RANKED: TOP 5 ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY’ TEAMS

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is well underway, and we can’t wait.

In homage to the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 we decided to rank the top 5 Guardians of the Galaxy teams from worst to best. While most of the teams consist of the main lineup, they also ally with additional characters depending on the story arc.

5.) Post Peter Quill Guardians of the Galaxy  

Members: Rocket, Drax, Groot, Star-Lord (Kitty Pryde), The Thing, Agent Venom

Guardians of the Galaxy go through multiple lineup changes in the comics. While Rocket, Drax, and Groot remain, Star-Lord and Gamora go separate ways. Agent Venom joins to be a liaison for the Avengers, while Kitty Pryde gets engaged to Peter Quill but ultimately takes his place as Star-Lord.

In the comics, Peter Quill is half Spartoi—humanoid inhabitants of the planet Spartex. His father, J’son, was once the King of Spartax. After being continuously pressured into it, Peter Quill leaves the Star Lord mantel behind and becomes King of Spartax. This leaves Rocket Raccoon to lead Guardians of the Galaxy.

This lineup is robust with three heavy hitters: The Thing, Groot, and Drax. Along with Rocket’s cunning skill, Agent Venom’s symbiote powers and Kitty Pryde’s intangibility, this group of Guardian is well rounded.

4.) Guardians of the Galaxy Plus Iron Man – Thanos

Members: Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Iron Man

This version of the Guardians consisted of the main line-up, along with the Avengers’ Iron Man. The team seems more well-rounded with Iron Man’s sarcastic quips and punchlines.

Thanos discovers a Cosmic Cube in the U.S. Army and escapes to Moord, the homeland of the Badoon. This threat prompted the Guardians of the Galaxy to travel to earth and assist the Avengers against the threat. Thanos then used the Cube to send The Elders of the Universe, the Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy into the Cancerverse—a universe where no one is dead but instead floating around in the afterlife. They find the Collector in the Cancerverse and obtain a weapon to deactivate the Cosmic Cube and send them back to Earth.

The Avengers, Guardians, and Elders gang up on Thanos. After the fight, Iron Man is invited to join the Guardians of the Galaxy, and he humbly accepts.

3.) Guardians of the Galaxy (31st Century) – Original Story  

Members: Nikki, Vance, Charlie, Aleta, Yondu, Martinex and Starhawk

The original Guardians of the Galaxy squad includes only one familiar face, Yondu—although this version of Yondu is different. The team’s leader, Vance Astro, is a mutant with a psychokinetic energy limited to blasts. Other team members include Martinex T’Naga, a crystallized human from Pluto, Captain Charlie-27, a fighter from Jupiter; Starhawk and Aleta, an energy/light manipulating husband and wife duo; and Nikki, a girl from Mercury.

These Guardians exist in Earth-691, a lesser-known Marvel alternate timeline in the 31st century. Two intergalactic wars, a hostile takeover by Martians, and another invasion by an alien faction called Brotherhood of Badoon resulted in the obliteration of humans on earth, ouch. United Lands of Earth, the interstellar political entity, was unable to stop the Brotherhood of Badoon and they enslaved many beings.

A sole survivor from every planet banded together with Vance Astro to form the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Together, the team successfully defeated the Badoon, making them awesome contenders for the list.

2.) Pre-Guardians of the Galaxy- Annihilation: Conquest

Members: Nova, Drax, Gamora, Warlock, Rocket, Groot, Star-Lord, Mantis

While this technically isn’t a “Guardians of the Galaxy” team, it formed them.Therefore, it had to be on the list.

Annihilation: Conquest comes after the Annihilation, a cosmic level invasion brought about by the villain Annihilus. After Annihilus is successfully defeated, Ronan the Accuser acquires leadership of the Kree army. The Phalanx, an evil Alien race, use their advanced technology to take control of the Kree army.

Nova, an intergalactic hero, discovers the Kree are under attack and quickly rushes to their aid. Star-Lord, along with other characters, is already in a scuffle with The Phalanx. The heroes must battle many enemies, including the Phalanx leader Ultron, to stop the Phalanx from taking over Kree.

This series marks one the second instance the popular team (Marvel Cinematic Universe) work together, after the Annihilation storyline. After Ronan and the Kree destroy the Phalanx and Ultron is killed, Star-Lord forms a team to stand against galactic threats. That team becomes the mainstream Guardians of the Galaxy line up.

1.) Guardians of the Galaxy Cinematic Team

Members: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Baby Groot, Rocket, Yondu, Nebula, Mantis

The most popular and well-known team is the Marvel Cinematic Universe team. The team consists of the usual lineup, Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the team recruits Yondu, Nebula, and Mantis.

The origin story in the cinematic Guardians is completely different. They’re all travelers from different parts of the universe—Peter Quill (Star-Lord) was raised by Yondu but steals an orb Yondu is seeking. Bounty hunters Rocket and Groot attempt to hunt Quill, while Gamora seeks the orb to hide its power from Ronan the Accuser. They’re all sent to prison to meet Drax who wants to kill Thanos. Together they unite and defeat Ronan, becoming the Guardians of the Galaxy afterward.

Peter Quill’s silly humor along with Rocket and Groot’s brotherly bond, Gamora and Quill’s romance, and Drax’s personality (especially in Vol. 2 trailers) combine to make a great team. Mix that in with a cute Baby Groot and newcomers and you’ve got a humorous yet a well-functioning team.

The Guardians of the Galaxy was a team united to stop the universe. After the events of Annihilation Conquest, Star-Lord created a squad to defend the galaxy from cosmic threats. These five versions of the Guardians of the Galaxy are all unique and magnificent in their own way.

Catch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 May 5.