Endgame Can Reboot Guardians of The Galaxy (By Destroying Them)

Warning: SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy #1

Whether or not Marvel fans are ready to admit it, the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy is about to change. But contrary to what many may think, the comics have shown that doesn't need to be a bad thing. In fact, Avengers: Endgame could be the first step in rebooting the franchise... making way for a new version of the team to assemble in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

No matter what is said publicly, even the film's stars have described the next Guardians movie as "on hold indefinitely." For their part, the directors of Avengers: Endgame have confirmed that the James Gunn controversy didn't impact their plans for the heroes. To some, that could mean the Guardians will be just as stuck after Endgame's credits roll. But if the Marvel minds are paying any attention to the comics, then the newly-rebooted Guardians of the Galaxy series and team could be an obvious solution.

Because most of the MCU's Guardians have been heading to the same dead ends as their comic counterparts, anyway. If one clean reboot works on paper... why can't it work on film, too?

This Page: Guardians Must Change,The Comics Show How
Page 2: The Guardian Who Dies, So The MCU Can Live

Marvel Just Showed How To Reboot The Guardians

The arrival of Guardians of the Galaxy #1 does more than prove that even a great team can get greater--it shows why fans shouldn't be too skeptical about a reboot's chances of matching past successes (and therefore not insulting, dishonoring, or erasing them). At first, Marvel Comics fans responded to the death of a Guardian, a comic reboot, and a brand new, mystery roster of the Guardians of the Galaxy about as cynically as they would for a movie reboot. But in the end, the series set off on the right foot, allowing new and beloved cosmic characters to bounce off Star-Lord and Groot. And all by sending away Rocket, Drax, and Gamora without needing to kill them so they could never return. Well... for most of them, anyway.

So if the comics prove that the Guardians can support their own stories, and their own journeys, then the movies would do well to take notes. Because almost all of the major changes introduced to relaunch a new Guardians series match up incredibly well with the post-Infinity War Guardians.

Gamora Can Return... But at What Cost?

There are a lot of reasons to dislike the sequence that ended with Gamora's death in Avengers: Infinity War, with Thanos turning abusive love into an even stronger weapon to kill his daughter, and demonstrating a pretty textbook case of 'fridging' a daughter to make her father more interesting. But no matter what, Gamora's death on Vormir means that the Avengers will need to do more than just reverse the Thanos snap. One way or another they'll need to resurrect Gamora, including whatever piece of her resides in the Soul Stone (if any actually does in the MCU's version). In the comics, she survived years ignoring the fact that she wasn't a whole person! Yet in the comics... Gamora'a life of suffering, abuse, anger, and denial finally did become too much for her to hold back.

She needed to decide who she was for herself, not as the "last of her people," or a kidnapped "daughter" of Thanos, or one of several "Guardians of the Galaxy." Leaving Peter behind wasn't easy, and wouldn't be in the film, either. But the MCU could do with more heroes deciding that mental and emotional health are important, too. And believe us, if the Endgame story helps set up the same Guardians reboot as the comics recently pulled off, it won't be Gamora's exit that fans will be debating, but a more... permanent departure by one of her fan-favorite teammates. SPOILERS ahead.

Page 2 of 2: The Guardian Who Dies, So The MCU Can Live

Drax Can Give His Life (To Finally Kill Thanos)

Weeks have passed since the conclusion of the Infinity Wars event, but it's still hard to accept that Drax truly is dead. When Marvel warned that a Guardian of the Galaxy would be killed in the massive, Infinity Stone fueled story, most fans probably thought that it would prove a stunt first, and story beat second (only to be undone once sales dipped yet again). It's impossible to say that Drax will or won't return at some point down the road, but the fact remains: his death was meaningful, making a sacrifice to save billions, and finally earning rest after a lifetime of anger and pain. And in the MCU, it would make just as much sense.

Even without Dave Bautista's disinterest in Guardians 3 (without James Gunn directing), the stage seems set for Thanos to be defeated. And there is nobody in the MCU who has wanted to kill him for longer than Drax. Gamora would be next in line, but her reaction to killing Thanos in Infinity War proved that's too great a burden for her to bear (Thanos is a 'father' to her, after all). And while Nebula got some revenge on Thanos in the comics, the desire to murder Thanos has defined Drax from his first scene.

If the chance arises to kill Thanos--not just as revenge for his wife and daughter, but on behalf of all life, all families, all fathers--that's an ending Drax has earned, if the film can match the comic version.

Rocket's Guilt Sends Him Soul-Searching

With Director James Gunn having confirmed that Baby Groot is the original Groot's son, and not merely a clone, the most heartbreaking moment of the MCU was set up without fans knowing it. Audiences couldn't tell in the moment, since every version of "I Am Groot" sounds the same to our ears, Groot calling out to Rocket, his "Dad" as the Thanos Snap turned him to dust is unforgivable, and must be reversed. Frankly, a whole act devoted to their reunion wouldn't be overdoing it. But once it's over... some decisions will need to be made on how many comic relief/sarcastic/quip-firing/abrasively lovable cosmic characters one Guardians franchise can hold.

As the first teases of Avengers: Endgame have shown, Rocket carries the weight of his lost friends as heavily as anyone. At least partly because of the fact that Infinity War only happened because of him, meaning he's had plenty of time drowning in guilt. Whether his departure is temporary or permanent, now seems the perfect time for Rocket to do some soul-searching, and decide what kind of hero he'll be going forward. Leaving room for other characters to carry the rage comedy before Rocket gets too played out.

Star-Lord & Groot Start The New Guardians

Star Lord posing with Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Maybe it's because Avengers: Infinity War turned Star-Lord into the worst Marvel hero and a punchline to his former teammates, but seeing Groot reach young adulthood and decide that Star-Lord is actually the best friend he could have seems like an overdue reassurance. We're not saying we want Star-Lord to suddenly play a father figure to Groot... but an accident prone, cool uncle would be worthwhile. More than anything though, the team of Groot and Quill means the next director of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 & 4 can bring in almost any cosmic outlaw or superhero to pad out the roster.

The biggest challenge to any soft reboot or refresh is making the characters seem consistent from one incarnation to the next. In that regard, no Guardian is easier to maintain than Groot. Then, simply make sure to punctuate the trailers with Star-Lord punchlines and Groot gags, and audiences will know not everything has changed. Even if everything behind the scenes has.

Only time will tell if James Gunn planned on paying off these storylines for all the same reasons the comics have, and if Marvel decides to stick with his version of Guardians 3, or come up with their own wrap-up and refresh. But if anyone believes that dividing this group will lead to fewer story possibilities, or weaker characters, we would simply point them to the recent comic relaunch as a perfect blueprint.