While there are are many quirky, irreverent misfits in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Ravager captain Yondu in the Guardians of the Galaxy films is one of the most beloved figures introduced in the cosmic side of the MCU. Portrayed by Michael Rooker, the fan-favorite character played a pivotal role in Peter Quill's upbringing as Star-Lord and the formation of the space-faring team.
Given the widespread popularity of the MCU's interpretation of the character, Marvel Comics drastically reimagined the Marvel Universe's version of Yondu accordingly by making some significant alterations to the decades-old character. Now, CBR is breaking down the differences between the original Yondu, his cinematic adaptation in the MCU and his subsequent comic book makeover.
MARVEL'S ORIGINAL YONDU
The original Yondu was created in 1969's Marvel Super-Heroes #18 by Arnold Drake, Gene Colan, and editor-in-chief Stan Lee along with the rest of the original incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Taking place in the alternate universe of Earth-691, Yondu Udonta is a member of the Zatoan species from Centauri IV, driven from their home by colonizers from Earth in the year 2940.
After barely escaping the slaughter of his people by the Badoon, Yondu teams up with space-traveling Vance Astro, Jovian superhero Charlie-27, and Martinex of Pluto to form the original Guardians of the Galaxy. The new team fights the Badoon across the solar system, occasionally teaming up with modern Marvel superheroes who accidentally find themselves temporarily stranded in the world of Earth-691.
Stronger than the average human, Yondu wears little except red vest with pronounced shoulders, a sarong, and knee-high boots. As with his race, he has blue skin and a large fin resembling a mohawk that extends all the way down his back. In addition to his natural empathic abilities, Yondu can also control arrows he launches from his bow by altering the pitch of his whistles which he does with expert mastery.
MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE YONDU
The MCU's Yondu debuted in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, where he was a considerable departure from his comic book counterpart. Instead of being an alien refugee, Yondu is an opportunistic figure that leads a faction of space pirates and bounty hunters known as the Ravagers.
Despite the Ravager Code forbidding the trafficking of children, Yondu takes a contract from Ego to transport the Celestial's hildren to him to see if they have inherited his genes and allow to spread his presence through seeds he's planted throughout the universe. Finding the young Peter Quill on Earth, Yondu takes pity on the young boy, knowing that Ego kills all his offspring who lack the required genetic material and raises him among the Ravagers.
While Yondu and Peter form a prickly surrogate father-son relationship thanks to Yondu's tough love techniques, the alien always looked out for Star-Lord, leading his associates to betray and imprison him while other factions of Ravagers disassociate themselves from him based on his earlier child trafficking. Upon learning that Star-Lord was with his father, Yondu breaks free with the help of Rocket and Groot and helps the Guardians destroy Ego and the expense of his own life in a final bid to save Peter.After learning about his sacrifice and efforts to stop Ego from consuming the universe, the other Ravagers pay their respects at his funeral and vow to continue in his example.
While there are physical similarities between the MCU Yondu and that of Earth-691, the cinematic incarnation of Yondu dresses more like his fellow Ravagers with a considerably smaller fin that serves as an attachment to his scalp. Yondu uses this attachment to control a single, deadly arrow by whistling rather than have to launch it in the air with a bow like his comic counterpart.
MARVEL'S NEW YONDU
Following the runaway success of the 2014 film, Marvel introduced a modern version of Yondu in its comics heavily inspired by the film. First appearing in 2015's Star-Lord #2 by Sam Humphries and Javier Garron, this incarnation was described by Humphries as a distant ancestor of the version seen in the Marvel Universe's alternate future. More in line with the MCU character visually and conceptually, Yondu is stranded on Earth when he is discovered and outsmarted by a young Peter Quill. Impressed by the boy's abilities and sympathizing with him after discovering he is a fellow orphan, Yondu recruits Peter into his Ravager crew.
Whether an alien refugee fighting against oppression in a distant future or a space pirate with his own twisted code of honor and soft spot for Peter Quill, Yondu is one of the most entertaining characters in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. From his heartbreaking turn in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 to his origins as a founding member of the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Yondu Udonta has quickly become a fan-favorite character since the MCU introduced him to a wider audience. And while the cinematic character may have met his untimely end saving his surrogate son, the character will continue to live in a few of Marvel's comic book futures.