Star-Lord

"Peter Quill" redirects here. For other uses, see Peter Quill (disambiguation) and Star-Lord (disambiguation).
Star-Lord

Star-Lord (Peter Quill). Cover detail, Annihilation Conquest: Star-Lord #1 (Sept. 2007).
Art by Nic Klein.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Marvel Preview #4 (January 1976)
Created by Steve Englehart
Steve Gan
In-story information
Alter ego Peter Jason Quill
Species Human/Spartoi
Team affiliations Guardians of the Galaxy
United Front
Shi'ar Imperial Guard
Ship
Abilities Master strategist and problem solver
Skilled marksman and fencer
Use of element gun
Via suit:
Superhuman strength and durability
Flight
Ability to travel through space

Star-Lord (Peter Quill) is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Englehart and Steve Gan, the character first appeared in Marvel Preview #4 (Jan. 1976). The son of a human mother and alien father, Quill assumes the mantle of Star-Lord, an interplanetary policeman.

The character played a role in the crossover comic book storylines "Annihilation" (2006) and "Annihilation: Conquest" (2007), and became the leader of the space-based superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy in the 2008 relaunch of the comic of the same name. He has been featured in a variety of associated Marvel merchandise, including animated television series, toys, and trading cards. Chris Pratt portrays Peter Quill as the lead character in the 2014 live-action film Guardians of the Galaxy.

Publication history

The character first appeared in the black-and-white magazine publication Marvel Preview #4 (Jan 1976). Creator Steve Englehart had plans for the character that went unrealized. He later reflected on his website:

I conceived something very large. My hero would go from being an unpleasant, introverted jerk to the most cosmic being in the universe, and I would tie it into my then-new interest in astrology. After his earthbound beginning, his mind would be opened step by step, with a fast-action story on Mercury, a love story on Venus, a war story on Mars, and so on out to the edge of the solar system, and then beyond.

But – after his earthbound beginning, where I established him as an unpleasant, introverted jerk, I left Marvel, so no one ever saw what he was to become.[1]

Star-Lord continued to appear in Marvel Preview, with writer Chris Claremont revamping the character and using science fiction adventure stories like the Heinlein juveniles for inspiration.[2] Heinlein's lawyers threatened legal action over the cover to Marvel Preview #11, which featured a blurb that described the content as "a novel-length science fiction spectacular in the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein", leading to the issue being pulled and reprinted.[3] The story in #11 was the first teaming of the celebrated X-Men creative trio of writer Chris Claremont, penciller John Byrne, and inker Terry Austin. Star-Lord made sporadic appearances over the next few years in the titles Marvel Super Special,[4] Marvel Spotlight,[5][6][7] and Marvel Premiere.[8][9] In February 1982, a color reprint of the black-and-white Starlord story from Marvel Preview #11 was published with a new framing sequence by Claremont and artist Michael Golden.[10][11]

The character returned in Thanos #8–12 (May–Sept. 2004) and Annihilation #1-6 (2006). The following year, he received a four issue eponymous title (Annihilation: Conquest – Star-Lord) leading into the "Annihilation: Conquest" crossover storyline, in which he played a central role. Spinning out of "Annihilation: Conquest", a second volume of Guardians of the Galaxy featured a team of characters from the crossover who were led by Star-Lord for the duration of the title's 25-issue run. Plot lines from that series were concluded in the The Thanos Imperative mini-series.

Star-Lord returned, along with other members of the Guardians, in Avengers Assemble #4-8 (June–Oct. 2012). He stars in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, a part of the Marvel NOW! relaunch.[12]

In July 2014, Star-Lord received his own ongoing series, Legendary Star-Lord. The character was also given a new costume, matching that seen in the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy [13]

Fictional character biography

Peter Quill is born during an unusual astronomical phenomenon when many of the planets align. Seeing no resemblance, the man who believed he was Quill's father accuses his wife Meredith of infidelity and attempts to kill the infant, but dies of a sudden heart attack. Quill is raised by his single mother until she is killed by an alien when he is eleven.[14] Quill is placed in an orphanage but escapes and eventually becomes a trainee NASA astronaut. An alien entity called the Master of the Sun later visits the space station that Quill and other astronauts are inhabiting, and offers the mantle of Star-Lord (an interplanetary policeman) to a worthy candidate. Quill volunteers, but is rejected in favor of a colleague he once treated badly. Quill is outraged, and NASA orders his return to Earth and discharge for his conduct. Instead, he steals a scout ship, returns to the space station, and takes his colleague's place. Quill becomes Star-Lord, with the Master of the Sun first creating an illusion in which the character is able to find and kill the aliens that murdered his mother to free him of his past. Equipped with a sentient vessel called "Ship", Quill commences his role as Star-Lord.[14][15]

Years later, Star-Lord becomes involved in stopping a group of slavers who are destroying worlds. His efforts led him to discover a conspiracy to replace the emperor of the Spartoi Empire with his uncle, Prince Gareth. In order to thwart the takeover, Star-Lord travels to the imperial throneworld Sparta where he encounters and kills the alien who killed his mother. Star-Lord then meets Emperor Jason who reveals that he is Peter's father. Jason explains that he had crashed on Earth decades earlier and been rescued by Meredith Quill. During the year that he had spent repairing his ship, Jason and Meredith fell in love. When it came time to leave, Jason, for Meredith's safety, had placed a mindlock on her memories of him, causing her to remember their year together as only a dream.[2][15]

