The definitive issue-by-issue comic book collecting guide and reading order for Marvel’s Drax the Destroyer in omnibus, hardcover, trade paperback, and digital. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated September 2024 with titles scheduled for release through December 2024.
Drax the Destroyer was a character made for vengeance and built to be tinkered with by each successive generation of writers.
He was originally created alongside Thanos in Iron Man (1968) #55 in February 1973. Thanos was an unstoppable force of destruction, and Drax was his personal destroyer. His desire to destroy Thanos was driven by the forces of vengeance of Thanos’s entire race and, as it turns out, his own extremely personal vendetta against the mad titan.
The original version of Drax the Destroyer was completely unlike his familiar Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation. He was a gallant, green, caped psychic born from the soil of Thanos’s abandoned homeworld, who could fly through space and emit powerful energy blasts. He seemed to be a deliberate copy of DC’s Martian Manhunter visually and in his powerset.
Drax made a strong early foil for Thanos, but Jim Starlin used him only for a cameo once his own late-70s saga of Thanos and Warlock got underway. That saga lead to the apparent death of Thanos, which meant Drax had no meaning – both within the story and as a Marvel character. After harassing Captain Mar-Vell for taking away his chance to slay Thanos (not realizing or believing it had been Warlock), he was hastily written out of comics via a peculiar two-part Avengers story by Jim Shooter in 1982.
When Jim Starlin returned to Marvel to revive Thanos, Warlock, and Gamora, he also brought Drax back to life – reasoning that if there is a Thanos there must also be a Drax. However, playing off of the peculiar circumstances surrounding Drax’s origin, Starlin used the reincarnation to tweak his character to be a cartoonish oaf with a low intellect. The MCU version of the character shares many qualities with this comedic relief version of Drax that starred in Starlin’s Infinity trilogy and Infinity Watch. However, the screen incarnation is never portrayed as being unintelligent the way he was in the comics. Onscreen, he is simply literal.
After briefly regaining his intelligence and losing it again, Drax was reinvented again in 2005 by Kieth Giffen. This version visually matches up with the screen version – a terrifyingly swift hunk of muscle capable of canny strategy. After anchoring his own mini-series, he was pulled into the first of Marvel’s mid-00s cosmic events, Annihilation and Annihilation Conquest – along with a few other familiar faces: Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot – along with Nova, Warlock, Mantis, and Moondragon.
That group of character transformed into the original Guardians of the Galaxy, launched by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning in 2008. Drax appeared throughout their initial run. Despite being written off at the end (along with Star-Lord and Nova), he was back in the line-up in 2012 when Brian Bendis was brought aboard to navigate the comic franchise towards the impending MCU film.
The version of Drax in the comics since 2013 may be the Guardian who feels the farthest apart from his movie incarnation. He’s simply never been the comedic relief of the comics team quite as much as he has been in the films. He has also seldom been at the center of the team’s plots the way Star-Lord, Gamora, and Rocket often are – though he did have a major moment in 2018’s Infinity Wars by Gerry Duggan.
- Reading Order
- 70s & 80s
- Debut in Iron Man (1968) #55 & Logan’s Run (1977) #6 (Feb 1973 & June 1977)
- in Captain Marvel (1968)
- 90s & Early 00s
- in Silver Surfer (1987) and The Infinity Gauntlet (1991)
- in Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #2-42
- Infinity War (1992) #1-6
- Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection (1993) #1-4
- Infinity Crusade (1993) #1-6
- in Warlock (1998) #1-4
- in Captain Marvel (1999)
- Mid-00s Cosmic Saga
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Founder of the Guardians of the Galaxy (2008)
- Thanos Imperative (2010) Ignition & #1-4
- The Guardians Re-Assemble
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) by Brian Bendis
- Drax (2015) #1-11
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) by Brian Bendis
& Guardians of Infinity (2016) #1-8 - Guardians of the Galaxy: Dream On (2017) #1 & Mother Entropy (2017) #1-5
- All-New Guardians of the Galaxy (2017) by Gerry Duggan
- Guardians of the Galaxy in Infinity Countdown (2018) and Infinity Wars (2018)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) by Donny Cates
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #1-18 by Al Ewing
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) #1-10 & Annual 1 by Lanzing & Kelly
- 70s & 80s
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Drax Reading Order
Drax’s Debut in Iron Man (1968) #55 & Logan’s Run (1977) #6 (Feb 1973 & June 1977)
We have seen many flashbacks to Drax’s early life on Earth prior to his debut, including substantial ones in Logan’s Run, Captain Marvel (1968) #32, and Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #12 – all listed below in order of their present day stories.
