It had been rumoured for a while, especially given their upcoming appearance in the Marvel NOW! Point One #1 comic due out this Wednesday, but Marvel announced at New York Comic Con on Saturday that Marvel Cosmic Universe titles Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova will be getting new ongoing series in 2013. Brian Michael Bendis re-teams with Civil War artist Steve McNiven for Guardians of the Galaxy, while Marvel Head of Television Jeph Loeb will join with Ed McGuinness for Nova. This makes perfect sense given the Guardians of the Galaxy film is due out in 2014.
The Guardians line-up is the classic Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning assemblage of a new-look Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, Groot…and Iron Man? Said to form to tackle “threats too big for the Avengers”, the series will launch in February with a crazy #0.1 issue followed by the full #1 in March. Quick, we want to order them now! Meanwhile, another hint dropped at NYCC is that Avengers Assemble #8 will explain why it is that Star Lord and Thanos have suddenly appeared in the universe again following their departure in The Thanos Imperative. That 2010 story also effectively brought to an end the modern Guardians of the Galaxy storyline, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts ever since.
Which brings us to the new Nova, who recently popped up twice in the recent Avengers Vs. X-Men event. Sam Alexander was first introduced in Marvel Point One, and is a much younger character imbued with Nova Force. You can also see Sam Alexander/Nova in the new With Richard Rider also seemingly meeting his end with Star Lord and Thanos, perhaps their return will signal his as well.
By the way, anybody at NYCC who wants to buy us this Guardians of the Galaxy mug featuring Rocket Raccoon, and save the inevitably inflated price on eBay, will be our new best friends for life.
