Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy features a stellar cast of the most corrosive, villainous characters ever to wreak havoc in the Andromeda Galaxy. While not all villains make an appearance in the game directly, they are, for all intents and purposes, still established villains in the game either via criminal files or Easter Eggs. Of course, the main villains are the ones that serve as immediate threats to the galaxy, such as Grand Unifier Raker and Magus. Nonetheless, each of the villains makes an appearance in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, indicating that the Guardians will be needed long after they save the galaxy.
Long time fans of everything Marvel should feel happy to know that the game, developed by Eidos-Montréal, derives much of its character inspiration from their comic origins. Whereas Square Enix used the MCU for Marvel's Avengers, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy draws only the most important parts of the James Gunn films into the game. For example, the Guardians of the Galaxy game soundtrack was created with Star-Lord's music affinity in mind, something that was originally created for the Guardians of the Galaxy films. However, as none of the villains seen in game have ever made an appearance in the films, every Marvel villain in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy game is the combination of comic origin and Eidos-Montréal originality.
The Guardians of the Galaxy have an interesting relationship with many characters throughout Marvel's universe, often putting themselves at odds with a number of not-so-villainous characters. While the Guardians make an enemy out of Lady Hellbender after the Rocket and Groot selling, she isn't technically a villain. In fact, according to the Worldmind, while Lady Hellbender is listed as a galactic threat she operates as a sanctuary for monstrous creatures across the galaxy. Lady Hellbender's political status grants her specific immunities and protections under the Galactic Treaty, a document created after the Galactic War. So, although she attempts to kill the Guardians for a long part of the game, she's more accurately just at odds with the Guardians rather than a force of evil.
Marvel's Grand Unifier Raker in Guardians of the Galaxy
Grand Unifier Raker is the leader of the Universal Church of Truth, and the mastermind behind the rise of Magus and his Promise that threatens the galaxy. The Grand Unifier wasn't always a villain in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game, however, as most villains rarely begin their journey as a force of evil. As the Guardians execute their plan to save the galaxy they eventually meet Adam Warlock, who was once the Universal Church of Truth's key figurehead. Warlock and Raker worked closely together for a long time, but eventually Warlock came around to see that Raker was only using him for his power.
As the Grand Unifier nurtures Nikki's development as The Matriarch, he essentially manipulates her into being the vessel for Magus. Raker, who was ultimately under the power of Magus' Promise, wanted nothing more than to see his long dead son alive once more. Unfortunately for Raker, the Guardians of the Galaxy put an end to his plans and free Nikki from the clutches of Magus.
Marvel's Magus in Guardians of the Galaxy
Although Magus is one of the most powerful characters in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, his overall power and appearance differ greatly from that of the comics. Magus was originally designed to be an evil future version of Adam Warlock, but the Guardians of the Galaxy game version depicts him as the manifested inner-evil of Adam Warlock. The two were separated originally when Adam Warlock left the Universal Church of Truth and locked Magus away in the Soul Stone, then cast it aside in the Quarantine Zone. Unfortunately, the Guardians accidentally let Magus loose during their search for a monster-gift for Lady Hellbender.
After Warlock defeats Magus, Magus actually takes control over Warlock's body and powers. In a surprising final battle, the Guardians managed to defeat Magus with the help of Nikki Gold. Like Magus, Marvel's GOTG Nikki differs from her comic self, and actually gains her powers after she rejects Magus' promise.
Marvel's Blood Brothers (Garek & Rosson) in the GOTG Game
The Blood Brothers, Garek & Rosson, are tasked with hunting down the Guardians of the Galaxy after their deal with Lady Hellbender turns sour. The time after the Galactic War is a rather complicated series of political events. Although Lady Hellbender has political immunities and served the resistance during the Galactic War, she hires the Blood Brothers to retrieve the Guardians. Ironically, the Blood Brothers were servants of Thanos during the Galactic War, and made a name for themselves through the war crimes they committed on behalf of the Mad Titan.
The Blood Brothers ambush Star-Lord on Knowhere while he's by himself. To add insult to injury, Star-Lord is the only playable character in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and he is by himself for the beginning stages of this fight. The Blood Brothers are suited with impenetrable armor when they're together as well, and it's likely that they would have been the end of Star-Lord had Gamora and Drax not joined in later.
Marvel's Captain Glory in Guardians of the Galaxy
Captain Glory might have been the most anti-climatic villain in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and was another villain hired by Lady Hellbender. Captain Glory leads the Lethal Legion, a terrorist organization that disguises itself as mercenaries for hire. Captain Glory is originally from the planet Kree-Lar, but defected from the Imperial Army during the Galactic War.
The Guardians take on Glory's armada with the firepower of the Milano. Fortunately, it's a pretty easy fight, especially when players choose to hide Rocket's contraband in Marvel's GOTG. Hiding Rocket's illegal technology allows him to develop advanced weapons for the Milano that make space dust out of Captain Glory and the Lethal Legion.
Marvel's Chitauri References in Guardians of the Galaxy
The Chitauri are some of the most referenced villains in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, as they aligned themselves with Thanos during the Galactic War. The Chitauri were responsible for Star-Lord's abduction in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game, holding the then thirteen-year-old protagonist as a prisoner of war in exchange for his father's surrender of the planet Spartax. Star-Lord remained a prisoner of war until he was an adult, but eventually he escaped with the help of Yondu Udonta. Yondu was Star-Lord's cellmate for couple of years, and after escaping the Chitauri Yondu asked Star-Lord to join the Ravagers.
