining partnership between the two heroes, which is when Rocket truly shines. While Rocket and Groot make a strong team, their dynamic doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the connection James Gunn created between Star-Lord and Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I’ve always loved Rocket Raccoon, and it’s funny to think he’s been around in Marvel comics since the 1980s – way before the Guardians of the Galaxy even existed! Like Star-Lord, I really hope we see him back in the MCU, but I think he’d be even *better* if he wasn’t always with the Guardians. While Groot is a great companion, I’d love to see them explore his brilliant detective side from the comics. Honestly, I think Rocket could become a huge star again if he stepped out of the Guardians’ shadow and got a chance to really shine on his own.

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2025-09-26 16:11