Time travel with the Guardians of the Galaxy
Having become fairly popular since 2014 and their first Marvel-licensed film, the Guardians of the Galaxy have had a very irregular history. The first appearance of the Guardians of the Galaxy dates back to 1969, and after that they have popped up from time to time, for limited adventures, series of comic book adventures, and a reinvention in 2008. Let's take a look at their history and the impact of derivative products such as action figures.
The 1969 appearance
Issue 18 of the American comics magazine Marvel Super-Heroes featured a team of interplanetary superheroes. The team included human, non-human and superhuman characters, who teamed up to fight various villains. The issue was a huge success... but writers Arnold Drake and Gene Colan decided not to bring them back.
It wasn't until 1974 that the team teamed up for an episode with The Thing in issue 5 of Marvel Two-in-One. The sole purpose of this magazine was to associate The Thing with all sorts of licensed Marvel heroes, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy. As a reminder, The Thing is a member of The Fantastic Four who mutated during exposure to cosmic rays, giving his skin the appearance of rock.
The writer of this story, Steve Gerber, decided to bring back the Guardians of the Galaxy in 1975 in another magazine, "Giant-Size Defenders" and "The Defenders".
It was in these issues that the Guardians of the Galaxy team faced their first recurring enemy, the Badoons. These reptilian-like aliens from the planet Moord and Loitiara are now well known to fans of the Marvel action figures and goodies available in our shop.
The 1976 series: a first step for the Guardians of the Galaxy
In 1976, the Guardians of the Galaxy finally got their first comic book series under the pen of Steve Gerber, quickly taken over by Roger Stern. These adventures appeared in the anthology "Marvel Presents", a publication designed to present various stories and heroes from the Marvel universe. Despite a promising start, the Guardians of the Galaxy series struggled to find its audience and ended after just a few episodes, suffering from a lack of popularity.
However, the characters did not disappear completely from the scene. The Guardians of the Galaxy made sporadic appearances in other series, alongside established superheroes such as Thor, Iron Man and Captain America. However, it would be a decade before they returned to play a more central role in the Marvel universe.
This transitional period nevertheless laid the foundations for what was to become one of Marvel's most iconic teams. Today, the Guardians of the Galaxy, widely popularised by their films and their goodies (such as the famous Funko Pop figures of Groot and Star-Lord), occupy a major place in the collective imagination of comic book fans. If you're passionate about their adventures, don't hesitate to discover the derivative products available in our shop, with a wide range in stock and attractive prices.
The 1989 series
The TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was a huge success at the time. This gave rise to the idea of creating a team of characters who would have to defend Earth against alien threats. But rather than invent a team from scratch, Marvel editor Tom DeFalco and writer Jim Valentino brought back the Guardians of the Galaxy in a magazine that would (finally) bear their name. And so, for over 50 episodes, the 1990s generation was able to follow the adventures of :
This team is then reinforced by Nikki, Starhawk and Aleta. The main storyline is that the Guardians of the Galaxy return to the 20th century to confront enemies of Earth and join forces with other Marvel superheroes. They also have to return to the future to complete missions, creating parallel versions of the universe.
The 2014 film and the 2008 team
In 2008, writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning launched a new iteration of Guardians of the Galaxy, with a few appearances from the old team. This new team is made up of :
It was this team that appeared in the 2008 film, directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, and Vin Diesel lending his voice to Rocket Raccoon.
Following its success, the film received two sequels in 2017 and 2023.
Discover the must-have Guardians of the Galaxy goodies on our e-shop!
Immerse yourself in the fascinating universe of Guardians of the Galaxy, the famous Marvel franchise that has been making fans dream for years. In our geek shop, you'll find an exclusive selection of merchandise for all tastes and ages. Whether you're a passionate collector or looking for an original gift, we've got everything you need to enrich your collection or delight your loved ones.
Explore our wide range of in-stock goodies, including the must-have Guardians of the Galaxy Funko Pop figures, including popular models of Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Star-Lord. But that's not all! We also offer keyrings, stylish bags, uniquely designed T-shirts, collector's mugs and much more. Each of our products is carefully selected to offer you the best quality at the best price.
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Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the fantastic universe of the Guardians of the Galaxy and show your love for this legendary saga through our merchandise. Order now from our online shop and have your items delivered straight to your door in the blink of an eye!