WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Asgardians of the Galaxy #1 by Cullen Bunn, Matteo Lolli and Federico Blee, on sale Wednesday, September 5.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are no more. The cosmic superhero team began to splinter during the Infinity Countdown event as different factions began vying for the Infinity Stones. However, Marvel's Infinity Wars sealed the end of this version of the Guardians when an obsessed Gamora donned the new persona, Requiem, in order to reunite with part of her soul trapped in the Soul Gem.
With no one left to guard the galaxy, who will step up to fill the vacated void? Former Guardian of the Galaxy and Hunter of Heven, Angela. But instead of taking on the job alone, Angela is forming her own team with a mission that ties into the Infinity Wars -- but first she needs to hit the recruiting trail.
RELATED: Cullen Bunn Breaks Down Marvel’s Asgardians of the Galaxy Line-Up
Cullen Bunn is the writer of Asgardians of the Galaxy, and he's taking the opportunity to reintroduce characters he put in the spotlight during his time on Fearless Defenders -- archeologist Annabelle Riggs and the Inhuman Ren Kimura. A preview of Asgardians of the Galaxy #1 begins in the past and shows the couple spending a romantic afternoon together in Greenwich Village. The afternoon and weather are perfect, which is a reminder to Annabelle that days like that are few and far between.
Right when Annabelle is about to ask Ren an important question, Angela and a one-armed Destroyer teleport in. "The galaxy is in grave peril," Angela says. Before Annabelle is given the chance to decline the invitation, she's lifted into the air and vanishes with Angela and the Destroyer. The next time we see her is with the remaining members of the Asgardians of the Galaxy during a fierce battle against different alien races.
While the rest of the members of the Asgardians of the Galaxy can hold their own in a fight (Kevin Masterson as Thunderstrike, Skurge the Executioner and Throg), the human Annabelle seems out of place on the battlefield. But as fans of Fearless Defenders will remember, Annabelle now shares her body with the Asgardian warrior, Valkyrie, who is always up for a good skirmish.
Though we don't get to see how Angela brought the rest of the team together, we can only assume it happened in the same manner as the sale pitch to Annabelle. Bunn stated in an interview with CBR that Annabelle is just as important to the series as Valkyrie, with her knowledge and background in ancient Asgardian relics coming in handy.
RELATED: Marvel’s Asgardians of the Galaxy Lineup, Explained
This skillset is on display in the Issue #1 preview, but there are still mysteries to be uncovered as the series progresses. Why did Angela bring the team together? Who is controlling the Destroyer armor? And what has Nebula, the villain of the opening arc, stolen? We should start to get some answers when Asgardians of the Galaxy #1 arrives on September 5.