The Chitauri are also responsible for what happened to Groot's species in Marvel's GOTG. As many Marvel fans know, Groot is a Flora Colossus from Planet X, the capital of the branch worlds. Near the beginning of the Galactic War, the Chitauri used an experimental doomsday device on Planet X. This wiped out the entire planet's population except for Groot, however, the Chitauri wiped out the population of the remaining branch worlds as well. Groot, as far as he knows, is the last surviving member of his species.
Marvel's Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy
Thanks to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos has become of one of the most popular villains in modern cinematic history. Naturally, he has to make an appearance in Marvel's GOTG, but players only ever face him inside Drax's mind as a warped illusion of Magus' effect on Drax's mind. Long before the beginning of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax killed Thanos at the end of the Galactic War.
Although Drax is hailed throughout the galaxy as the hero who killed Thanos, Drax confides in Star-Lord that he believes Thanos is actually alive. Drax was bestowed with the ability to sense Thanos anywhere in the universe at any given time, and he still feels his presence just as he did in the days before he first fought the Mad Titan. In fact, the first time Drax fought with Thanos is was because this gift was able to lead him to the location of the Thanos' hiding place. Both of the warriors fought until their exhaustion finished them, and when Drax regained consciousness he was no longer around Thanos. With this being a likely foreshadow of Thanos' return, fans may see the real Thanos in a Marvel's GOTG sequel.
Marvel's Nebula Reference in the GOTG Game
Nebula is another infamous character turned hero in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but she was nowhere to be found in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. In a tense moment of rage against Raker, Gamora reveals to the Guardians that Nebula was killed before she joined the team. Furthermore, Gamora revealed that she was the one that killed Nebula, kind of.
During Nebula's death reveal scene, Gamora says to the team, "the Nebula I knew had been twisted into a hateful, vengeful, monster-thing. One who would never stop unless I stopped her. So I did. I just never expected to survive." Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is filled with a large array of fine details that add depth to the story, but this seems to be something lack in Gamora's statement. In fact, there is a very real possibility that Nebula could still be alive in Marvel's GOTG, and that Gamora only left her for dead. There isn't much to support this theory other than Gamora stating that she didn't expect herself to survive, but it's an ambiguous phrase for the Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy.
Marvel's Darkhawk (Nova Corps Criminal Files)
Darkhawk is one of the villains confirmed to be active in the galaxy, at least according to the Nova Corps criminal files. Like Star-Lord, Darkhawk is a human from Earth, but unfortunately he doesn't share Star-Lord's sense of monopolized justice. In the comics, Darkhawk is a character who has worked with Spider-Man, as well as a number of other Marvel heroes. However, Darkhawk does fall in with the Fraternity of Raptors, and draws his powers from the Datasong. The Datasong is, for lack of a better term, the comparable evil version of the Worldmind.
Given that Darkhawk is typically a hero, he may be a Marvel character who joins the GOTG in a sequel. It would be unfortunate to see that this character remains as only a reference, particularly because his Raptor Armor and Datastream put Darkhawk on a comparable power level to Nova.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Yondu Udonta (Nova Corps Criminal Files)
Yondu Udonta is another MCU character who was once an antagonist turned hero, but unfortunately the last of his character was seen losing his life in order to save Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Fortunately for fans, Yondu is very much alive in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, but was largely absent during the game because of his time in the Kyln. The Kyln is a Nova Corp prison, and Yondu was locked away there after Star-Lord got him arrested for kidnapping a twelve-year-old child.
Yondu is responsible for some of the differences between GOTG's and the MCU's Star-Lord, in terms of both development and Star-Lord's current circumstances with the Guardians. Additionally, Star-Lord stole the Milano from Yondu after he was locked away. While Yondu wasn't present for the events of Marvel's GOTG, it's likely he escaped the Kyln during the chaos brought on by the Universal Church of Truth. Since he is a big-ticket character, Yondu will more than likely make an appearance in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2.
Marvel's Ronan The Accuser (Nova Corps Criminal Files)
Ronan the Accuser was another big-ticket villain who was absent from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, although he currently holds an administrative position in the Kree Public Accuser Corps. In the GOTG game, Ronan was already up to villainous activities shortly after the Galactic War ended. He attempted to incite civil war on Kree-Lar against the Supreme Intelligence, another superpowered program similar to the Worldmind in Marvel's GOTG. The attempt failed, however, and while Ronan remains free it's unlikely that the galaxy has seen the end of his activities.
In the James Dunn films, Ronan was aligned with Thanos, and something similar may be happening in Marvel's GOTG. With Thanos and Nebula both possibly alive, it's possible that Ronan either knows the location of both, rescued both, aiding the pair in their recovery, or a bit of everything. While he ultimately proved to be an underwhelming villain in the 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film, his role may prove to be much more menacing in a Marvel's GOTG sequel.
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy Game Kang The Conqueror Easter Egg
Although Kang the Conqueror is absent from the Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game, his Time Chair is on display at the Collector's Emporium. Kang's Time Chair one of the many Easter Eggs in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy that can be found in the Collector's Emporium. The description of the chair explains that a Kang united all Kangs across alternate realities after manipulating the time stream.
In Marvel's GOTG, the Collector was able to obtain a chair after two Kangs killed one another in this universe. Kang the Conqueror was recently introduced to the MCU in Loki, a new Disney+ series, though he is unlikely to appear anytime soon in a future Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game.
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy Villain: Galactus (Easter Egg)
Like Kang the Conqueror, Galactus, also known as the World-Devourer, is an absent villain in Marvel's GOTG. The Collector owns an item called the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon that Galactus could use to destroy solar systems if he chose to do so. It's an item technically on loan to the Collector from Galactus, and it's a reminder that the iconic figure is an ever present threat in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.