Each member of the Guardians of the Galaxy has their own unique, strange, and tragic origin. However, while some translate easily into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, others are much more complex. For example, while it's easy to have Drax the Destroyer strive to get revenge on Thanos, it's harder to explain that he was originally a human and his spirit was trapped in a body that could defeat Thanos. As a result, he was simply turned into an alien whose family was killed by the forces of the Mad Titan. The same could also be said for Rocket Raccoon.
In past films, Rocket's origin was kept largely a mystery, with it only explained that he was taken apart and put back together multiple times. Though it was enough of an explanation to justify his surly attitude and trauma, there was still so much left unsaid. But now, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will unravel the mystery of Rocket's origin and his connection to the High-Evolutionary. However, his MCU origin may be nowhere near as outrageous as his comic roots.
Rocket Raccoon Had an Interesting (and Complex) Comic Book Origin
Introduced in Incredible Hulk #271 (by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema), Rocket Raccoon's beginning came long before he was even given a name. Before his birth, a planet was colonized by alien humanoids in the Keystone Quadrant. The goal of this colonization was to develop an intergalactic psychiatric ward to study the mentally ill and document their findings, later called Gideon's Bible. With the aid of robots and animals that provided comfort for the patients, the facility remained until funding was cut. Eventually, the robots were given sentience and they in turn gave the patient's animal companions sentience as well, still tasked with caring for their patients. Meanwhile, the robots fled to the other side of the world, turning it into an industrial wasteland and contributing to the planet's name of Halfworld.
The animals and robots lived in harmony, caring for the patients until a mole named Judson Jakes tried to gain control by stealing Gideon's Bible. With his presence now a threat, Rocket became a ranger and freedom fighter that led a rebellion against Jakes, with his girlfriend Lylla. Over the years, Rocket would continue his battles against Jakes before being falsely imprisoned by the Kree and meeting Peter Quill and other future Guardians in Annihilation Conquest: Star-Lord #1 (by Keith Giffen and Timothy Green II). From that point on he would always be with Quill and the crew as a loyal member of the Guardians.
The MCU Changed the History of Rocket Raccoon
Rocket's origin has been spoonfed through the years in the MCU without a definite answer being given regarding who created him and why. Where robots created Rocket in the comics, trailers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 seem to confirm that it was the High-Evolutionary that turned Rocket into what he is now. That said, where that's an evident change to his origins, there are still connections to his comic roots even in Guardians of the Galaxy.
When taken in by the Nova Corps, Rocket's criminal record mentioned that he had ties to Halfworld as well as Lylla. With Lylla appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Halfworld could likely be the planet the Guardians visit that has the animal hybrids the High-Evolutionary created. While Rocket's MCU origin was different from what was shown in the comics, the connections have proven that what does work has served to enhance the overall story. There's much to Rocket that must still be learned but if his comic origin serves as a template, it's clear that while not as outrageous, his origin will still be just as unexpected.