'Guardians of the Galaxy' #1 Preview: Empires and gods are about to collide in Al Ewing and Juann Cabal's new run
Over the years, the Marvel Comics universe has suffered through multiple events of cosmic scale including 'Annihilation', the 'War of Kings', and most recently, the 'Infinity Wars'. Each of these universe-shattering events have left a trail of death and destruction in its wake and now it looks like whatever semblance of peace existed in the universe before has finally been thrown to the solar winds.
However now, Marvel is slowly building towards 'Empyre', an epic crossover event that will see Earth's heroes go up against the combined forces of the Kree and the Skrull Empires, united under the leadership of former Earth hero Teddy Altman / Hulkling who has finally embraced his destiny as Dorrek VIII, King of Space. The event will undoubtedly transform the landscape of Marvel's fractured cosmos but that story will actually be beginning much earlier in a new 'Guardians of the Galaxy' series penned by Marvel legend Al Ewing and Juann Cabal.
Newsarama reports that during Marvel's 'Next Big Thing' panel at New York Comic Con 2019, Ewing said, "We're playing with all of the space empires, all of the high cosmic space stuff, we're smashing it all together...stuff is coming."
So where do the Guardians fit into this? After all that they've been through, you'd expect the Guardians to try and find some sort of a normal life. But that said, with the whole universe at stake, how could they not mess things up for everyone involved?
Not only will the Guardians have to be the heroes in this warzone of a universe but they will also have to face a new challenge - navigating the twisted world of intergalactic politics. Based on the solicitation for the upcoming Issue #1, they're going to have their work cut out for them because even the gods are apparently going to be involved. The Gods of Olympus, to be exact.
Here's the solicitation for the upcoming issue:
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1
Writer: AL EWING
Artist: JUANN CABAL
IN 2020 -- SPACE IS THE PLACE!
Once, they were a team of misfits. Now they're a family, and they've earned their peace. But the universe is not a peaceful place -- and it's only getting worse. The Great Empires are in turmoil. The rule of law is dead. And amidst the chaos, the Gods of Olympus have returned -- harbingers of a new age of war, reborn to burn their mark on the stars themselves. Someone has to guard the galaxy - but who will accept the mission? And will they survive it? Al Ewing (IMMORTAL HULK) and Juann Cabal (FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN) bring you in on the ground floor of a whole Marvel Universe of action and suspense!
'Guardians of the Galaxy' #1 is scheduled to be released on January 22.