Why Guardians of the Galaxy?

A movie finally came out in the US today.  It's a modestly anticipated sequel to a quiet little picture about a team of lovable archetypes that eventually find each other as more than just friends.  In the end, they're family.  There's also a bunch of stuff about some kind of purple gem, a wrinkly blue guy in a chair, and Glenn Close leads a corps of space pilots who are not all that great at space piloting.

Our prompt this week is, of course, The Fast and the Furious Guardians of the Galaxy.

I've been going back and reading some of the early stories featuring the original incarnation of the team.  There's some really great stuff by Gene Colan, Steve Gerber, and Sal Buscema.  But, if you're more inspired by Star-Lord and Gamora than Vance Astro and Martinex, so be it.

Post your script in the comments.  We'll see you next week.

Parenthood – Thanos Knows Best – MK Stangeland, Jr.

(Set in a variant of a SCOTTIE YOUNG style verse, like MINI MARVELS, GIANT SIZE L’IL MARVEL, and MARVEL BABIES stories)

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: A mini version of the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – Movie Version, plus MANTIS, MAJOR VICTORY, and COSMO - is inside a treehouse set up like a spaceship.

The tree itself, in this instance, is actually GROOT, whose head is sticking in through the window, with ROCKET RACOON sitting on said head. The rest are arranged around the tree house at pretend stations.

STAR-LORD (1): Oh no! It’s a sneak attack!

STAR-LORD (2): We’re under attack by the Phalanx, the Brood, and the Badoon!

STAR-LORD (3): All at the same time!

MAJOR VICTORY: Oh no! How will…

THANOS: (Off-Panel) Gamora! It’s time to come home!

Panel 2: On the ground, outside the tree house. Both THANOS and J’SON are looking up, while GAMORA is just peeking her head out and glaring down at THANOS. GROOT has also pulled his head out of the house, though ROCKET still sits on top of it.

GAMORA (1): Not now, Thanos! I’m busy!

THANOS: Listen to your father, Gamora!

GAMORA (2): Shut up, Thanos! You’re not my real dad!

Panel 3: THANOS is annoyed, while J’SON looks at him and gives a sympathetic hand on the shoulder.

THANOS (1): I swear, that girl is impossible sometimes.

THANOS (2): For all the work I put into being a galactic tyrant, it’s nothing compared to putting up with my kids sometimes.

J’SON: I hear ya there, man.

J'SON (2): The stories I could tell you about l'il Pete...

Panel 4: GAMORA pouts as she walks back away from the window.

DRAX (1): Man, that Thanos is a major jerk.

DRAX (2): Sorry you have to put up with him all the time.

MANTIS: You should not be so hard on him. He remains your father.

GAMORA: Ugh…

Panel 5: Close up on GAMORA as she wears a face that’s equal parts being disgusted at and embarrassed by her dad.

GAMORA (1): The worst part is he invited that Lady Death woman over for dinner again.

GAMORA (2): He is, like, totally oblivious to the fact that she has no real interest in him.

(END PAGE)

Ultron - In His Image - A Wonsowski Family Jam

...understandably, my boys are very excited for the new Avengers movie, and they wanted to help me celebrate the sequel. Sometimes, it's better to make your own adventures with your kids. So...

Script and Layout: Ray Wonsowski (Papa)
Pencils and Inks: Nikolas Wonsowski (age 10)
Colors and Crayons: Victor Wonsowski (age 7)

Layout:
1122
3333
3333

Setting: the 31st century.

Panel 1- A Shi'ar Starjammer craft streaks as it egresses from a wormhole.

CAPTION (YONDU): Wormhole's collapsing! We're coming in hot...

Panel 2- YONDU wrestles with the throttle, the ship caught in a gravity well. MAJOR VICTORY (VANCE ASTROVIK) reacts in surprise to the emergency klaxon, as STARHAWK points in shock out the fore windscreen.

YONDU: ...and too close to Earth!
MAJOR VICTORY: How? Lunar base has been silent for nearly a cycle...
STARHAWK: It's gone! Look...

Panel 3- The Guardians' craft streaks toward its destination. The moon is shattered, nothing left but lunar rubble orbiting Earth. But Earth is not as we remember...

