This August 2014, Disney is releasing a major feature film based on a comic published by its Marvel subsidiary, Guardians of the Galaxy. The spacefaring supergroup is a hodgepodge of characters coming from all over Marvel’s last five decades, and from many different artists and writers.
As these last are often denied proper credit, below we present an illustrated list of the main creators involved.
The Guardians
Groot was created by Jack Kirby, with Stan Lee (script) and Dick Ayers (inks) in Tales to Astonish 13.
cover art by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko
Star Lord was created by Steve Englehart (script) and Steve Gan (art) in Marvel Preview 4.
cover art by Bob Larkin
Rocket Raccoon was created by Bill Mantlo (script) and Keith Giffen (pencils) with Rick Bryant (inks) in Marvel Preview 7.
art by Giffen and Bryant
Drax the Destroyer was created by Jim Starlin (pencils, concept) with Mike Friedrich (dialogue) and Mike Esposito (inks) in Iron Man 55.
cover by Jim Starlin and Joe Sinnott
Gamora was created by Jim Starlin in Strange Tales 180.
art by Jim Starlin and Steve Leialoha
Yondu was created by Arnold Drake (script), Gene Colan (pencils) and John Tartaglione (inks) in Marvel Super-Heroes 18.
cover by Gene Colan. Yondu is the archer character on the far right.
Other Characters
Ronan the Accuser was created by Jack Kirby, with Stan Lee (script) and Joe Sinnott (inks) in Fantastic Four 65.
Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott
The Collector was created by Stan Lee (script) and Don Heck (pencils) in The Avengers 28.
Pencils by Don Heck
Rhomann Dey was created by Marv Wolfman (script) with John Buscema (pencils) and Joe Sinnott (inks) in Nova 1.
Left: John Reilly, who plays Rhomann Dey in the film; right , art by John Buscema and Joe Sinnott.
Nebula was created by Roger Stern (script) and John Buscema (pencils), with Tom Palmer (inks) in Avengers 257.
Cover art by Al Milgrom
Korath the Pursuer was created by Mark Gruenwald (script) and Greg Capullo (art) in Quasar 32.
There you have it, though other characters and concepts by Marvel-paid creators doubtless also figure in the film (which, from what I’ve seen, will be a very enjoyable romp.)
It would be good and ethical were the corporation behind it to reward these creators with some cash. But, given Marvel and Disney’s traditional attitudes of gratitude, I’m not holding my breath…
Did you see this article: http://comicsalliance.com/comic-book-creators-medical-care-charity-insurance-mantlo-sakai-washington-hero-initiativ/
Pretty frustrating that everyone in the comments thinks the solution is health care reform instead of “paying your creators even a pathetic fraction of the amount of money their creations will make you.”
Jim Starlin apparently reached an accord of some sort with Marvel in the fall of 2012, a few months after The Avengers movie was released. He’s on very good terms with them right now, with a new Thanos book featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy characters coming out later this year. The panels I’ve seen previewed show Drax, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon.
Also, I believe the creators of any new character created for Marvel’s company-owned titles from 1980-onward receive payment for the use of those characters in licensing and other media, so that should cover Nebula and Korath.
they already have a process in place for payment to creators. they are not required to publicize it.
i’ve been bummed about Bill Mantlo for years, so i was happy when i saw this –
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/02/28/bill-mantlo-fully-aware-of-guardians-of-the-the-galaxy-movie-and-his-role-in-creating-rocket-raccoon/
Doesn’t this list make one think that “character creation” is sometimes the least important — often most embarrassing — part of superhero comics?
‘Doesn’t this list make one think that “character creation” is sometimes the least important — often most embarrassing — part of superhero comics?’
How is that the take-home message?
I’d suggest its one possible message from the post because “character creation” is often described as just coming up with a name and costume design (ie company trademarks).
Put it this way – when Marvel first announced they’d acquired the rights to Marvelman/Miracleman they made a big deal about how he was an important “character”, but surely its the work of (mainly) Moore and Gaiman that they paid money for – neither of whom “created” him – rather than a Captain Marvel knock-off in a blue costume?
No disrespect to any of the writers and artists listed in the post – I’m all in favour of them (or their heirs) getting something further out of their work – but mainstream US comics are created over time by various hands, and its not unusual for a definitive portrayal of a character to be done by later contributors.
here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTZ2Tp9yXyM
One virtue of the Marvel Studio’s takes on their superheroes– they don’t take them too seriously. ‘Iron Man’, ‘Thor’, ‘Captain America’– they’re all fims with a healthy dose of laughter, without succumbing to camp.
(OK, Cap had its soupçon of camp — but just exactly enough, as when the first thing the Red Skull says to Cap is, “I really like your movies!”)