Marvel just announced the next appearance of Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, marking fifty years since the character’s debut. And not only is the Guardians of the Galaxy’s leader back, but he’s wearing his first ever comic costume, often ignored in media starring the space-faring hero.
Peter Quill has undergone a drastic reinvention since his comic debut in 1976. Quill first appeared as a trainee astronaut, pursuing the truth of his miraculous birth after a planetary alignment. Quill was chosen as the emissary of a mysterious alien called the Master of the Sun, becoming a straight-laced cosmic hero and a veteran of multiple interplanetary wars.
Few of these traits or details remained when the MCU adapted the character, and in the wake of Chris Pratt’s depiction, Marvel outright rebooted the comic character to match the movies’ slacker-hero vibe, including a new origin story. The move left fans asking whether his original costume and adventures were even canon.
Star-Lord Returns to His Original Costume in Celebration of 1976
Now, Marvel is celebrating Star-Lord as part of Marvel Gold ’76 #1 – a new one-shot comic starring characters who officially debuted in 1976. The adventure will see Star-Lord, Nova and Jack of Hearts unite to bring down Bullseye after the expert assassin is hired by Thanos. The comic is coming from Stephanie Phillips and Madibek Musabekov. The summary reads:
JACK OF HEARTS, NOVA, STAR-LORD AND…BULLSEYE!? THANOS has hired BULLSEYE to pull the trigger… and this time, the shot could end everything! As the DEADLIEST ASSASSIN IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE hunts his target through New York City, STAR-LORD, NOVA and JACK OF HEARTS clash with Bullseye in a brutal, zero-room-for-error fight against the inevitable. Don’t miss one of the most intense superhuman battles in Marvel history.
The issue’s main cover shows Peter Quill back in his original blue costume, complete with owl-like mask, as Bullseye hurls cards at the heroes on his tail. A preview of the comic’s art confirms the classic costume, while also showing Bullseye’s first encounter with Thanos.
The fight promised by the issue’s summary is unbelievably unbalanced, with Jack of Hearts and Nova being two of Marvel’s most powerful heroes – a list that includes Star-Lord, if Marvel plans to use the Element Gun-wielding original depiction. However, with Thanos backing Bullseye, the assassin is likely to be hiding an upgrade that will put him back in the action.
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Characters Starring in Marvel Gold ’76 |
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Character |
Powers/Abilities |
Frequent Affiliations |
First Appearance |
Creators |
|
Star-Lord (Peter Quill) |
Unique link to ‘Element Guns’ and unexplored power potential as destined ‘Master of the Sun’ |
Guardians of the Galaxy |
1976’s Marvel Preview #4 |
Steve Englehart, Steve Gan and Bob McLeod |
|
Nova (Richard Rider) |
Channels the Nova Force, resulting in enhanced physiology, cosmic energy generation and high-speed flight |
Nova Corps, New Warriors, Guardians of the Galaxy |
1976’s Nova #1 |
Marv Wolfman and John Buscema |
|
Jack of Hearts (Jonathan Hart) |
Living ‘Zero Energy’ battery, resulting in enhanced physiology and powerful energy blasts |
Avengers |
1976’s Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #21 |
Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen |
|
Bullseye (Lester ???) |
Perfect aim, adamantium-laced skeleton |
New York Underworld, Dark Avengers |
1976’s Daredevil #131 |
Marv Wolfman and William Robert Brown |
|
Thanos of Titan |
God-like physiology, energy manipulation, advanced technology and mystic enhancements |
Infinity Watch |
1972’s Iron Man #55 |
Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich |
Gathering these fifty-year-old characters together is the perfect impetus for a story that would never be told any other way – a premise that’s likely to lead to some surprising invention.
Star-Lord’s Flashback Highlights How Much He’s Changed
Getting to see Star-Lord’s classic costume is a reminder of how much the character has changed. Even outside his reboot as a rogueish thief, the recent Imperial event saw Star-Lord rise to power as leader of the Galactic Council, framing the Skrull Empire for a series of assassinations in an outright villainous move.
Fans of the character will therefore be rushing to read Marvel Gold ’76, both to witness the issue’s unusual match-up and to see Peter Quill’s Star-Lord back in his classically heroic role.
Marvel Gold ’76 #1 is coming September 9 from Marvel Comics.
- Created By
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Steve Englehart, Steve Gan
- Alias
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Star-Lord
- RELATIONSHIPS
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J’son (father), Meredith Quill (mother), Yondu Udonta (adoptive father), Gamora (love interest), Rocket Raccoon (teammate), Groot (teammate), Drax the Destroyer (teammate), Mantis (teammate), Nebula (ally), Thanos (adversary)
- Alliance
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Guardians of the Galaxy
- Race
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Human/Spartoi hybrid
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
