Marvel Comics has just announced the release of a new Guardians of The Galaxy #1. Implied to be coming via the ‘Grootfall’ related message left at New York Comic Con last year, the series will be written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with art by Kev Walker (Predator). The comic will be available in stores on April 12th, 2023, one month before the release of The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on May 5th, 2023.
This creative team, known for their work on Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, will take readers on an intergalactic journey through uncharted territories of deep space, as the Guardians of the Galaxy explore new planets and encounter brand-new alien species. All to learn untold truths in a very… well, honestly, Star Trek’ian type of way.
Grootfall approaches… #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/u6LJfN8Krr
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) January 5, 2023
The Guardians will be faced with a powerful threat known as Grootfall which will force them to undertake a mission that will test the limits of their family bonds. Teased at yesterday, Marco Checchetto’s cover for the first issue gives fans a glimpse of the inspired new designs for the core cast of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Nebula, and Mantis.
The description of the series is that one year ago, the Guardians of the Galaxy were finished… destroyed, by one of their own. Since then, the remaining members have been trying to outrun their tragedy as they travel through a lawless corner of the galaxy. Though can the team rediscover their heroism and humanity in this dark and unforgiving place and will they be able to rebuild their found family of misfits to ever again feel whole?
“Welcome to a whole new era for the Guardians of the Galaxy, riding like mad through an endless alien dust storm of sun-soaked tragedy, intense violence, and deeply dysfunctional heroes,” Lanzing said in a Marvel press release. “The optimistic peacekeepers that defeated the reborn Olympian Gods and overcame ‘The Last Annihilation’ have fallen about as far as they possibly could – and now Peter Quill and what remains of his found family will have to fight like hell in a new western-fueled frontier to find a scrap of forgiveness. After all, the Guardians are a fire – and a fire only ends one way.”
“Sharing the reins with us is the amazing Kev Walker, our partner from Captain America & the Winter Soldier Special #1. His unique blend of realism and wild imagination brings the alien frontier of the Manifold Territories to windswept life like no one else could,” Kelly added. “Together, we’re guiding the Guardians on a new trail – one that will make them look inwards, even as they face the threats over the next horizon. Grab your element gun, True Believers – it’s time to go for a brand new ride.”
“I honestly can’t believe I’m finally getting a chance to work on Guardians,” Walker said. “I’ve been wanting to draw these characters for a long time, (I have some of the first Guardians of the Galaxy comics in my collection). I came close when I did Annihilation: Nova years ago, but never envisaged I’d be doing this kind of all-encompassing relaunch. Pushing existing characters in a new direction is always a daunting challenge, but working with Jackson, Colin and Matt has been a lot of fun and I think we’re producing something a very different to what’s has gone before.”
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1
Written by COLLIN KELLY & JACKSON LANZING
Art by KEV WALKER
Colors by MATT HOLLINGSWORTH
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Grootfall Teaser Variant Cover by KEV WALKER
On Sale 4/12