Guardians thread

[Jim Valentino]

Since it doesn't look like the web-site will EVER get finished I thought I'd post the retrospective piece here since one or two of you still seem interested.
I'm going to post it in chunks, not all at once (cause it's pretty bloody long)--it's a retrospective, so there will be a brief history of the group, a look at my run from my POV followed by what I would have done had I stayed on the book and MAYBE the proposal I sent into Marvel last Autumn that seems to have fallen into limbo.
I don't know how often I'll post these or how much will go up at any given time, guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

Your comments are welcome, of course.

[Jim Valentino]

Introduction

The Guardians of the Galaxy first appeared in MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #18 (January, 1969). Written by Arnold Drake and illustrated by Gene Colan, the team consisted of CHARLIE-27, MAJOR VANCE ASTRO, MARTINEX and YONDU against the invading reptilian horde, the Brotherhood of the Badoon.
At the time, MSH was a “tyro” book, each issue showcasing a new feature. Since the Guardians didn’t make their second appearance until six and a half years later (in Marvel Two-In-One #5 – July, 1975), it’s safe to assume they fired no one’s imagination, save, perhaps, MTIO writer, Steve Gerber.
Gerber masterfully took the team through it’s first revival, guest-starring them in Giant-Size Defenders #5, Defenders #26-29 and, finally, winning them their own short-lived series in Marvel Presents #3-12 (February, 1976 through August, 1977 ).
Although the group had several guest appearances (mostly in Gerber penned tales) in various other titles, they pretty much disappeared again for several years.

In 1990, I was desperately trying to find a steady gig (and paycheck) at Marvel. Encouraged by my then-wife, Diane, and two buds, Rob Liefeld and Brian Murray, I came up with several pitches for some new series to show Marvel EIC, Tom DeFalco and Executive Editor, the late Mark Gruenwald, both of whom would be appearing at Wondercon that year.
I had worked slavishly on a new Defenders concept and Rob and I had co-created (and would have done together) a concept called The Young Avengers (we were unaware that Tom himself had already created the New Warriors, a team similar to ours), plus several other concepts that I no longer recall. Then, a few days before the show as I was perusing the Marvel Universe Handbooks, I came across the entree for the Guardians of the Galaxy. We all agreed that they were a cool looking group, but there was no “hook”—nothing that would bring a new reader into the series.
Two days before the con it hit me like a bolt out of the blue: Why not place them in the Marvel Universe of the 31st century? The series would be a cross between a What If…? and a team-up book. It could show who survived, who didn’t, who was remembered and who wasn’t. And it would allow me extraordinary freedom to play with virtually any Marvel character I chose, and since it would depict only one possible future, it couldn’t interfere with any current continuity.
It was the proposal I gave the least amount of time and thought to, and naturally, it was the one they chose to go with.

When I first pitched it at Tom, he told me that he had also been thinking of the Guardians of late, but his idea was to set them in the 35th Century, 500 years after Charlie, Nikki, Vance and the rest, where they would be a truly galactic organization not unlike the Green Lantern Corps if they were the Legion of Super-Heroes. I told him that I could set that up for him within my series--and I did, beginning in issue #8 when Marty began musing about the Galactic Guardians.

Guardians of the Galaxy debuted in June 1990. It was not a huge seller, by any means, my art was not flashy enough to be a fan favorite and it didn’t meet with either critical or fan acclaim. But, it did have its fans and it did have a positive sales slope during my entire run. And I had a ball doing it.

What follows is an issue-by-issue retrospective of what happened in the series had I continued on it (for all three of you who are interested) also, for those who may have felt cheated by my “leaving” the book—a breakdown of what WOULD have happened had I remained, as planned, until issue #50 and finished out my story. I’ve also cross-referenced all of the “sign-posts” that I could think of—that is, the events that preceded or foretold things to come in the series.

[tschloendorn]

Well as I've said to you and many others Guardains was one of the first comics that kept me coming back for more,I knwo I got into comics late in life.I even re read the entire run at least once a year.
I remember some of the plots that you had talked about the few times we met all those years ago but I would love to relive the magic once again.
So bring 'em on.