These key early adventures are both collected in a single paperback.
Drax: Guardian of the Galaxy (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902131 / digital)
Collects Drax’s complete arc in the 70s and early 80s from Iron Man (1968) #55; Logan’s Run (1977) #6 (2nd story); Captain Marvel (1968) #27-33, 43-44, 58-62; Warlock (1972) #15; Marvel Spotlight (1979) #1-2; Avengers (1963) #219-220 – plus, material from Thor (1966) 314 and Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #1 AKA The Death of Captain Marvel, both between Spotlight and Avengers.
by individual issue…
Iron Man (1968) #55: See Guide to Iron Man. In this debut story, Drax explains that he is was created by the disembodied Kronos from the very earth of the planetoid of Titan specifically to seek out and destroy Thanos.
In She-Hulk (2005) #13, we see a version of this in Thanos’s memory.
Logan’s Run (1977) #6 (2nd story): See Guide to Thanos. This back-up story radically alters Drax’s origin immediately after his debut! While he hunts for the marauding Thanos, we learn he was originally a human being of Earth named Art Sampson whose family was killed in a car wreck… caused by Thanos! This origin is further detailed in Captain Marvel (1968) #32, below.
Drax in Captain Marvel (1968) #27-33, 41-44, & 58-62
and Marvel Spotlight (1979) #1-2
These key early adventures are collected in single paperback.
Drax: Guardian of the Galaxy (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902131 / digital)
Collects Drax’s complete arc in the 70s and early 80s from Iron Man (1968) #55; Logan’s Run (1977) #6 (2nd story); Captain Marvel (1968) #27-33, 43-44, 58-62; Warlock (1972) #15; Marvel Spotlight (1979) #1-2; Avengers (1963) #219-220 – plus, material from Thor (1966) 314 and Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #1 AKA The Death of Captain Marvel, both between Spotlight and Avengers.
by individual issue…
Captain Marvel (1968) #27-33: See Guide to Captain Mar-Vell (eventually). Drax hunts down and confronts Thanos once again in subplot pages of #27, which leads to a full issue psychedelic confrontation in #28 as Thanos subjects him to the “Time-Mind Sync-Warp!” Having failed his mission, Drax briefly cameos in a handful of panels in issues #29-30 as he flies through space to the Avengers mansion seeking Iron Man or Captain Marvel, who breaks up his tussle with the Avengers in issue #31 so they can all try (and fail) to defeat Thanos together. The Destroyer continues his pursuit of the now god-powered Thanos in #32, in which Thanos details his full origins (and links him to Moondragon), before Thanos is finally outwitted by Captain Marvel with the help of (briefly) The Destroyer and Mantis in #33.
In Thanos (2014) Annual 1, we see Thanos’s memory of this confrontation.
Captain Marvel (1968) #41-44: See Guide to Captain Mar-Vell (eventually). Drax cameos only for a tiny speck of a panel in #41, which leads to half a page of subplot in #42 as he once again pursues Thanos. Then, in a full-issue feature in #43, we learn that The Destroyer has been driven mad by the absence of the vanquished Thanos, and with no foe to fight he has turned his destructive powers on the man who himself seemingly destroyed Thanos – Captain Marvel! However, he abandons his mission in #44, sure he can find Thanos elsewhere.