CAPTION (STARHAWK): The moon has been obliterated! And Earth...
CAPTION (MAJOR VICTORY): My God. Ultron hasn't taken over the planet...
CAPTION (MAJOR VICTORY): He IS the planet!
CAPTION: ...to be continued...

...and here's the whole page:

the finished product

...see you at the movies!

Guardians of the Galaxy - Mudered You - Arby Moay

Panel 1
Tight on a green-skinned cyclopean alien. He just got his brains blasted by one of Rocket's guns.

Rocket (OP): Blam! --
Quill (OP): --don't say it.


Panel 2
We are in a hallway, inside a ship. Peter Quill and Rocket Raccoon are hiding behind some rubble while two other green-skinned cyclops fire on them with blasters.

Rocket: What? Why?
Quill: It's kinda bad.
Rocket: "Bad"? Quill, it's a great catch phrase!
Quill: Debatable. But what I mean is that it kinda implies that we're here to murder these guys--
Rocket: --I am here to murder these guys!


Panel 3
Same. Gamora has just dropped behind the aliens.

Quill: --instead of saving the Draekkarian dignitaries.
Rocket: What's the difference?
Quill: Well, one implies that we're heroes, the other implies that we're criminals.


Panel 4
Same. Gamora beheads the two aliens with one swoop of a sword.

Rocket: Quill, I am a criminal! --
Quill: --no--
Rocket: --and so are you!
Quill: No, I'm--Well, yeah we are. But that's not--
Rocket: --what?
Quill: It's not--


Panel 5
Same. Gamora stands before Quill and Rocket. Quill looks up at her.

Gamora: --Quill.
Quill: Done?
Gamora: Yes.
Quill: Alright. We'll continue our discussion on the next hallway full of baddies.
Rocket: Fine.

Guardians of the Galaxy - Hostile Takeover - R.A. Wonsowski

Panel 1- STAR-LORD, wearing his mask as well as a shirt and tie, collar unbuttoned and tie unblocked, in a cubicle facing three computer screens, sloshing a drink in a ceramic coffee mug that reads "Hexus, the Living Corporation". His posture should be anxious and stressed, holding a finger to his earpiece like he's shouting into a phone.

CAPTION: Peter Quill. Star-Lord.

STAR-LORD: NO! NO! Sell, dammit!

Panel 2- GAMORA with her sword drawn, wearing a very stylish suit with a slit up the long skirt, out of her chair about to leap across a conference table at a fat cigar-chomping two-headed blue-skinned alien in a cheap three-piece, pushing his chair back in fear. Stacks of paper are spread across the table...

CAPTION: Gamora. The most dangerous woman in the universe.

GAMORA: Your brains or your signature will be on this contract!

Panel 3- DRAX, bare-chested in a double-breasted suit, stands in front of two display screens, facing down a Skrull and Badoon similarly attired and wielding a laser pointer. One screen has an image of a generic unbranded super hero (a brown-haired Superman with no S on the shirt) clutching his stomach in panicked pain with text that reads "This looks like a job for Krypto-mucil!" The other has a picture of Ego, the Living Planet with a relaxed expression, with a caption that reads "ORB-O-LAX. Oh, what sweet relief."

CAPTION: Drax. The Destroyer.

DRAX: ...with effective marketing we can crush the Deesee universe by next quarter!

BADOON: Quite. Quite.

Panel 4- Lower half of the page. On an exchange floor, ROCKET RACCOON perched atop the shoulder of GROOT, both wearing ties, surrounded by business attired Kirby-esque aliens packed tight waving hand signals off-panel. ROCKET is firing a large laser bazooka over the crowd while GROOT is stabbing a finger furiously into the keypad of a paper-roll calculator.

CAPTION: Rocket Raccoon and Groot. Mercenary accountants.

GROOT: I am GROOT.

ROCKET: NO! Adamantium at 7 and 5/8!

CAPTION: Can the Guardians stop the corporate domination of the galaxy by Hexus? Find out in this titanic tale we could only call...NOT BRAND HEX!...A Wonsowski-Giffen joint.

