It’s sad when you think you’ve missed out on a bit of your childhood because you didn’t know about certain Marvel comic book character’s, but when Vertigo comics entered my world, I gave up superheroes for some real story telling. I’m not dissing the efforts of Marvel comics, just saying that I’ve never gone back. So it makes sense why they are releasing free digital comics for their latest adapted movie Guardian’s of the Galaxy. Don’t know who they are? Neither do I, but Marvel is about to spend tons on making sure you do before the movie arrives August 1, 2014. At least now I know how my wife felt when she saw The Watchmen for the first time, but she did wind up liking it, so here’s to new experiences. Why the “GOTG” you might ask? Because they tie into The Avengers universe somehow…silly. This is all about branding every damn toon Marvel has got and with Disney holding the checkbook now, you can guarantee they are going to do just that. Back to the story, I tried to find a definition of who “GOTG” are and I must say, even after the explanations on Wiki and Marvel Wiki, I still have no fucking clue. Here’s what I have so far, bear with me…it’s lengthy.
Via Wiki:
In the aftermath of the Phalanx invasion of the Kree, Star-Lord decides to form a team of interstellar heroes that will be proactive in protecting the galaxy, rather than reacting to crises as they happen. To this end, he recruits Adam Warlock, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora,Phyla-Vell (the new Quasar), Rocket Raccoon,and Groot, with Mantis as support staff. On the recommendation of their ally, Nova, the group establishes a base of operations on the space station Knowhere, which possesses a teleportation system with near-universal range. An intelligent, telepathic dog named Cosmo is Knowhere’s chief of security and works closely with the new team. After a confrontation with the Universal Church of Truth, the team meets a semi-amnesiac man who identifies himself as Vance Astro – Major Victory of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Astro’s declaration inspires the as-yet-unnamed team to adopt the “Guardians of the Galaxy” name for their own.When the team learns Star-Lord directed Mantis to telepathically coerce the heroes into joining the team, they disband.
Rocket Raccoon decided to continue Star-Lord’s mission and started a search for the missing members. He asked Bug to join the team, as well Groot’s return to full size and the addition of Mantis and Major Victory as field members.
Meanwhile Star-Lord was banished to the Negative Zone by Ronan the Accuser for his actions during the Phanlanx’s attempted conquest of the Kree Empire. There, he finds himself in the middle of King Blastaar’s fight to break into 42 and use its portal to invade Earth. Star-Lord allies with Jack Flag to defend the prison and contact the other Guardians for rescue. Rocket’s new team successfully brings both of them back, and Flag becomes a Guardian.
Elsewhere, Drax and Phylla begin looking for Cammi, but on their search they talk to a seer who tells them about an oncoming war. Phylla was able to wake Moondragon from the dead, but lost her Quantum Bands in the process. The consequence for Phyla is that she is now the new avatar of death. They went back to Knowhere and did not follow up on the search for Cammi.
Got it! Good! I’m sure the effects will be amazing, but what’s really going to bother me are all these punk ass thirty something’s who will swear to being true Guardian’s…fans, just so when the trailer hits, they can turn to whomever their seated next to and say “Gawd… I’ve waited all my life for this movie.”, perhaps you have,but not me…so shut the fuck up! Okay…I’m a little jaded, you wanna know why? It’s because the comic books I enjoyed growing up haven’t been adapted yet. I’m still waiting on my Sandman movie! Too risky Hollywood? Well risk has been what has kept you guys on the top for so long. Anyway, Entertainment Weekly published some of the artwork being used in Marvel’s stand alone issues for GOTG, in order to get us caught up on some of the lesser known characters. Wait…there are well known character’s?
The following comes Via@ Collider who we owe a dept of thanks for posting EW’s article…let’s pay it fucking forward shall we?
Starting with Drax the Destroyer (available now), Marvel’s four free issues centering on the Guardians of the Galaxy are available through the Marvel Comics app. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, the first story in the series gives a good introduction to Drax and shows that he’s quite the badass as he defends himself against some substantial threats. (There’s also a nice teaser appearance at the end by another Guardian.) 
The presentation on your smartphone or tablet keeps the iconic panel feel of classic comics with a high-tech method of swiping to advance the story. As Bendis says:
“An Infinite comic book is exploring the new world of digital publication but still maintaining the essential elements that makes a comic book a comic book. Most digital comic books are essentially scanned pages that the reader has limited ability to manipulate, but an Infinite comic makes the reader part of the sequential storytelling. Each one is sort of a prologue to the very first issue that lets the readers know who these characters are and what their individual goals are outside of the team. What makes Gamora tick? What secret is rocket raccoon hiding? What cost comes from being one of the galaxies most famous warriors like Drax the Destroyer?”
Finally, Bendis commented on the heroes themselves and how well they’ll fit into Marvel’s slate of feature films:
“They are very unique individuals but there’s something very classical about them as a group, like Robin Hood and his Merry Men, like Firefly, like Han Solo and Chewbacca. The Guardians are characters that have risen above their terrible upbringing and have chosen to do something worthwhile in this lifetime. That makes them heroes. The fact that they are so unique, the fact that most of them are one-of-a-kind, makes them all the more heroic.”
Still nothing…I know right? Did I need to be 15 again to really spring a leak about this film, or am I just that old? Maybe I need to pick up a few of these free comic books just so I know who theses toons…Dow! Damn you Marvel, you did it again! You did it again!
Guardian’s of the Galaxy is directed by James Gunn (Slither, Scooby Doo) and stars Chris Pratt and James Momoa. No one else is confirmed yet. The film releases August 1, 2014.
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