In Warlock (1972) #15, he appears briefly, crashing through Gamora’s ship and leaving her for dead in the void of space as he hunts Thanos.
Captain Marvel (1968) #58-62: See Guide to Captain Mar-Vell (eventually). After aimlessly wandering the cosmos since his last appearance, in issue #58 Drax discovers what readers have known since the classic Marvel Two-in-One (1974) Annual 2 – that Thanos had finally been defeated! He wrongfully blames Captain Marvel, who is unable to convince him it was actually Adam Warlock (who sacrificed himself to do s0). However, Marvel does convince him (with some help) that his new mission ought to be rooting out Thanos’s legacy wherever it exists in the universe before returning to blaming Captain Marvel for robbing him of his destiny. This leads to an uneasy team-up through #59-62, which continues into Marvel Spotlight.
Marvel Spotlight (1979) #1-2: See Guide to Captain Mar-Vell (eventually). This concludes the team-up with Captain Marvel, at the end of which Drax vows to change his destructive ways now that the threat of Thanos is concluded.
Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #1 AKA The Death of Captain Marvel: See Guide to Captain Mar-Vell (eventually). Drax arrives with Moondragon in tow to say a final farewell to the convalescing Captain Marvel. Drax is mostly used her as a means of introducing yet another character to the pre-funereal procession of visitors, but he does share one quiet scene with Mar-Vell in which he discussed the nature of dying.
In Silver Surfer (1968) Annual 6, his is implied but unseen in a single panel of flashback to Mar-Vell’s funeral.
Thor (1966) #314: See Guide to Thor – The Odinson. This appearance slightly contradicts The Death of Captain Marvel, because Moondragon claims she has been “never able to get close to him, to know him.” (Perhaps this was originally meant to fit prior to that story.) The Destroyer, having failed to alter his life’s mission to creation, instead turns to wanton destruction in the hope it will cause his own self-destruction – which turns him against his daughter and Thor.
Avengers (1963) #219-220: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Drax and Moondragon summon the Avengers to assist them with an uprising on an alien planet, but there is more to the mission than meets the eye. This is seemingly the resolution of Drax’s story.
Silver Surfer (1987) and The Infinity Gauntlet (1991)
As returns Thanos, in the closing pages of issue #35 so returns his Destroyer! Due to the unusual circumstances around Thanos’s revival, Drax’s return is equally unusual – he comes back with a distended, extra-muscular form but with a vastly different mind compared to his prior incarnation.
(Moondragon later declares him “brain damaged” in Warlock and the Infinity Watch #2, below.)
Silver Surfer (1987) #35, 37, 40, 42, 44-49: See Guide to Silver Surfer. After reappearing in the final pages of #35, our Destroyer has an issue-long tussle with Surfer in issue #37. In #40, he joins Surfer in observing a seemingly defeated Thanos – but Drax’s connection with the Titan leads him to insist they are not in the presence of the actual Titan. He briefly tries to rally Surfer to his hunt in #42, and he finally finds and confronts Thanos in #44. He is implied but only briefly seen in #45 because, as we see in #46-47, he is trapped in the Soul Gem along with Surfer (and Warlock, Gamora, & Pip!). We briefly see him resume his pursuit in #48-49, separate from Surfer.
Infinity Gauntlet: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Gauntlet. Drax is one of many powerful heroes arrayed against Thanos, at the peak of his powers.
Click to expand a list of appearances in this event.
Drax in Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #2-42
After being put on trial by a jury of Marvel’s cosmic entities, Adam Warlock assembles a group to help him tend to the power of the Infinity Gems (and to keep watch over him, lest their influence corrupt him to become Magus… or worse). Drax nearly turns him down in favor of watching reruns of Alf on his satellite bachelor pad with Starfox (I’m not joking), but he is convinced to join.
This group includes Adam Warlock’s longtime allies Gamora and Pip, as well as Drax and Moondragon. Drax is often prominent in this run, and sometimes the lead character – as when Warlock is comatose in the wake of Infinity War. She ends the series seemingly realigned with her adoptive parent, Thanos.