Guardians Of The Galaxy - Q Fast Q Furious - Niel Jacoby

Full Splash: We see Q of the Q in the Guardians Of The Galaxy's home base, Knowhere. The team is shocked to see this unknown interloper, while Rocket is shooting a laser rifle at him. Q is unimpressed, as we can see the lasers have gone, and are going, straight through him. Q has tried to blend in sartorially with the rest of the crew, leading to a garish outfit that mixes every outfit on the ship, including Groot's.

Q: Are you quite done? Because if you don't think something as miniscule as the future of this entire galaxy is more important than a little target practice for your pet here, I can find some other group of outlaws to help out.

Star-Lord: ...I'm listening. And stop it, Rocket.

Rocket: I don't wanna!

Guardians of the Galaxy - Bad Reputation - J.D. Coughlan

The Guardians must venture to the DSV (Department of Space Vehicles) to pay a fine on their spaceship. Upon entering, the crowd inside starts panicking, fearing the Guardians are there to rob/shoot-up the place.

Panel 1: Wide shot of the room, a drab office filled with various aliens running around screaming. The Guardians (movie line-up) stand at the entrance in the background. Quill rubs his temples in annoyance. Gamora looks disgusted. Drax is stone-faced. Rocket wields a giant gun. Groot is Groot.

QUILL: Oh jeez.

GAMORA: You said this would be simple.

DRAX: This is damaging my calm.

ALIEN 1: It's the Guardians of the Galaxy!

ALIEN 2: They're here to rob us!

Panel 2: Two shot of Quill and Rocket. Quill is annoyed, Rocket shrugs it off.

QUILL: I told you not to bring a gun. That is not helping our case.

ROCKET: You're just jealous of my massive weapon.

ROCKET: I'll settle this, ladies.

Panel 3: Rocket fires the giant gun into the air. Quill shields his face from the blasts.

SFX: BLAM BLAM BLAM

ROCKET: Everybody shut their face and stay in place!

Panel 4: The aliens stop and stare at Rocket. They are now very nervous.

GROOT: ...

GROOT: I am Groot.

ROCKET: What he said.

QUILL: Okay, listen up. We don't want any trouble...

Panel 5: Close up of Quill as he holds up a wordy piece of paper.

QUILL: Does anyone know where we process a G44 form?

END OF PAGE

Guardians of the Galaxy - Plan of Attack - Grant McLaughlin

The main portion of this page would be a holographic diagram of a horrible space monster and its various internal parts snaking back and forth across it, with Rocket Raccoon's word balloons following the various bits and pieces to fill in the listener on what's going on.  I will define the different aspects as panels, but it is (for the most part) a continuous image, with some insert panels throughout and a separate panel below to conclude.  The diagram should be done in a somewhat cartoony or exaggerated style.

1 - Insert panel.  Head of Rocket Raccoon so as to identify him as the speaker.

ROCKET: Alright, listen up everyone, because I'm only going to say this once.

2 - We're into the diagram now.  A giant alien creature (which looks not unlike a horrifying space lion - but with sci fi aspects thrown in wherever one deems appropriate).

ROCKET: Our target is Ingenspatium Leo IV, an enormous creature in the neighbouring star system.

3 - Continuing along, we have a close-up of the creature's huge maw.  As described in the dialogue, it is lined with teeth - far more than would be necessary or advisable.

ROCKET: The main entry point is through its hideous maw, which is lined with hundreds of thousands of laser sharp hyperfangs.

4 - Following the image down (but still on the right side of the page), we see the Guardians' ship being crushed in a giant throat.

ROCKET (1): But that will be a cake walk compared to what comes next.

ROCKET (2): First we need to avoid becoming a lump in its throat.

5 - Moving from right to left, we see members of the Guardians (still cartoony) literally melting from heat.

ROCKET: And watch out for its fire breathing lungs.

6 - Now on the left side of the diagram, we see a line of half-robot / half-alien monsters walking from left to right.  Similar to the classic "Evolution of Man" image, the first cyber-monster is merely walking, the second is in the process of exploding, and the third is already exploded.

ROCKET: Of course, it's worth mentioning that its white blood cells are murderous cyber-monsters.

ROCKET (quieter): Who, for some reason, explode on impact.

7 - Moving down again on the diagram, we see a reinforced, science fiction fortress that is in the shape of a heart.  Some silhouetted figures stand on the battlements of the heart fortress.

