Guardians of the Galaxy #1

The 2008 relaunch of Guardians of the Galaxy kicks off with a cover by Clint Langley that throws the whole team into a storm of fire and energy — a massive armored figure dominates the center, flanked by Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and Rocket Raccoon brandishing an oversized cannon. Writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with artist Paul Pelletier, inker Rick Magyar, and colorist Nathan Fairbairn bring this ragtag cosmic crew to life with a "somebody's got to do it" attitude that feels both scrappy and genuinely thrilling. If you've ever wanted to see Marvel's galaxy-defending misfits assembled and ready for trouble, this first issue is a great place to start.