[daveevans78]

Hello
Can't wait to read all you had planned for the Guardians and your views on what you did do. I was interested in the comment about the Guardiand been a truly galactic organisation as Guardians of the Galaxy is quite a big boast for just a few heroes,
Dave

[Jim Valentino]

ANNUAL #1 (June, 1991)
“SOME OTHER TIME.” (This story takes place immediately before issue #1, so I’m placing it here, the rest of the annuals will be covered below). Part Four of the four-part “Korvac Quest” which ran through Fantastic Four Annual #24, Thor Annual #16 and Silver Surfer Annual #4, this story concerned itself with the Guardians going back in time some forty years to Korvac’s birth, there to return the power he stole from Galactus.

Hints were given in the story about the fate of the Inhumans (elaborated upon in issue #27), there was a cameo appearance by the Legion’s R.J.Brande (here called Ambassador Jacques) which went unnoticed, the team met the Watcher and the 31st Century Ancient One (Dr. Strange) and the current Sorcerer Supreme, the alien, Krugarr (named after my mentor, Ken Krueger).
They also managed to create their greatest foe, Korvac, whose mother blamed the team for the death of the baby’s father.
Two other significant events were chronicled in this story, the first being the official induction of Aleta (introduced in Defenders #29) into the team, the second being that Yondu found a strange tome among his belongings called the Book of Antag, a book that Vance would realize was a galaxy-spanning puzzle that would lead them to the location of Captain America’s shield! (It should be noted, herewith, that it had been well established that Vance idolized Captain America, a fact which would have enormous repercussions for him in issue #20 and, later, in what would have been #’s 30-34).

#1 (June, 1990) “But Are They Ready For Taserface?”
The story opens on the planet Courg. The Guardians, in search of the shield, seem to have been beaten to every locale by a yet unknown adversary (revealed in issue #5). On this planet, they find a race of canine humanoids that have been conquered by an alien race called The Stark. One of their greatest warriors, Taserface, oversees the planet, and he is whom the Guards must battle.
The team’s entire history is recounted and the stars they wear on their uniforms are revealed communicators and transporters (and, yes, I nicked the idea from Star Trek: Next Gen, but the stars actually showed up first in the aforementioned MTIO #5)
NOTE: My son, Aaron, had created the character Taserface when he was 5 years old. I knew the name was lame, but justified it by likening it to the old Dick Tracy villain, Prune-Face or the Batman villains Clayface and Two-Face. At any rate, it gave the kid a thrill to say that he was the youngest person to ever create a Marvel character. (Okay, so I’m a doting parent, sue me).

#2 (July, 1990) “The Stark Truth”
The Guardians battle the Stark, a Matriarchal society in Iron Man drag. The Watcher explains (to the reader) that Tony Stark had launched all Iron Man armor and specs for same into space, rather than let them fall into Martian hands during the War of the World (yeah, the logic escaped me too, it was all I could come up with at the time). Vance’s protective suit was slashed open during the melee, exposing his thousand-year-old skin to air. Firelord, the former Galactus herald, was noted as being the current Protector of the Universe on a quest for the missing Quantum Bands, and Starhawk and Aleta, only one of whom who could be corporal at any time, were fired upon in mid-body switch.

#3 (August, 1990) “Split Decision”
For the first time ever, Starhawk and Aleta appeared in the same place at the same time, and though it looked like he was abandoning the team in the midst of battle (as he was wont to do), he was actually sending a flare into space to summon Firelord, who himself was being watched by the mysterious second group that was after the shield, Force.
The Guardians’ ship, Freedom’s Lady, is destroyed in this issue.

#4 (September, 1990) “…And Then Came the Firelord”
Firelord, as the title suggests, joins the fray and helps the Guards beat the Stark, incinerating Taserface in the process. Force is introduced officially and one member, Photon, is revealed to be (as hinted at in previous issues) a Centaurian female, one of Yondu’s race.
The Guardians appropriate a Stark star-ship christening it the Captain America II, and Firelord agrees to join the team as their first honorary member, and tells them that the shield can be found on a world encircling the Pleiades.

[Cobalt Kid]

Jim,

These are the types of stories that I love hearing about, so please continue! Comics like the GotG, New Warriors, etc. were part of what was fun about the early 90's. Bring on more!

