With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 arriving in cinemas in just a few short weeks, it’s a good time to be a fan of Marvel’s dysfunctional band of cosmic protectors. Admittedly, there was some worry that the magic wouldn’t work the second time around, but early reactions seem to confirm that the sequel will be every bit as good as the first outing.
But just why is the first movie so damn good, and why did this once little-known property strike such a chord with moviegoers everywhere? The answer has to be the core five characters, brilliantly crafted by writer/director James Gunn on the page and expertly brought to life by the cast. By the end of the film, we were completely rooting for Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot as they made for such an entertaining, eclectic bunch.
Thankfully, it’s been confirmed that Gunn is staying on board for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which we know will be the end for this current iteration of the team. Marvel will have their work cut out for them then in replacing Peter Quill’s gang, but the following ten characters might just be the way to go. If some of these heroes make it into either Vol. 3 or Vol. 4, the studio could be onto another winner.