Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning formed the team from existing and previously unrelated characters created by a variety of writers and artists, with an initial roster of Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Phyla-Vell, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and Adam Warlock.

The second volume of the title was published in May 2008, written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and featured a new team of characters from the Annihilation: Conquest storyline.

[1][2] Abnett and Lanning's work on the Annihilation: Conquest story laid the foundation for the new Guardians of the Galaxy book that they had been wanting to launch for some time.

branding, starting with issue 0.1 written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Steve McNiven, which saw Iron Man join the team.

[19] Guardians of the Galaxy was relaunched as part of the 2015 All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative with Brian Michael Bendis and Valerio Schiti returning as writer and artist respectively.

[24] In the aftermath of the Phalanx invasion of the Kree, Star-Lord[25] 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,[26] Drax the Destroyer,[27] Gamora,[27] Phyla-Vell (the new Quasar),[28] Rocket Raccoon,[29] and Groot,[29] with Mantis as support staff.

[30] 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.

After a confrontation with the Universal Church of Truth,[1] the team meets a semi-amnesiac man who identifies himself as Vance Astro – Major Victory of the original Guardians of the Galaxy.

Star-Lord, Mantis, Bug, Jack Flag, and Cosmo are taken to the 31st Century by that era's Guardians, who warn them of the creation of an all-destroying energy rift called The Fault at the war's conclusion.

In April 2013, it was announced that Image Comics' Angela (Spawn) would join the Marvel Universe as the result of a legal battle between Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane.

During the incursion, Rocket Raccoon and Groot are killed by the Children of Tomorrow, Star-Lord is teleported away trying to come up with a back-up plan, and Gamora and Drax the Destroyer are surrounded and confused by the corpses of their comrades.

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, the Guardians of the Galaxy assist Captain Marvel, the Ultimates, the Alpha Flight Space Program, Hyperion, and Quasar in fighting the Chitauri wave.

Captain America, who was brainwashed into being a Hydra sleeper agent, activates the Planetary Defense Shield, trapping them outside of Earth.

This new series depicts the titular team, led by Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon and including Marvel Boy, Nova, Phyla-Vell, Moondragon and Hercules, fighting against the Gods of Olympus, with Gamora, Groot, and Drax also appear as prominent supporting characters.

[59] During the "Secret Wars" storyline in the domain of King James' England (which is based on the Marvel 1602 reality), the Guardians of the Galaxy have a counterpart here named the Gardiner's Men.

They are a troupe of performers consisting of Madam Gomorrah, Peadar O'Cuill, Arthur Dubhghlas, Goodman Root, and Aroughcun the Raccoon.

But there were other team members as well, where there were Peni Parker, Wolverine, Kamala Khan (Captain Marvel), Juggernaut (Juggerduck), Cloak and Dagger, Iron Groot, and others heroes.

[61] The Guardians of the Galaxy appear in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,[64] initially consisting of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, and Nebula.

[65] After the original group eventually disbands, a new iteration is formed, consisting of Rocket, Groot, Cosmo, Kraglin, Adam Warlock, Phyla, and Blurp.