Marvel's NEW Guardians of the Galaxy Are Already a Hit

Marvel's decision to reboot the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics was a big risk, but the brand new team is already a hit with fans after just one issue. And frankly, we're giving most of that credit to Beta Ray Bill.

After teasing the new team for months, Marvel finally put and end to the mystery, revealing the entire new roster of the Guardians of the Galaxy. But no comic fan knew how high the stakes would be, with Thanos preparing to return, and just about every cosmic hero who could stop him scattered across space and time. A heck of a way to launch a new Guardians #1... and so effective, the issue is heading back for a second printing.

While it's not unheard of for a first issue to sell through the stock ordered by retailers, and demand even more copies be printed, it's not going to be what some fans expected with this reboot. After all, the previous Guardians became household names thanks to the MCU, meaning a 'reboot' was sure to prove controversial. And that was before Marvel decided to permanently break up with existing Guardians by killing Drax the Destroyer (for real). According to Marvel's official statement, the tease of which Marvel heroes would become the new Guardians was too good for fans to pass up. And by 'fans,' we mean 'more fans than the publisher prepared for.'

Last week, the world welcomed a new age of the Guardians of the Galaxy to the Marvel Universe, as the superstar creative team of Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, and Marte Gracia – along with cover artists David Marquez and Dean White – kicked off a new adventure for everyone’s favorite cosmic heroes.

After debuting to critical acclaim from comic fans and critics alike, and Marvel is proud to announce that GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 will return to comic shops for a second printing!

For those who left their local comic book shops empty-handed, you may want to make some phone calls to find out when to return. And when you do, keep your eyes peeled for the new cover to Guardians of the Galaxy #1, featuring the full-page reveal of the new Guardians roster.

The sales figures for Guardians of the Galaxy #2 will prove to be just as important, as proof of how many were legitimately hooked by the first issue. For their part, writer Donny Cates and artist Geoff Shaw got the reboot off the ground with flying colors, establishing more than one story thread worth following for fans of Marvel Cosmic. Thanos is dead, but is set to return in a new body (as his last will and testament revealed to the assembled cosmic heroes). His infamous Black Order crashed the wake to steal his corpse, and send the guests into a wormhole. The only survivors? They've scrambled aboard Star-Lord and Groot's ship to make up Marvel's new Guardians.

That premise alone is going to convince some comic fans who missed the reboot to catch up, and fast. But the heroes themselves seem perfectly poised to turn their first issue splash into a growing wave. Cosmic Ghost Rider, a spirit of vengeance too absurd to even describe. Beta Ray Bill, the fan-favorite Korbinite with the power of Thor (and long demanded in the Marvel movie universe). Moondragon and Phyla-Vell, the daughters of the late Drax and Captain Marvel, respectively. Characters in need of a greater place in the spotlight, as far as we're concerned.

But will Marvel Comics fans agree? The publisher got them to bite with Issue #1. Now we must wait to see if Issue #2 sets the hook.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.