Best Guardians of the Galaxy Comics (Updated: September 2025)

Fans of the MCU version of the Guardians of the Galaxy might have trouble picking out the original incarnation of the team from a lineup. The team got its start in 1969 as a more traditional superhero team with different origins, and didn’t get their more familiar looks until into the 2000s. So, even if they’re your favorite heroes, they might be unrecognizable in some of the best Guardians of the Galaxy comics.

Best Guardians of the Galaxy comics as of 2025

The Guardians of the Galaxy have gotten a few different origin stories over the years, so you’ll likely want to keep that in mind when reading the comics. For example, Drax was originally from Earth, and Mantis was an original founding member. However, there are some great stories featuring the classic incarnation of the Guardians, some of which you can see below.

Earth Shall Overcome

In the 31st century, Earth and the solar system have been conquered by alien invaders called the Badoon. A small group of survivors from different planets, Vance Astro (from Earth), Yondu (from Centauri), Martinex (from Pluto), and Charlie-27 (from Jupiter), band together to form the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Guardians fight to save their worlds from the Badoon occupation. During their struggle, they travel back in time and team up with present-day Marvel heroes like Captain America, Doctor Strange, and the Hulk to help win the war for freedom. Together, they work to drive out the Badoon invaders and reclaim the solar system for humanity and its allies. This is a collection of comics written by Steve Gerber, Roger Stern, and Arnold Dake.

If you’re expecting the modern Guardians, you won’t find any Groots, Rocket Raccoons, or Star-Lords here. This is a completely different concept for the Guardians and not just with characters, but in tone. Originally, the Guardians didn’t have their own series, and this collection features the original Guardians who first appeared in 1969. These comics are the true origins, predating the more familiar Star-Lord team. It establishes the cosmic scope and team dynamics that influence the future Guardians stories. This collection is sort of like an historical document, and a thrilling adventure. All the stories come together cohesively. You may need to manage your expectations if you’re looking for the quippy banter of the current iteration. However, it’s certainly worth reading to see how the greatest heroes of the time, Captain America, Doctor Strange, The Thing, The Hulk, etc, all join the original Guardians to fight a war.

Quest for the Shield

In the 31st century, the original Guardians of the Galaxy team embarks on a mission to find Captain America’s shield, which has become a legendary artifact from the 20th century. The team travels across the galaxy searching for this symbol of freedom and heroism. The shield is more than just a weapon; it’s a symbol of the values and ideals they’re fighting to preserve in their future world. Through their quest, the Guardians must work together as a family, using their different abilities and strengths. This is a collection of the first six issues of Jim Valentino’s Guardians of the Galaxy run from the 1990s.

This is the first real series bearing the Guardians of the Galaxy name. This run essentially created the template for future Guardians stories, even though the characters eventually change. Jim Valentino revitalized the original Guardians of the Galaxy team a bit in this collection. These characters were underutilized, so there was plenty of room for him to develop them since very little world-building had been done for them previously. Is it perfectly executed? No. But it’s historically significant since it was the first series run. Pick this one up if you appreciate traditional comic book storytelling and family dynamics.

The Final Gauntlet

After Thanos is finally defeated and killed, the universe faces a new problem: someone needs to fill the power vacuum. Who will become the next Thanos? The Guardians of the Galaxy must race across the cosmos to find this potential new cosmic threat before they can rise to power and bring destruction to the universe. The team is still dealing with the trauma and aftermath of their long war against Thanos. As they search for this mysterious figure who might become the next galactic tyrant, the Guardians must work through their own emotional wounds while facing the possibility that everything they fought for could still fall apart. Written by Donny Cates and illustrated by Geoff Shaw.

The Final Gauntlet strikes a balance between space adventure and intimate drama, and these comics set themselves apart from the MCU films. Donny Cates continues his successful run in the Marvel universe. The story successfully reinvents the team while honoring their cosmic adventure roots. There’s both action and character development. Most notably, this run includes subtle but realistic depictions of trauma, with scenes showing characters dealing with isolation and emotional wounds. There are also fun scenes like where Star-Lord and the rest of the crew learn how Gamora earned her nickname as “Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy.” The art is incredible and befitting of this galactic tale, and you can tell Shaw spent a lot of time on it.

Annihilation: Conquest

The techno-organic Phalanx, a cybernetic alien race, conquers the powerful Kree Empire in a matter of weeks, taking control of their vast territory and technology. The Phalanx then begins spreading across the galaxy, assimilating other worlds and turning them into extensions of their collective consciousness. A group of cosmic heroes must work together to stop the Phalanx. They face the challenge of fighting an enemy that can turn their own technology and even people against them. The heroes must find a way to defeat this seemingly unstoppable force while being cut off from outside help. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

This event directly leads to the formation of the team readers know and love today. This is a great entry point if you’re only familiar with the movies. Written by the legendary duo Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, they were specifically chosen to pilot the next big cosmic event after their acclaimed work on Annihilation: Nova. The event successfully revamped cosmic characters, making readers really start to like Nova, Drax, and Star-Lord. It’s fast-paced, fun, and entertaining, and definitely what you might associate with the current Guardians. This run gave the series a jolt of life.

Legacy

After two devastating galactic wars (the Annihilation events), the universe is badly damaged and weakened. Dark gods and dangerous creatures are beginning to slip through cracks in reality. Star-Lord decides that the galaxy needs protectors and assembles a team of unlikely heroes: Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Phyla-Vell, and Adam Warlock. This mismatched group of outcasts and former enemies must learn to work together as the Guardians of the Galaxy. Based on a space station called Knowhere, the team takes on missions to protect the universe from cosmic threats. They face both external dangers and internal conflicts as they try to become a functional team. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

This collection of stories is what inspired the 2014 hit movie of the same name. It’s a total blast from start to finish, demonstrating its lasting influence. With the perfect post-crisis set-up, the stakes are high and the story is engaging. Plus, you have the ridiculous cast of characters that somehow work brilliantly, thanks to Abnett and Lanning. It’s packed with action, drama, and plenty of humor. Stray characters from decades of Marvel’s cosmic stories have been put together. The weird and wild elements create a sci-fi story with serious tension, while remaining goofy. If the current Guardians are more your speed, this is the one for you.

How we chose the best Guardians of the Galaxy comics

I chose comics that either created important foundations for the franchise or significantly advanced the mythology. The comics from the original 1969 stories established the concept. Abnett and Lanning’s run created the modern team we now know and love. Plus, they shaped everything that followed, including the MCU films. The best Guardians comics balance ensemble dynamics while giving individual characters meaningful growth. They also ground goofy characters like a talking tree or raccoon. Guardians works best when it blends humor, heart, and genuine danger. What do you think are the best Guardians of the Galaxy comics?