#2-3 & 5-7: See Guide to Adam Warlock. He does not appear in issue #1, but it provides important context for the series. Then, he is a major driver of both conflict and comedy in issue #2, but he departs the team and appears only briefly in #3 & 5-6. Issue #7 establishes the team further and provides some more context for what he recalls from his prior incarnations. It ends with the kickoff of Infinity War.
Infinity War: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity War or Guide to Adam Warlock. Drax is mostly a background character in this event, except for when he briefly cooperates with Adam Warlock in #4. He continues appearing in Infinity Watch #7-8 & 11 through this event, though he is mostly just a bystander to Moondragon and Gamora’s interactions with Thanos in issue #8. Issue #11 is about Moondragon’s origins, so he appears there several times outside of current continuity. (He does not appear in issues #9-10, which focus on Gamora & Thanos respectively)
Click to expand a list of appearances in this event.
#12-13: See Guide to Adam Warlock. This are key, must-read issues for Drax! They explores his fractured memories of his original life as a human and adds more detail to his origins, as narrated by Moondragon. Oh, and he also squares off against the Hulk!
#14-15: See Guide to Adam Warlock. He only cameos in these issues, which are primarily focused on Gamora and Warlock.
Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection (1993) #1-4: See Guide to Adam Warlock or Guide to Silver Surfer. This mini-series is effectively Infinity Watch #15.1, as it features the entire cast. However, our Destroyer doesn’t have much to do (other than one particularly fun page in #3) and this is not significant for him.
#16-17: See Guide to Adam Warlock. Drax is prominent both comedically and in action in this two-issue arc.
Infinity Crusade: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Crusade or Guide to Adam Warlock. He continues appearing in Infinity Watch #18-21 through this event (but is not in #22, which focuses on Mole Man). He is mostly a background player throughout all of this event, most-active only in an epic battle against Thor in issue #21 (but not in Thor (1966) #466, which despite the cover appearance includes only a few splash pages of their fight).
Click to expand a list of appearances in this event.
Blood & Thunder: See Guide to Thor – The Odinson, as well as Guide to Adam Warlock. and Guide to Silver Surfer for collections of this direct crossover between their three titles (as well as Warlock Chronicles).
Blood and Thunder Reading Order: Thor #468 (no appearance), Silver Surfer (1987) #86 (no appearance), Warlock Chronicles (1993) #6, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #23 (no appearance), Thor #469, Silver Surfer (1987) #87, Warlock Chronicles (1993) #7, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #24, Thor #470, Silver Surfer (1987) #88, Warlock Chronicles (1993) #8, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25, Thor #471
#26-33: See Guide to Adam Warlock. Our Destroyer is active throughout, most-prominently in issue #32.
After #33: in Incredible Hulk (1968) #418 in a comedic moment at Rick Jones’ wedding, then in flashback to the wedding in Incredible Hulk (1968) Annual 20/1994 (4th story), then in the deep background of Monster Island in Silver Surfer (1987) #93-94, and finally in Silver Surfer (1987) #98 assisting Surfer in a space battle.
Secret Defenders (1993) #22-25: See Guide to Defenders. Drax joins this ad-hoc team for an arc of time shenanigans after being summoned by Doctor Druid in a montage in #22. Most of his action is in #23.
#34-42: See Guide to Adam Warlock. Our Destroyer is the main character in #34 and is prominent through #39. He appears in issues #40-42 as the watch dissolves, but the subsequent Cosmic Powers Unlimited story is more important for him than these final issues.
Cosmic Powers Unlimited (1995) #4 (2nd story): Not collected. This is Drax’s first ever featured solo story! It follows up on events in Infinity Watch #39-42 and focuses heavily on his relationship with Moondragon in his state of reduced memory and mental capacity… and seems to restore him to his former intellect.
