Warning: Spoiler for Guardians of the Galaxy #13 ahead!
It's no secret that everyone's favorite space raccoon doesn't have the same love for Earth that his Guardians of the Galaxy teammate Star Lord does. But in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy #13, Rocket lets slip a turn of phrase that may prove he doesn't hate the "disgusting" planet as much as he lets on.
Peter Quill may have an affinity for Earth - naming the team's various ships for the cultural icons of his homeworld - but not all of the Guardians have been known to feel the same. In 2015's Guardians of the Galaxy #12, Rocket spelled it out to his teammates and a handful of Earth's heroes, in no uncertain terms, how great his disdain for the planet was. From how ridiculous it is that humans have advanced so much and yet still fight each other over "skin pigmentation," to the environmental havoc they bring upon themselves knowingly, he makes it very clear why Earth is such a disgusting place, and that hatred has become a trope of the character.
His utter dissatisfaction with Earth is potent, even despite Ben Grimm's repetitive enthusiasm for the finer things it can offer, like pizza. And yet, in this most recent issue, what seems like an offhand comment may reveal that Rocket doesn't hate the planet as much as he'd like people to believe. As the super-powered space team show up on Throneworld II to lend a hand to Wiccan and Hulkling as they face off against the Progenitors, one of the giant aliens decides to assess and attack their new threats... by spraying them with napalm. The Guardians dodge the attack easily, but as Gamora points out, the Progenitors match their response to the assessed threat. Rocket's response to this blatant disrespect is a comedically succinct, and very appropriate, "Well, how very dare they."
For those readers who aren't as tuned into British entertainment as Rocket, that phrase was brought into popular use by English comedian Frankie Howerd and came to further popularity on the BBC's Catherine Tate Show. The reference is likely writer Al Ewing's tip of the hat to British pop culture - something he tends to slip into his comic work, most notably in the creation of Thor character Horse, who speaks in a stereotypical Yorkshire dialect.
Despite having complained about Earth's woeful culture as part of his comics rant, Rocket did spend some time stuck on the planet during the Guardians' "Grounded" mini-event, which may be when he started indulging in some UK comedy. However it happened, the proof is there, and it looks like this Guardian of the Galaxy has secretly been warming up to what Earth has to offer after all. Of course, it's possible some alien culture also struck on Howerd's trademark phrase, but it's more fun to think that ragged, grumpy, ol' Rocket has a secret soft spot for Star-Lord's home.