Warning: SPOILERS for Marvel's Infinity Wars

The Infinity War movie forced fans to watch the Guardians of the Galaxy die - now Marvel Comics is going to repeat the heartbreak by killing off one member of the team. And if you read the evidence right, it's not hard to guess which Guardian will make 'the ultimate sacrifice.'

It's a strange time to break the news to fans that Marvel is going to be first killing, then replacing the members of the Guardians of the Galaxy for a full-scale reboot. With James Gunn being forced out of the series director's chair, and at least one cast member saying he'll quit Guardians 3 without Gunn, the future of the property stands in question. The comics have followed a different path, but find themselves in the same spot.

So, which Guardian of the Galaxy is Marvel going to kill... and will the comic reboot show how the MCU may follow suit?

Yes, a Guardian of the Galaxy is Going To Die

These days even casual comic fans know that when it comes to superheroes, even death isn't permanent - a major reason why fans didn't riot when Avengers 3 killed off half the MCU. So even with Marvel announcing the launch of Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian coming in December, with a somber, de-saturated cover depicting the five core heroes (the same as the original movie team), there was some wiggle room on just how "fallen" was being used.

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With the Infinity Wars event building to its finale around the same time, even a Guardian leaving the team behind or turning to the villains' side would be more believable than Marvel killing one off. Unfortunately, the synopsis leaves no doubt:

In the stunning climax of INFINITY WARS, one of the Guardians of the Galaxy makes the ultimate sacrifice. Look back at the life of a fallen Guardian and the empty space they leave behind in what’s left of the universe.

That tease means Guardians fans will need to pick up Infinity Wars #6 on the same day, December 19th, to see which Guardian dies for the sake of their friends and universe in the event's big finale. On the very same day, writer Gerry Duggan and artist Andy McDonald will give that Fallen Guardian their own memorial issue... before the new Guardians of the Galaxy begins its total reboot just weeks later.

It All Leads To The New Guardians Reboot

The confirmation that an existing member of the Guardians of the Galaxy - Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, or Groot - won't actually survive the Infinity Wars adds even more weight to the event. But it also helps explain the previous announcement of a new reboot for the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book. With the first image teasing that the new series, launching in January, will take just about every cosmic character into consideration, the tagline itself makes more sense than ever.

The inclusion of Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, Captain Marvel, Thor, and even Galactus in the tease of a new roster grabbed the attention, but the tagline itself - "Who Are The Guardians?" - implies it's the heroes themselves asking the question. In the wake of the coming death, the surviving team members may question everything. But how they recruit new heroes will change depending on who dies.

Especially if it's the Guardian who Marvel seriously wants fans to expect... since they're hinting that it's another Guardian who actually kills the fallen hero.

Page 2 of 2: The Guardian Marvel is Hinting Will Be Killed

Star-Lord Will Die, Or So Marvel is Hinting

Surprisingly, the synopsis for Fallen Guardian revealing that a Guardian of the Galaxy dies in Infinity War's final issue makes perfect sense. Ever since the mysterious hooded figure referring to themselves as Requiem snuck up behind Thanos and cut off his head, then revealed themselves to actually be Gamora, Thanos' daughter in disguise, the Guardians have been shattered. The sense of betrayal grew even deeper when Star-Lord tried to talk some sense into Gamora... who responded by murdering him, too.

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Luckily Doctor Strange was on hand with the Time Stone, and succeeded in reversing Peter Quill's death. But it also demonstrated just how committed Gamora is to her current mission to kill Thanos and gather the Infinity Stones (a satisfying reversal of her death in Infinity War). She will seemingly stop at nothing to regain the piece of her soul trapped inside the Soul Stone - including murdering Star-Lord once again, which is exactly what's shown on the cover of Infinity Wars #6. But then, comic fans know not to judge a book by its cover.

Gamora May Be The Guardian Dying, Not Killing

Gamora appears in Marvel Comics.

Not only would Star-Lord's death be anticlimactic the second time around, it seems too big a moment to spoil on the cover. Frankly, it makes as much sense, if not more, that it's Gamora who risks going too far and must be killed by a teammate. But judging by the synopsis of Fallen Guardian, it doesn't sound like Gamora fans need to worry about her legacy. If she makes "the ultimate sacrifice" to bring the Wars to an end, Marvel likely has bigger plans in store than being put out of her desperation and misery.

It's hard not to suspect that Thanos will be the one putting the doomed Guardian into their grave. Especially after Thanos Legacy #1 revealed that the villain's death at his daughter's hand may have been part of a larger plan. And with Duggan and Donny Cates writing that revelation together, Duggan scribing Fallen Guardian, before Cates launches the new Guardians reboot, it would make sense for Thanos to get his revenge as part of this narrative shifting of gears.

Pray For Groot & Rocket Raccoon

Of course, it must be considered that Marvel may wish to punch their readers and movie fans directly in the heart, and have either Groot or Rocket Raccoon sacrifice themselves in Infinity Wars. And with such a noble act expected least from Rocket, it's hard to deny that such a twist would blindside readers and their emotions. Would the comic book Guardians ever continue without their furry, foul-mouthed mascot? And could Marvel fans endure one more Groot death scene after The Avengers: Infinity War?

The good news is that the tragic sacrifice and Fallen Guardian memorial issue will drop just months from now, and just in time for the holidays. Enjoy!

Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian #1 arrives on December 19th, available from Marvel Comics.

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