Who could have predicted that Guardians of the Galaxy would become one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s biggest properties just a few years ago? Back before the 2014 instant classic arrived, experts – by which I mean random people on the internet – were predicting that its brand of overt comic book craziness would be too much for wider audiences to handle. Turns out they were woefully wrong, as people can’t get enough of this blend of space opera and character-based comedy.
Guardians might be the first successful cosmic comic book movie, but superheroes have been venturing into space for decades on the page. Ever since Superman, an alien from a far-off planet, kicked off the genre back in 1938, hardcore science fiction and superheroism have gone hand in hand. It’s just taken a good long while for the movies to embrace this side of comic books.
So, to celebrate the arrival of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in US cinemas this weekend, let’s take a look at the best cosmic comic book heroes out there. As always, if you have a favourite that we haven’t mentioned, let us know in the comments section down below.
