Fanboys Anonymous

Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel's riskiest film since Iron Man. Fans weren't sure the studio could pull off live-action films, but it's "hit the Mjolnir out of the park" every time. (Well, maybe not in Iron Man 2, but that wasn't totally their fault.)

Now, however, Marvel has gotten comfortable producing sequels to its hit properties and is reentering unknown territory. Who are the Guardians of the Galaxy? How is this film tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

Director James Gunn recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about who the general moviegoing audience will be meeting this summer. Comic book fans, who have some familiarity with and expectations of these characters, are excited to see them on the big screen. But what about those of you just diving right in? Here's how Gunn sums up the characters for you.

Peter Quill (Starlord): "He was abducted from Earth (specifically, Missouri) at age 8 and raised in a group of thieves and smugglers called the Ravagers. He’s good with the ladies and a little bit of a dick and very lucky."

Gamora: "Thanos slaughtered her family and Nebula's, then raised them together as siblings. They were bioengineered to become living weapons. So she’s really good at killing people."

Drax: "Drax is a little mysterious in the movie. But we do know that his wife and child were killed by Ronan and he's very singularly focused on revenge."

Groot: "He's very innocent. He just wants to be liked by Rocket and do the right thing."

Rocket Raccoon: "A talking, gun-toting raccoon-like creature—and another product of bioengineering. For me, it's not Bugs Bunny in the middle of the Avengers. It's this little gnarled, creepy beast who is very sad and alone."

As for the big bad, Thanos, teased at the end of The Avengers, appears in the film. He may not be the main antagonist, but he certainly helps lead the film into The Avengers 3, where he will take center stage. Gunn says Thanos has been rendered using motion capture, so he may be performed by someone who's already been announced, and we just don’t realize it yet.

Every Marvel film has had some connection to a sought after element (the Cosmic Cube in Captain America: The First Avenger, the aether in Thor: The Dark World, etc.), which all seem to be leading to a cinematic take on the famous Infinity Gauntlet story from the comic books. When all these items are assembled, it grants the owner unlimited power over time and space. Marvel characters have always thrived in situations out of their control and over their heads.

It will be interesting to see how the soldier, the knight, and the god react to a cosmic threat of this scale. What are your thoughts? Are Cap's boots better on the ground than in space? Or does this lead to all-new possibilities?