Warning: spoilers ahead for Guardians of the Galaxy #10!
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Guardians of the Galaxy from Al Ewing and Juann Cabal, Peter Quill has returned to the Marvel Universe, after having been trapped in another realm of existence. While his fellow Guardians believed Peter had been killed in their battle with the vengeful and war-mongering Gods of Olympus, Peter was transported to another realm known as Morinus, where time worked very differently. What was only a few months for the Guardians was nearly a century and a half for Quill. During that time, several elements from his original and forgotten origins were retconned back into continuity. Now that he's returned, Rocket and Nova are shocked to see the major increase in power held by their friend, as Peter Quill has now become a literal Star-Lord in the Marvel Universe.
In the previous issue of Al Ewing's Guardians of the Galaxy with art from Juann Cabal, Peter Quill's time on Morinus was revealed in detail. For twelve years, Peter tried to find his way home, but was unable to find a way back. Eventually, Peter found new companions and built a life with them, having adventures and living on Morinus for 144 years. At that time, the Gods of Olympus finally caught up with Peter, enraged that Peter not only destroyed Olympus, but also stole half of their power, which he absorbed using his element gun. In order to save his loved ones from the gods' wrath, Peter Quill instinctively found a previously hidden way back to his own reality and time, returning just a few short months after he had disappeared.
Furthermore, writer Al Ewing depicted Peter's evolution into the Master of the Sun, an interesting remix and twist on the original origins of Quill by creator Steve Engleheart. While Engleheart initially sought to have Star-Lord's story and powers based in the concepts of astrology, this was done away with after only one issue, and Quill was revamped as a traditional space hero under Chris Claremont. However, Ewing has now brought some of those astrological elements back, while also making Star-Lord the Master of the Sun himself, the being who originally chose Quill to be his champion in that first appearance. Quill's return in Guardians of the Galaxy #10 is just in time too, as the Guardians were facing one of Knull the Symbiote God's dragons during Marvel's King in Black. With Peter's help and newfound cosmic power, the dragon is easily defeated, as Peter was able to channel his own power as the Master of the Sun into his element gun, blasting the dragon from the inside out, proving that he's now become a literal Star-Lord.
While it may seem as though Star-Lord's new powers are exactly what Earth needs to free itself from Knull's control, Quill would only make things worse. The Gods of Olympus are still out there, and they're not going to stop hunting him until they get their power back. As a result, it looks as though the Guardians of the Galaxy will be sitting out Marvel's King in Black, but at least they've got a pretty solid reason. They are about to go to war with an entire pantheon of gods after all. Hopefully, Star-Lord's new role as the Master of Sun will be enough to defeat them as Guardians of the Galaxy continues.