WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy #2, by Al Ewing, Juann Cabal, Federico Blee and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.

At the start of Al Ewing and Juann Cabal's new Guardians of the Galaxy series, the cosmic team retired, opting to live in peace as a makeshift family. However, the galaxy is always in need of saving from something or someone -- and it didn't take long for a new threat to manifest in the form of the dark Olympian gods. Since Gamora turned him down, Star-Lord left her and the others out of it -- but he simply couldn't stand by and do nothing while evil rampaged through the cosmos. Therefore, he put a new team together with Rocket Raccoon, who himself wasn't exactly content with retirement.

Star-Lord's new team engaged the Olympian gods and they proved themselves to be more than the Guardians could handle. Therefore, Peter Quill had no choice but to make the ultimate sacrifice in a heartbreaking scene that actually recalls one of the most poignant moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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In Guardians of the Galaxy #1, Star-Lord's team attacked Olympus, the floating city the Olympians call home in the middle of space. There, they freed and recruited Hercules to their ranks, adding the powerful god to a team that already included Quill, Rocket, Nova, Phyla-Vell, Moondragon and Marvel Boy. However, the mission takes a turn for the worst in issue #2 and the Olympians prove how dangerous and vile they really are. With the evil gods posing too much of a threat and with most of the Guardians on the ropes, Star-Lord lays his life on the line to stop them here and now.

As the other Guardians make their escape, Quill stays behind and triggers an explosion that destroys Olympus -- and himself along with it. Inside the ship, Rocket shouts, "No! We gotta go back! We gotta get him!" However, it's already too late: Star-Lord is gone and Rocket is left a heartbroken mess. He's angry and lashing out at Hercules, who keeps holding him back. Eventually, Rocket stops struggling and accepts what just happened. Then he returns Hercules' hug and cries in his arms.

The scene is devastating -- rightfully so. After all, Rocket has just lost one of his oldest friends and a member of his family. It's incredibly touching to see the character -- who more often than not keeps everyone at arm's length -- express such affection and sadness for a member of his team.

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In fact, the entire scene, as well as what it conveys, plays similarly to one in the 2014 MCU film, Guardians of the Galaxy. At the end of the James Gunn-directed film, Groot sacrifices himself to save the other Guardians when Ronan the Accuser's Dark Aster crashes on Xandar. After the battle is won, Rocket breaks down in tears over the loss of his friend and it's Drax who comforts him by gently petting him. It's an incredibly touching moment in the film, given that it's the first time Rocket lets his guard down.

In the film, it's Drax who managed to get through to Rocket and in the comics, it's another powerful cosmic brute. This time around, it's Hercules who ends up consoling Rocket, but the effect is still heartbreaking. Readers are used to seeing Rocket act as the wisecracking, gun-toting muscle of the Guardians of the Galaxy. It's always difficult to then see him break down and express his emotions when he loses someone close to him. It's a reminder that despite it all, he still has a heart.

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