The success of 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy film showed the world that Marvel's Midas touch could turn beloved, B-level comic book characters into hot commodities, so much so that the first issue of the solo Rocket Raccoon comic book series was the best-selling comic book in July of 2014. With Secret Wars looming over the entire Marvel Universe, many titles are being canceled, including Rocket Raccoon, but that particular series is making way for a title that could be hard to pull off, considering that its title character only utters one phrase.
That's right: Groot, everyone's favorite ass-kicking space plant, is getting his own series.
Groot #1 is set to be released in June of 2015, with Jeff Loveness (Death of Wolverine: Life After Logan, Amazing Spider-Man Special) on writing duties and Brian Kesinger (an illustrator who worked with Disney for 16 years) on drawing duty. In speaking with Mashable, Loveness says that Groot will play on the expressiveness of the character—even if his vocabulary is limited. "That brings up so many opportunities for comedy, but it also brings in that human aspect of feeling lonely and isolated from the world around you. If you lose your translator, you're on your own out there."
That translator would be Rocket Raccoon; while we're not sure about what'll happen to Rocket that will cause the end of his current series, word is that fans will get an origin story of sorts: we'll find out how Rocket and Groot linked up to become a team. For now, check out Marvel's logline on the new series, as well as panels from the upcoming first issue.
When Rocket and Groot are on an intergalactic roadtrip and calamity strikes, the two get separated — and for the first time in years, Groot’s on his own! Written by comedic ace Jeff Loveness ("Jimmy Kimmel Live!") and drawn by Marvel Comics newcomer Brian Kesinger (Disney Animation), get a front row seat for EXPLOSIONS, SPACE SHARKS, ALIENS, AND INTERGALACTIC HITCHIKING (YEAH, BABY! YOU READ THAT RIGHT)! Whatever may be coming Groot’s way, one thing’s for sure — it’s going to be a GROOT adventure!
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