After Infinity Watch and Cosmic Powers Unlimited, in Rune/Silver Surfer #1 & 1/2
Drax in Warlock (1998) #1-4
Drax is a headlining player in this series – he drives much of the plot development and could have easily shared the title with Warlock.
#1-4: See Guide to Adam Warlock
Drax in Captain Marvel (1999)
This is an inessential, brief run of a sub-plot in this Peter David Genis-Vel book. It begins with Drax seeking Moondragon’s aid (due to his re-reduced intellect) but it inadvertently leads him into conflict with Genis-Vel and to him journeying to the Microverse – where he meets future teammate Bug. Ultimately, there’s not much to read here – he spends his brief page time mostly just yelling at other characters
#3-7: See Guide to Captain Marvel – Genis-Vel (eventually).
#12 & 15-16: See Guide to Captain Marvel – Genis-Vel (eventually). Issue #12 is part of the Maximum Security event, but our Destroyer’s scenes are not significant to the event as he resolves his story in the Microverse.
In She-Hulk (2004) #8, he cameos as one of the heavyweights knocked out when Warlock and Gamora get caught up in an intergalactic fight club. This is briefly referenced in She-Hulk’s memory in a panel of She-Hulk (2004) #11.
Drax The Destroyer (2005) #1-4
We pick up this series with a reduced-intellect version of Drax trapped on a prison ship, where he has been stripped of his typical dramatic purple cape and closer to his eventual MCU look. He encounters a few old foes there and makes one new friend, which leads to an interesting story that tries to make some sense of his repeated resurrections as well as his fluctuating intellect and powers.
This series has a completely different tone than all past appearances, whether that’s his monologuing early days or his comedic relief in Infinity Watch.
#1-4: Drax the Destroyer: Earthfall (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-0785118060 / digital)
Also, see Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation. This title was the earliest of the lead-in series to the event and is typically collected alongside it.
Drax in Annihilation (2006) [various]
While the Destroyer (2005) mini-series was not bannered as part of Annihilation, ever since its publication it has been treated as if it was a formal part of the event and has been collected alongside the following issues.
Annihilation: Prologue (2006) #1: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation. This is a Drax solo issue for at least half of its length, bridging how he gets from his standalone mini-series into this event. It won’t make much sense unless you’ve ready the mini first.
Annihilation: Nova (2006) #1-4: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation. This title could’ve easily been called Nova & Drax, as Richard Rider teams up with our Destroyer out of necessity throughout the series.
Annihilation (2006) #1-6: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation. Our Destroyer is a lead character throughout every issue of this event except for appearing only briefly in #6, and is particularly active in issues #2 & 4.
Annihilation: Saga (2007) #1 recaps the event in anticipation of Annhilation Conquest. In Avengers Arena (2012) in flashback to this period in video and Cammi’s memory.
Drax in Nova (2007) & Annihilation Conquest (2008)
Drax turns up in Annihilation Conquest in a surprising role that I won’t spoil here. He is a support player in this run of Nova issues to Richard Rider and Gamora, which resolves in the final issue of the main event
Nova (2007) #6-7 & 9-12: See Guide to Nova or Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation Conquest.
Annihilation Conquest (2008) #6: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Annihilation Conquest. This resolves her story in this period.
Drax, founder of the Guardians of the Galaxy (2008)
Drax is one of the wide cast of Annihilation heroes recruited by Star-Lord and Mantis to form the founding line-up of the new Guardians of the Galaxy.
#1-6: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy.
#7, 9, 11-13, 15, 17: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy or Marvel Universe Events – War of Kings & Realm of Kings, as part of this run is often recollected along with that event. Our Destroyer departs the initial team due to revelations in #6 to go on his own side-quest with Quasar to pick up threads of his plot from Annihilation, as kicked off in scenes of #7 & 9. Then, #11-12 focus entirely on his plots, which leads him to rejoin the team in #13 & 15-17 (and show up on a page of War of Kings #3 between #13 & 13)
#19-25: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy or Marvel Universe Events – War of Kings & Realm of Kings, as part of this run is often recollected along with that event. Our Destroyer appears in a strategy meeting in Realm of Kings (2010) #1 between #19-20.
