Doctor Doom Joins Guardians of the Galaxy Team

by Rebecca Kaplan · February 12, 2021

Al Ewing teases, “One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong. What’s Doctor Doom doing here… and why? There’s only one way to find out.”

Marvel Comics has been teasing the newest members of the Guardians of the Galaxy team roster series all week. Now, announced on February 11th, 2021, fans finally have some answers about who is joining the Guardian’s team in the new area. Starting in April’s Guardians of the Galaxy #13 by writer Al Ewing (Loki: Agent of Asgard, Original Sin) and artist Juan Frigeri (Star Wars: Darth Maul, Ghost Rider), the series will introduce a number of characters to the official Guardian’s team roster.

Guardians of the Galaxy #13 Adds Huge Character Roster

Guardians of the Galaxy #13 will be a double-sized issue in honor of it being the 175th issue (in legacy numbering) of the series. It will feature returning heroes, like Star-Lord and Gamora, in addition to a new lineup of new superheros joining Earth’s Guardians, like the original Quasar (A.K.A. Wendell Vaughn) and Doctor Doom.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2020) #13. Photo: Marvel.com

After the Guardians team climatic battle with the Olympian gods, they are deputized by the Galactic Council. With new adventures calling for new teammates, the Guardians must expand their roster like never before. The full roster of heroes now on the Guardian’s team includes: Hulkling, Star-Lord, Groot, Gamora, Wiccan, Nova, Quasar (Avril Kincaid), Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Rocket Raccoon, Doctor Doom, Marvel Boy, Drax, Super Skrull, Moondragon, Hercules, Mantis, and Phyla-Vell.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13 cover by Brett Booth. Photo: Marvel Comics

Doctor Doom Part of a Team You Will Not Believe, True Believers

According to the official statement from Marvel.com on Guardians of the Galaxy #13:

The galaxy no longer needs heroes. It needs Super Heroes! Now deputized by the Galactic Council, the Guardians need new members to tackle their deadliest threats yet. One of Marvel’s premiere cosmic crusaders, Wendell Vaughn, the original Quasar, makes his long-awaited return to answer the call. But what could possibly cause the maniacal Doctor Doom to join their ranks? With spectacular art by Juan Frigeri (GHOST RIDER), mastermind Al Ewing is ready to boldly take the Guardians where no Guardian has gone before! Get on board, True Believers – it’s going to be the ride of your life!

Ewing promises to Marvel.com: “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, both the book and the team, are going to be stepping up a gear in 2021, with villains the team have never faced, guest stars you never thought you’d see, and a new teammate you can’t even begin to believe—all coming together for a crisis that’ll shake every planet in the Marvel universe down to the bedrock…maybe even a backwater planet like Earth.”