Warning! Spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy #13 ahead!
The Guardians of the Galaxy are settling into their new role, and the Avengers and X-Men defer to their power. The days of operating outside of the law are behind the Guardians, and Earth’s heroes seemingly stand by the change.
Vast amounts of turmoil in the galaxy, including destabilizing results from the Kree and Skrulls finding peace, have brought portions of the cosmos to the near breaking point. The Galactic Economy has been upended and there are not enough resources to fund the restoration of the Nova Corps. Leaving the cosmos without the intergalactic peacekeeping and law enforcement the Nova Corps provide is ill advised, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, once considered a ragtag gang of heroic outlaws, are found to be the most reliable and suitable replacements in Guardians of the Galaxy #12. After defeating a pantheon of Olympic gods, the Guardians learn from Super-Skrull that the Galactic Council has decided the Guardians are up to the task.
While the X-Men and Avengers are premier teams on Earth, the responsibility that Guardians of the Galaxy now possess requires the others to report in about their space-related activities. Guardians of the Galaxy #13, by Al Ewing and Juan Frigeri, showcases the beginning of the Guardians’ service. On the Proscenium, their new interstellar headquarters, Super-Skrull assumes monitor duty and facilitates dispensing response units appropriately. As Super-Skrull advises Nova on issues throughout the reaches of space, the monitor also reveals that the X-Men have responded to political unrest on the Shi’ar Throneworld, and that Iron Man is investigating a Korvac sighting. The fact that both factions are keeping the Guardians updated on their operations is significant and signals a shift in power dynamics in the Marvel Universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy having updates about Iron Man’s mission is also notable because he hasn’t alerted his own team. In Iron Man #5, in order to protect James Rhodes’ life, Tony Stark is unable to reach out to the Avengers for help pursuing Korvac, and Iron Man assembles a team of whatever random heroes are available. Despite that, the Guardians are aware of the crisis. New Mutants #7 sees Sunspot’s team of mutants provide aid to the Shi’ar empire and Xandra Neramani. Mutants have also been expressing more interest in establishing a foothold in space, so working and cooperating with the new peacekeeping force is also in the interests of Krakoa.
It makes sense that this new iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy serves as the nexus point for keeping peace throughout space, especially following the interstellar threat that Knull recently posed. Being kept abreast of other heroes’ efforts is an important measure to take. The Avengers have had members serve with the Guardians, and Kate Pryde of the X-Men and Starlord have been close in the past. It isn’t huge news that these teams are coordinating, but the fact that the Guardians of the Galaxy are leading the cause is something to take note of.