I Want You Back: Time to Read

James Gunn tweeted a mouth-watering photo a few months ago. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is under production. It will hit theaters on May 5, 2017.

Those who were unfamiliar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would wonder how a spacefaring team, all with checkered past, has something to do with the Avengers. If you paid close attention to the end credits scenes of previous films by Marvel Studios, you would utter two words: Infinity Gems. Unless you're a hardcore comic fan, then it will be better not to Google these mysterious gems. They changed owners many times, which would explain why Marvel Studios decided to include the other superheroes. (Even Doctor Strange will play a part in this complex, if not exciting, saga.) As for the Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn's celluloid version opened with Peter Quill (a. k. a. Star-Lord) dancing to the tune of "Hooked to the Feeling". Moviegoers were treated to the best songs from the 70s and 80s, which culminated with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. And Gunn and Nicole Perlman did a great job coming up with a comprehensive screenplay. (The film ran for over two hours.) It wasn't hard to guess that the characters were yearning for more attention.

Let's go all the way

Compared to other superheroes, Star-Lord's ragtag group of spacefarers were new kids on the block. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning released the first (comic) issue of "Guardians of the Galaxy" on May 2008, which happened to be the same month when Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" hit theaters. The series were like a never-ending story, with too many subplots that could make some readers get lost along the way. But Marvel fans couldn't help but imagine the possible scenarios in "Avengers: Infinity War". (Yes, Iron Man and Thanos did have a face-to-face moment.) Getting lost was a certainty, but readers wouldn't want to find their way back.

For instance, "Guardians of the Galaxy: Prelude" gave readers an interesting background on some characters of "Guardians of the Galaxy". Nebula, the adoptive daughter of Thanos, was one of the villains in the film. She happened to be Gamora's sister, and they have an intense sibling rivalry. As some stories in the comic would suggest, Nebula was the weaker one. And she resented Gamora for it. Another set of stories described the adventures of Rocket and Groot. They were a formidable duo, prompting some moviegoers to wonder how Rocket would deal with a diminutive version of his partner. (Let Gunn and Perlman deal with it.) This issue also included an intriguing episode on Taneleer Tivan (a. k. a. The Collector). He was an enigma, if not a thorn to the good and evil forces who wanted the Infinity Gems. Whether or not he wanted to be as powerful as Thanos could be anyone's guess, but Abnett and Lanning have revealed a clue or two.

"Guardians of the Galaxy: Prelude" was devoid of the loopiness that made Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" endearing to viewers. There won't be a Motown hit (or two) to engage them as well. However, Abnett and Lanning brought a whole new world, where the Avengers discovered that they were tiny specks in the wide universe. And they were not the only forces of good. Like most sagas, unforeseen circumstances would bring the good and bad guys together. The writers (and illustrators) of Marvel Comics have the luxury of getting to know these superheroes, their weaknesses included. (And there should be no room for weakness.) It's far from serious, but fascinating and alluring nonetheless. It's like the gems they would seek for.

Abnett and Lanning have released more issues, and Marvel fans have less than a year to read them. They might hesitate, as this would be spoilers for the upcoming Marvel films. But they should read it. Knowledge won't spoil the fun.