Seeing as this is my first ever post on the Image boards, I'd also like to say that Shadowhawk was my favorite of all the image books (along with early issues of Spawn), and it makes me smile when I pull it out of my collection.

[Jim Valentino]

[psppsp]

Jim,

Please keep these posts coming. I have every issue of thte Guardians of the Galaxy, and am looking forward to seeing where the story was going to go. It's also nice to have some 'fun facts' about these early issues.

I kept checking your website to see if you had posted these yet, and am glad that you decided to post them here.

NOW KEEP THEM COMING! (At least once a week? Set a day & you'll definately get me coming back on that day!.)

[Jim Valentino]

[Jim Valentino]

#5 (October, 1990) “A Force To Reckon With.”
Force and the Guardians finally meet face-to-face on a world run by a planet-wide sentient computer called Main Frame.
The world-wide computer pits the two teams against one another, Charlie VS Broadside, Brahl VS Martinex (who is critically wounded), Nikki VS Scanner (wherein we learn of her deep hatred for reptiles) and Yondu meets Photon, a Centaurian female whom he refuses to fight, believing that the two of them are spiritually obliged to propagate. She rejects both him and their peoples’ religion (something that would have serious effects on him, most notably in issue #Eight).
I established that Yondu's race, the Centaurians, were not mammals, but
rather, Marsupials. If you look closely, you'll note that Photon has no breasts and within the context of the story she refers to her pouch.

#6 (November, 1990) “And To the Victor—the Shield”
Continuing the contest between The Guardians and Force, Starhawk faces off against Tachyon, Aleta against Eightyfive (who is revealed to be Kree) and Vance faces Interface.
The Guardians win the shield, through Vance, who claims his childhood hero’s weapon as a rallying cry for freemen everywhere. Force, banished from the planet, plan to steer clear of the Guards (all except for Brahl, a major rift that will play out in the issue #16 and later in Annual #2) and Main Frame is revealed to be the Vision.

Two facts are revealed that will play a role in future stories; the first is that Main Frame tells the Guards that the inhabitants of this world were relocated by The Keeper in an effort to save them from Galactus. The second is that Charlie mentions an abandoned base the team found on Europa shortly after forming (reference to a story that would appear in Annual #1).
NOTE: These six issues were collected into the trade paperback: The Quest for the Shield (February, 1992).

#7 (December, 1990) “That’s No Lady, That’s Malevolence”/”The Secret of Knowledge”
This book was split horizontally into two separate stories that came together at the end.
The upper tier featured the team encountering a crimson-hued alien succubus named Malevolence, who kept screaming about a child. The Guardians had no idea what she was talking about. When she encountered Aleta, she brutally attacked her, calling her “The Rival”—again, no one knew what she was talking about. (All would be clear in issue #15).
In the bottom tier, Starhawk used his healing powers on Marty, who had lost a great many of the crystalline shards that composed his epidermis. During this process, Starhawk finally explained how and why he was “The One Who Knows.” He explained that he was NOT a precog, as the Guardians had always assumed, but was re-living his life over-and-over in a moebius strip. He told Marty that his soul would re-inhabit his own infant body during a visit the team would make to the 20th Century (This would have happened in #32 or 33) and, even though he was with them, he would no longer be a Guardian, having been expelled for something he must do. (This would happen in issue #16).
In the end, Starhawk excuses himself, having cured Marty (who emerges with a sleeker skin) and confronts Malevolence, telling her that the Child had not yet arrived she had awoken too early. She splits screaming for guidance from her mysterious father.