Drax in Thanos Imperative (2010) Ignition & #1-4
This series continues directly from the conclusion of Guardians of the Galaxy, with the recently (but no longer) deceased Thanos in custody of the Guardians. As you can imagine, our Destroyer is none too pleased with this development in a way that makes him a focal character this this series.
That allows authors Abnett & Lanning to merge his current plot threads with his origins as Thanos’s intended destroyer, but to also seemingly remove him from play (in a way that this series also does with several other characters).
Thanos Imperative (2010) Ignition & #1-4: See Guide to Thanos
Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #18-20: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. Despite a brief modern-day frame sequence, these issues are almost entirely set in the moments immediately following Thanos Imperative for Drax and several other characters. If the mystery of how Drax returns in the Guardians lineup in Avengers Assemble and in Marvel Now is going to bug you, just read this now rather than waiting 18 issues.
Drax and the Guardians Re-Assemble
The Guardians arrive to assist the Avengers in their struggle against Thanos at the close of issue #4. They’re nearly in their movie incarnation here, with the addition of Bug and no Groot to be found. This isn’t particularly significant for Drax, aside from the fact that it is the first time we see him interact with any Earth heroes since the 90s.
The Drax story in Guardians of The Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers (2013) #1 occurs here.
Avengers Assemble (2012) #4-8: See Guide to Avengers Flagships (2010 – Present Day)
Then, in stories later inserted prior to Marvel Now, in Deadpool vs. Thanos (2015) #1-2, Thanos vs. Hulk (2015) #1 & 4, Thanos Infinity Revelation (2014) OGN, Thanos Infinity Relativity (2015) OGN, Thanos: The Infinity Finale (2016) OGN.
Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) by Brian Bendis
Of all the Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax may be the character lines up the worst with his impending Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation in this Brian Bendis run. While Bendis adjusts Star-Lord by degrees to match his MCU counterpart, he hews closely to the established version of our Destroyer. Bendis makes him slightly less taciturn, but not as oblivious or literal as he is in the films – which is more of a nod to his 90s identity.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers (2013) #1: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. This recollects Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comic (2013) #1-4. Issue #1 focused on Drax.
#1-10: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
In issue #0.1, he appears silently at the end of the final present-day framing sequence that prefaces issue #1.
After #7: In Iron Man (2013) #16, with the team welcoming Iron Man back after his side quest. Then, in Revolutionary War: Omega (2014) #1, the Guardians are some of many heroes defending Earth. Also, in Nova (2013) at various prior points of continuity via Watcher’s memory.
The Trial of Jean Grey: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. A crossover in All-New X-Men (2013) #22 (no appearance), Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #11, ANXM #23, GotG #12, ANXM #24, GotG #13.
After Trial: in Silver Surfer (2014) #4 as a team-up with the Guardians (including Captain Marvel), then in flashbacks in Captain Marvel (2014) #2-3 that show one of her earliest run-ins with the team. Then in material from Free Comic Book Day 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy. Also, referenced in All-New X-Men (2013) #26
#14-17: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
After #17, briefly in Original Sin: Thor & Loki – The Tenth Realm (2014) #2 adventuring with Angela.
#18-20: See See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. Drax appears throughout the flashback scenes in these issues, but not in the present day framing until issue #20. (We later briefly glimpse Rider’s recollection of this sequence of events in Nova (2017) #6.)
In Legendary Star-Lord (2014) #4, in Rocket Raccoon (2014) #1 & 4-5 he cameos silently in the background with the team during Rocket’s adventures. Then, in Angela: Asgard’s Assassin (2015) #3-6 acting as Angela’s shuttle crew and in Guardians Team-Up (2015) #1-2 as part of massive cast in an Avengers team-up, and in #3 with Ronin, and finally in Legendary Star-Lord (2014) #5.