ROCKET: The heart is a veritable fortress, guarded by deathless automatons who hate outside life.

8 - Some terrifying space grubs stand, seemingly ready to destroy anything that falls in their path.

ROCKET: And once we make it past everything, we'll find ourselves face to face with some delicious space grubs.

9 - Another insert panel.  This time it is Starlord, who looks confused.

STARLORD: Wait - who are we saving through all this?

10 - The Guardians' ship.  Rocket stands before the rest of his teammates, the diagram behind him.  Now he is confused, while they are disappointed with his answer.

ROCKET: Saving?  I'm just outlining our lunch plans!

Guardians of the Galaxy - The Crusade - Ben Rosenthal

1.  A member of the Shi'ar police force is looking straight on at the reader.  We are looking up at him as he speaks.

SHIAR OFFICER
You have no options left.


2.  Drax, Rocket and Gamora are in a holding cell elsewhere.

CAPTION (Shi'ar Officer)
Your companions have been apprehended.
Your ship is beyond repair.


3.  Front on shot of Peter Quill, sitting with his arms tied behind his back, looking up at the Shi'ar officer.  He is smirking.

SHIAR OFFICER
Now tell me where the data is before your team mates suffer for it.

QUILL
Suffer?  Us? Nononono.
 You see we cracked that data.  Nasty little plot you have there Captain.
Treason is still punishable by torture under Shi'ar law, right?


4.  A close up of Peter's face as he addresses the reader/Shi'ar officer head on.  He speaks intently, almost threateningly.

QUILL
I don't have the data, but I know where it is.
In the hands of our best.  A multi-linguist who'll blend in, disappear into any culture you can think of.
In fact, with any luck--


5.  Earth - people are running for their lives as Groot has a finger up in the air, looking as if he is politely asking a question.

CAPTION (Quill)
--he's got the data to the Emperor already.

GROOT
I am Groot?

Guardians of the Galaxy – ??? – MK Stangeland Jr.

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: The Guardians are sitting around a capture Badoon ZOM cyborg soldier. ROCKET RACOON looks up at STAR-LORD.

TEXT BOX (1): Picking up the pieces of that Badoon plot thread that DnA didn’t use?

ROCKET RACOON: The Badoon are going after Knowhere.

TEXT BOX (2): No, no, wait…

Panel 2: Large panel, as some of the Guardians stand aboard a Badoon warship they’ve just boarded, ready for action – present are STAR-LORD, ROCKET RACOON, GROOT, MAJOR VICTORY, MANTIS, and GAMORA.

TEXT BOX (1): Badoon, but cool action shot!

STAR-LORD: Alright, folks, lets make this quick and painful.

ROCKET RACCOON: Speaking my language, Quill.

GROOT: I am Groot!

TEXT BOX (2): Then throw in some witty Nextwave name tags, and…

TEXT BOX (3): Nah, it’s cool, but…

Panel 3: ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY PULP’ – A re-imagined team of Guardians in the MARVEL NOIR/MARVEL PULP line. They are standing in front of a retro-style pointy space rocket with retro-style pointy space engines on either side, and are in a movie-posteresque arrangement.

This team consists of STAR-LORD, who looks more in line with his helmeted movie look but with a more ‘western cowboy’ touch; ROCKET RACCOON and GROOT, who look mostly the same; VONCE ASTRO, aka MAJOR VICTORY, who’s suit has a more robotic and otherworldly look to it and his shield has a different color scheme; NIKKI, who has a solid mix of ‘westernesque space dame’ and ‘sharpshooter’; and ADAM WARLOCK, who’s wielding a staff and has a look that positively screams ‘SPACE WIZARD!’

TEXT BOX (1): OH! OH! GUARDIANS PULP!

TEXT BOX (2): Except…how do I get that across in a single page?

Panel 4: MK STANGELAND JR. sits at his desk in front of his laptop, looking up with his hands stretched upwards.

MK STANGELAND JR. (1): AAAAH!

MK STANGELAND JR. (2): How do I decide?!

MK STANGELAND JR. (3): I’m running out of time!

Panel 5: MK STANGELAND JR. sits in front of his laptop, but has a sudden look of realization on his face.