#8 (January, 1991) “Down Time”
This issue explored the Guardians’ relationships with one another as they travel toward the Lost Colony of Free Earthmen (their original goal in Marvel Super-Heroes #eightteen--I have to write these out due to the emoticons).
Yondu is revealed to be Habuktu (warrior-priest) and is deeply disturbed by Photon’s rejection of him and the religion of his people. Starhawk finally manages to calm him, telling him that his life will hold great meaning for the future of his people. (Issue #25)
Starhawk, who is growing physically weaker due to his premature separation from Aleta, uncovers evidence of a brutal Church, sweeping a deadly path across the cosmos.
Vance and Marty discuss the leadership of the Guardians and the latter muses on creating a truly galactic team with thousands of members spread across the breadth of the galaxy (Marty left the main group to form this team in issue #17 and they would first appear in Annual #2. My plan was to do a Galactic Guardians mini-series set 500 years in the Guardians' future, so circa the 35/36th Century).
It’s revealed that Vance can take off his containment suit in his own quarters (thanks to Marty) and Aleta, who reveals that she is a being of light, and not flesh and blood, visits him. Vance turns down her amorous advance, much to his own disbelief, but the seeds are set for their eventual romance.
Nikki’s hair is actually revealed to be fire, Charlie proposes to her, but she prefers their relationship remain a casual, sexual one.
Finally, the ship arrives at Haven, the planet that houses the Lost Tribe of Free Earthmen…and the descendants of Earth’s Mutants.

[daveevans78]

I love these insights into your Guardiand and I can't wait to see what you were gonna do in the issues you didn't actually write. Will you be letting us know your plans for the Galactic Guardiand mini set in the 35th/36th century and who some of the members were?
Cheers
Dave

[Jim Valentino]

I'm not sure if it was a part of the original article or not.

If not, I'll add it in.

[Jim Valentino]

#9 (February, 1991) “And Rancor Is Her Name-O”

(Okay, okay, really LAME title, I know, I was having fun with it, sue me).
The Guards land on Haven, which they discover is ruled by the mutant Rancor (fifth generation descendant of Wolverine) and her Lieutenants (Blaster, Blockade, Mind-Scan, Shaddo, Side-Step, Bat-Wing and Rhodney—and, yes, the last two were a joke). They meet Giraud (a tribute to Jean-Paul Giraud aka Moebius) and a young shape-shifter named Replica (who swore she was not a mutant). They also learn the fate of Earth’s mutants after the War of the Worlds while Starhawk begins a conversation with an enigmatic entity that has lain dormant on the planet for half a Millennium.

#10 (March, 1991) “Tell Them the Overmen Are Here”

The Guardians battle Raven and her Lieutenants in an effort to free Haven from their tyrannical rule. Blaster is killed, Replica helps the Guards, and Giraud agrees to host the Phoenix entity (whom Starhawk had awoken in the previous issue).
Meanwhile, on the Stark home world, Taserface is reborn as Overkill. (A much better name. Todd renamed one of his characters OverTkill out of respect for Aaron having created this character).

#11 (April, 1991) “The Once and Future Phoenix”

Giraud is reborn as the new male Phoenix, Rhodney is killed, much to (his lover) Bat-Wing’s dismay and Blockade is blinded in the final battle between Rancor’s Lieutenants and the Guards. The Phoenix destroys the planet Haven, but rescues the populace, transporting them to Main Frame’s world. No one notices a tiny “insect” hovering around Marty’s shoulders as they leave the destroyed planet. The Guardians receive a distress signal from honorary member, Firelord.
And, in another part of the galaxy, Force detects a human sized object, flying toward them in space.

#12 (May, 1991) “Nothing Like A Little Overkill”

In space Firelord is attacked by a “super-Stark,” the immensely powerful Overkill while the “insect” from last issue is revealed to be Replica, stowed away on the Guardians’ ship. Nikki takes an immediate and inexplicable dislike to the young girl, which irks the rest of the team (especially Marty, who feels very fatherly toward the young shape-shifter). The Guards help Firelord to defeat Overkill, a battle that does not go unnoticed on the nearby planet, Sarka, a world converted by the mysterious Church Starhawk first encountered in issue #8. (The Church’s symbol, an Ankh, had appeared all over Haven as well and is worn by Replica as it is by all devotees).
Firelord is called away by his mentor, Eon, to continue his search for the Quantum Bands. Realizing that Nikki’s heartbroken by Firelord’s departure, Charlie gives her a fiery flower that he claims is a parting gift from the Protector of the Universe.

Next: The Protege

[daveevans78]

Cool next the Protege I bet you had had some really cool plans for this character down the line that never saw tge light of day.

[Jim Valentino]