Annual 1 & #21-23: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
Black Vortex: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. A direct crossover, though chapters of each series were also collected on their own. He appears in Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha (2015) #1, Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #24, Legendary Star-Lord (2014) #9, All-New X-Men (2013) #38-39, Guardians Team-Up (2015) #3, Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #25, (not in Nova (2013) #28), Legendary Star-Lord #10, Cyclops (2014) #12, (not in Captain Marvel (2014) #14), Legendary Star-Lord (2014) #11, and Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Omega (2015) #1
During #24: In Nova (2013) Annual 1, Nova travels the universe to arrive in the opening scenes of Black Vortex on the final page, on which we glimpse the entire Guardians cast.
After Vortex: In Howard The Duck (2015) #2, saving Howard and Rocket from an intergalactic prison.
Guardians Team-Up (2015) #7: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. A featured 1:1 team-up with Ant-Man
#26-27: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. These issues are mostly focused on Star-Lord.
After Team-up #7: In Legendary Star-Lord (2014) #12
After #27: briefly in Avengers (2013) #42 as the Guardians are involved in an intergalactic assault, then in Guardians 3000 (2015) #6-8 in a time-travel plot to cross over with the future Guardians. Then, in loose continuity during Secret Wars (2015) #1 and Guardians of Knowhere (2015) #1-4
Also in this period: Avengers: No More Bullying (2015) #1, Guardians of the Galaxy: Best Story Ever (2015) #1, Marvel Super Hero Spectacular (2015) #1, Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket’s Powerful Plan (2016) #1 (a promotional comic set before Kitty Pryde joins the team).
Drax (2015) #1-11
Drax departs for this series from a mission with the Guardians where Kitty Pryde is Star-Lord and The Thing is in the cast. That means it must occur prior to the entire first arc of the post-Secret Wars version of Guardians. I think it is easiest to treat this as Drax’s first story in All-New, All-Different Marvel, since it has no other major connections to continuity other than an appearance by Fin Fang Foom.
#1-6: Vol. 1: The Galaxy’s Best Detective (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196624 / digital)
#6-11: Vol. 2: The Children’s Crusade (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196631 / digital)
Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) by Brian Bendis
& Guardians of Infinity (2016) #1-8
For Drax, Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) picks up exactly where it left off before Secret Wars as if nothing happened between here and there (including his solo series). After the first arc, the Guardians (but mostly just Drax, Rocket, & Groot) also star in a secondary title, Guardians of Infinity (2016) – penned by modern Guardians co-creator Dan Abnett.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #1-5: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy.
Prior to Guardians #1, in Guardians of Infinity (2016) #2 (2nd story), Howard The Duck (2016) #3-5, and Rocket Raccoon and Groot (2016) #1 & 3. Also, somewhere around this time, Groot (2015) #2 & 6 and an intro scene with the team in Venom: Space Knight (2016) #2
After #5: flashbacks in Star-Lord (2016) #8, then in Marvel Tsum Tsum (2016) #1
Guardians of Infinity (2016) #1-5 & 7-8: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy.
After #5 & Guardians of Infinity: Nova (2016) #8. Also, sometime prior to Civil War II, in a pair of continuity-lite promotional comics Guardians of the Galaxy: Hi-Tech Heroes (2017) #1 and Summer of Heroes (2017) #1
Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #8-13: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy.
Civil War II: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War II, and also Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. He appears in Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #12 concurrently with Civil War II (2016) #4-5, then appears in Civil War II (2016) #6, Guardians #13, and Civil War II #8.