MK STANGELAND JR.: Wait a minute…

(END PAGE)

Why Guardians of the Galaxy?

Ooga Chaka; Ooga, Ooga, Ooga Chaka...

Iron Man 3

Thor: The Dark World

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Guardians of the Galaxy?

Say What?

One of these things is not like the other – but hopefully, by the time we’ve all had a chance to actually see it, the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy will most certainly belong.

The first three are easy enough to understand – coming fresh of the undoubtedly hit movie The Avengers, featuring Marvel’s Big Three, and sequels to their own successful movies to boot. No one would be surprised by those movies.

But Guardians of the Galaxy? A comic that’s fortunate enough to rank as a cult hit where you’d even find fellow fans of comics who have no idea who they are? And with only the barest bones connection to the already established Marvel Cinematic Universe?

That, I doubt anyone expected. Which is why Guardians of the Galaxy may well be the most important Marvel movie since not just The Avengers, but since the original Iron Man itself. Because if Marvel can take Guardians of the Galaxy, based heavily on Dan Abbnet and Andy Lanning’s run (admittedly one of my favorite comic book series of all time – so you can only imagine my own hype for this movie) and make it a successful hit movie, then suddenly all bets are off and everyone is legitimately on the table.

Not only does the success of Guardians open the door to the larger Marvel Universe beyond Earth, but it also proves that the entire Marvel comic book library is legitimate material for future movies. Because whatever Marvel’s doing, they will have proven that they can taken anyone from their library and make a hit movie for them.

That favorite obscure Marvel character you love who you never would have dreamed could get a chance on the sliver screen? Yep, suddenly you can start genuinely dreaming that they too might someday have their shot at the limelight.

Guardians of the Galaxy – it’s a really big deal.

You're Welcome

As always, if you'd like to join in the fun and play at home, feel free to post your own one-page Guardians of the Galaxy script in the comments section below!

Iron Man: The Armor – Ultimate Comics: Nova Corps – MK Stangeland Jr.

(Long story short: my take on the ultimate version of the Nova Corps is that rather than being this unified bunch of space cops all possessing the ‘Nova Force’, they’re more like an unaligned galactic version of SHIELD or teams of cosmic heroes out to protect the galaxy on their own terms. In this case, PETER QUILL, STAR-LORD, is part of GUARDIAN SQUAD (the Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy), and is out in space with a suit of halfway-reverse engineered Ulimate IRON MAN armor (the cool, ultimate-unique armor, that is, not one of those 616 look-alikes) by way of Richard Rider’s Nova-Prime costume.

Ok, so maybe that wasn’t quite so short after all.)

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: LAMBDA-ZERO is grabbing STAR LORD around the neck with one arm, while trying to stab him with the energy staff being held in the other. STAR LORD is grabbing onto both, though an energy surge is rippling around the hand that’s keeping the energy staff at bay.

STAR LORD (1): Astro’veek! Bug! Nikki! Anybody!

STAR LORD (2): I could use some help here!

Panel 2: BUG leaps at LAMBDA-ZERO with the two broken halves of his blaster-staff, preparing to try to strike at the enemy. LZ doesn’t APPEAR to be paying much attention to him.

BUG: On it, *tik* Quill!

Panel 3: LAMBDA-ZERO rebukes the effort, delivering a kick to BUG’s mid-section.

SFX: bzump!

BUG (1): gughf!

Panel 4: ASTRO’VEEK (ULTIMATE MAJOR VICTORY) having attempted to attack from the other side, is blocked when LAMBDA-ZERO swings his energy staff at him and shatters ASTRO’VEEK’s energy shield.

SFX: Bzz-kr-chk-chich-zzkzz!

Panel 5: STAR LORD, no longer trying to hold the energy staff at bay, swing his free hand down towards LAMBDA-ZERO’s head. His palm is open, face down, and STAR LORD delivers a burst of repulsor energy out of the armor’s hand-unit as it nears LAMBDA-ZERO’s head.

STAR LORD: That’ll do it.

SFX: BzzzEW!

(END PAGE)

(I didn’t put it in panel six because it would deserve more room, but the following panel would be the rather cool explosion that follow the above sequence.)