Published Jun 23, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
Jason is an award-winning journalist whose writing career dates back to when he developed the ability to use a crayon. He, most notably, worked previously as a "professional fan," as he likes to call it, at CinemaBlend, for which he wrote about anything and everything under the pop culture umbrella... especially Batman. His passion for the art of cinema began even earlier, stemming from repeat viewings of The Wizard of Oz.
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The following article contains spoilers for Imperial Guardian #4.
The ultimate in cosmic storytelling at Marvel is Guardians of the Galaxy. However, the misfit team of outer space avengers' peak in popularity came after James Gunn introduced his cinematic iteration in the MCU.
Of course, there have been many iterations of the Guardians since their debut in the late 1960s. Yet, it appears that there is a new crew assembling.
Imperial Guardians #4 Introduces A New Guardians Of The Galaxy
New iterations of established comic book hero teams are introduced all the time. However, how often is a new crew introduced when the current roster is still in effect and for a more nefarious purpose?
Such is the case in the latest issue of Imperial Guardians. This series, which Marvel debuted in March 2026, follows a new line-up of "Guardians of the Galaxy" — including Gamora, Captain Marvel, Amadeus Cho, Darkhawk, and Cosmic Ghost Rider — formed by Maximus of the Inhumans.
The final panels of Imperial Guardians #4 reveal that another line-up of the eponymous team is being put together, but their purpose is not quite a heroic one. According to the leader, the robotic bounty hunter known as Death's Head, the goal is to assume leadership over the Galactic Union by assassinating its current head, Peter Quill, otherwise known as Star-Lord.
The other members serving under the leadership of Death's Head, who started off as a Transformers villain before becoming a Marvel Comics staple, are more difficult to make out. However, the machine appears to have recruited Quasar, the alter ego of former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Wendell Vaughn, and fellow war veteran John Walker, also known as U.S. Agent.
Imperial Guardians comes from veteran comic book writer Dan Abnett, who is also working on Alien Books' upcoming Zorro Legacy. Marcelo Ferreira, whose previous Marvel credits include Predator Kills the Marvel Universe and Moon Knight: City of the Dead, provides the artwork.
The Guardians Of The Galaxy Has Changed Its Roster Many Times
Created by Roy Thomas, Arnold Drake, and Gene Colan, the Guardians of the Galaxy made their Marvel Comics debut in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 in 1969. This first incarnation of the team of cosmic do-gooders consisted of the psychokinetic Vance Astro (also known as Major Victory), the crystal-skinned Martinex T'Naga, the genetically engineered Captain Charlie-27, and the only character in this roster to make it to James Gunn's first MCU movie, Yondu Udonta (played by Michael Rooker).
However, 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would include cinematic reimaginings of each of the rest of these team members, including later additions Stakar "Starhawk" Ogord (portrayed by Sylvester Stallone), Aleta Ogord (Michelle Yeoh), and Mainframe (a role shared by Miley Cyrus in Vol. 2 and Tara Strong in Vol. 3). Said robot was also part of an early '90s iteration called the Galactic Guardians, which also included the likes of Simon "Wonder Man" Williams, a Phoenix force-possessed Giraud, and a Skrull called Replica.
The first edition of the team that would inspire the MCU iteration saw Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Adam Warlock, and Phyla Vell come together in 2008, with fan favorites Groot, Mantis, and Cosmo the Spacedog joining the following year. Much later saw a wildly different take on the Guardians of the Galaxy, consisting of Fantastic Four's The Thing, Ant-Man, Kitty Pryde, and even a variant of Frank Castle known as Cosmic Ghost Rider, to name a few.
Cosmic Ghost Rider was also part of a crew known as the Dark Guardians, which also included Karen Gillan's MCU character, Nebula. There was even a version that included both Richard "Nova" Rider and Doctor Doom, which came to be in Vol. 6 of the comic book series. When it comes to comic book hero team line-ups, none has a richer and more fascinating history than the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Imperial Guardians #4 is now available where all comic books are sold.
Created by Arnold Drake, Gene Colan
English (US) · 