#13-14: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
Monsters Unleashed: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Monsters Unleashed. He appears in Monsters Unleashed! (2017) #1, then Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #1.MU, then in Monsters Unleashed! (2017) #2-4
Likely after Guardians #13-14 and Monsters Unleashed: Venom (2016) #1
#16 & 19: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy: Dream On (2017) #1 & Mother Entropy (2017) #1-5
Marvel inserted a pair of Guardians limited series that fit prior to the launch of their next ongoing.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Dream On (2017) #1: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mother Entropy (2017) #1-5: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
After Entropy: a flashback in All-New Guardians of the Galaxy (2017) #7, then in Star-Lord (2016) Annual 1, and I Am Groot (2017) #1 & 5. Also likely during this intermission period, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout (2017) #1
All-New Guardians of the Galaxy (2017) by Gerry Duggan
Free Comic Book Day 2017, #1-2, 4-8, 10, & Annual 1: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. Technically, #7 fits between #1-2, but you should simply read them in release order. Only briefly in #5. Annual 1 occurs during Secret Empire, below.
All-New Wolverine (2016) #22-24: See Guide to Wolverine – X-23. This is a full Guardians team-up between issue #10 and Secret Empire (so, before Annual 1).
Secret Empire: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Empire. Guardians Annual 1 and Secret Empire (2017) #9 fits prior to Guardians #12.
#12 & #146-150: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. Only briefly in #146; implied by unseen in #147.
After #12 and prior to #146: in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015B) #28-30 as a recurring guest-star during a cosmic adventure. Also, in this period minor appearances in Web of Venom: Carnage Born (2018) #1, Web of Venom: Venom Unleashed (2019) #1. He makes a non-continuity cameo in Silver Surfer (2016) #13.
Guardians of the Galaxy in Infinity Countdown (2018) and Infinity Wars (2018)
Infinity Countdown (2018) #1-5: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy or Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Countdown & Infinity Wars. This is effectively an extension of the Guardians series and he appears throughout. Also appears in Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock (2018) #1.
After Infinity Countdown: Deadpool (2018) #1 (possibly before or during #5). Also, Free Comic Book Day (The Amazing Spider-Man / Guardians of the Galaxy) (2018) #1 contained a handbook-style narrative preview of Countdown and Wars.
Infinity Wars (2018) Prime & #1-2 & 4-6: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Countdown & Infinity Wars. Only briefly in Prime.
Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian (2018) #1: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Countdown & Infinity Wars. A critical issue for Drax!
Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) by Donny Cates
Drax is a focal point of the closing arc of this series, though not in a way you’d expect! While he is only referenced in #9-12, the arc begins in issue #7. Issue #12 is a pivotal one!
#7-12: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy
Also after this period in Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider (2019) #1 and Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda (2019) #8. Also in this period, a non-continuity appearance in History of the Marvel Universe (2019) #5-6, in a photo in Guardians of the Galaxy (2019) #1 and in Rocket’s memory in #8.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #1-18 by Al Ewing
Drax is a regular cast member in this run.
#1, 3-6, & 11-18: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy.
After this series: Venom (2018) #35, Captain Marvel (2019) #35-36, Fantastic Four (2018) #42, in cameo in Silver Surfer Rebirth (2022) #2, and in Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2022) #1. Also, In flashback to earlier continuity Lords of Empyre: Celestial Messiah (2020) #1 and in an continuity-lite appearance in It’s Jeff Infinity Comic (2022) #1.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) #1-10 & Annual 1 by Lanzing & Kelly
#1-10 & Annual 1: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. He also appears in a continuity-lite one-shot, Guardians of the Galaxy: Bane of Blastaar (2023) #1 in this period.
Also in this period in Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic (2022) #45 & 47-48 and continuity-lite appearances in Cosmo The Spacedog Infinity Comic (2023) #1 & 3-6 and Infinity Paws Infinity Comic (2024) #2 & 9
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[…] I’m back with the fourth in my impromptu mid-month run of guides to green heroes for all Patrons of CK. Did I have any inkling this grouping of four guides would all debut back-to-back, or that they would overlap with Saint Patrick’s day in the process? I wish I could say it was all intentional, but it certainly was not! This hero is the oldest of all the green heroes I’ve covered in the past week, he’s as deadly as Gamora, and he’s even had more transformations than those famous mutant turtles. It’s my new Guide to Drax the Destroyer! […]