This origin was later retconned and the astronomical phenomena and murderous not-father were removed. Instead, J'son of Spartax - an alien with a human appearance - crashes on Earth and strikes up a relationship with Meredith. A short time later, he leaves Meredith pregnant with his child and with his gun for safekeeping. Ten years later, Meredith is killed by members of the alien race known as the Badoon. Peter kills both assassins with a single shotgun blast, then finds the alien gun in his mother's closet. Realizing that the alien ship is about to attack, Peter gets out of the house just before it is destroyed. Believing that they have killed their target, the alien ship leaves. After being found by the authorities, who believe the Quill house was destroyed by a gas leak explosion, Peter is taken to a hospital where a nurse brings him the only thing that survived the explosion, his "space toy", which is J'son's gun.[16]

The character encounters the former Herald of Galactus, the Fallen One, and is almost killed defeating the entity, and in addition Star-Lord's vessel "Ship" is destroyed in the conflict. The pair are subsequently imprisoned in the intergalactic prison the Kyln.[17][18][19][20][21] Star-Lord is freed by the hero Nova during the "Annihilation War" storyline and aids in the war against villain Annihilus.[22][23][24][25][26][27] Quill later acts as military adviser to the Kree general Ronan the Accuser.

When the Kree homeworld of Hala is conquered by the Phalanx, Star-Lord leads a band of rebels against the invaders until the war is over.[28][29][30][31] In an effort to prevent another interstellar war, Star-Lord forms a new version of the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are "proactive" and try to end emerging galactic threats early.[32]

During the war with the Cancerverse, Star-Lord sacrifices his life to stop Thanos.[33]

Thanos and the Cancerverse

"They Will Not Be Forgotten" Once again in Project PEGASUS, Nova was faced with a doppelganger Quasar from a twisted reality dubbed the Cancerverse within the Fault who attempted to assist his brethren in invading the "prime reality" through a gateway found in the institution. Nova shut down the gateway and pursued the fake Quasar into space where a massive war was already in progress between the forces of the "prime reality" and that of the Cancerverse. The mad titan Thanos had been previously resurrected and was thought to be the only hope to defeat the Cancerverse, so he and the Guardians of the Galaxy went into the Fault to find a way to defeat the invading reality. Nova soon followed after rescuing a kidnapped Namorita from the Revengers – a distorted version of the Avengers. He assisted Star-Lord in detaining an enraged Thanos from escaping back into the "prime reality" with the intention of destroying everything after Mistress Death again rejected him, even after Thanos eradicated an entire reality for her. Nova remained with Star-Lord until the Cancerverse imploded and the Fault was sealed in the process, seemingly killing them all.

Despite this, he later reappears with a new Guardians line-up on Earth to aid the Avengers against the returned Thanos.[34][35][36][37][38][39] After this, Star-Lord and his new team of Guardians engage in conflicts with the Badoon.[40][41][42][43]

Powers and abilities

Star-Lord is a master strategist and problem solver who is an expert in close-quarter combat, various human and alien firearms, and battle techniques. He has extensive knowledge of various alien customs, societies, and cultures, and considerable knowledge about cosmic abstracts, such as Oblivion.

As Star-Lord, Peter Quill wears a suit that grants augmented strength and durability and the ability to travel through space. The character uses an "Element Gun", a special meta-pistol capable of projecting one of the four elements (air, earth, fire and water). Star-Lord shares a psychic link with his sentient space vessel, "Ship".

"Ship" is actually a sentient energy form. She most often exists in the form of a starship, but can alter her structure at will. She can travel through air, space and water. She possesses many of the conventional starship accessories, including shields, energy blasters, advanced sensors, replicators (able to form any kind of food, drink, etc.), and hologram projectors. She has proven capable of creating a human form, which she can then animate and use as a host. Even if completely destroyed, she is capable of restoring herself, since her true form is her consciousness. In addition, she takes on a number of feminine characteristics, such as a mothering instinct for those she is partnered with. She has felt deeper attachments, including love for her partners.

"Ship" can create Widgets—small, mobile droids able to scout out situations, gather information, and then return to her. The full extent of "Ship's" abilities are unknown.

During Star-Lord's battle with The Fallen One, his Element Gun, suit and "Ship" were destroyed. Due to severe injury he was grafted with cybernetic implants by doctors on the Kyln, where he was sentenced. The eye implant allows him to see all energy spectra and the memory chip in his brain gives him 100% total recall.

On the Kree world of Aladon Prime, Star-Lord's cybernetic implants were removed. Star-Lord was outfitted with a Kree-issued heat-dampening espionage battle-suit, which became the hallmark look for the Guardians of the Galaxy, a battle helmet, and a universal translator, all of which he still uses. His battle helmet can analyze strategy data, improve vision, and regulate oxygen in space.

Star-Lord's chosen weapons are two Kree sub-machine guns with various types of ammunition, including explosives.

Other characters named Star-Lord

A three-issue limited series, titled Starlord, featured a man named Sinjin Quarrel adopting the identity 12 years after the disappearance of the original Star-Lord (Quill).[44] The series, published from December 1996 to February 1997, was written by Timothy Zahn, with art by Dan Lawlis.[45] Where the events depicted in this miniseries fit into Peter Quill's chronology has never been revealed.

Other versions

During the "Age of Ultron" storyline, Wolverine and Susan Storm accidentally create an alternate timeline after traveling back in time and assassinating Hank Pym before he can create Ultron. In the new reality, Star-Lord is seen as a member of the Defenders, who have replaced the defunct Avengers as the world's premier superhero team.[46]

In other media

Television

Film

Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in a character poster for the 2014 film, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Video games

Toys

Collected editions

References

  1. ↑ Englehart, Steve (n.d.). "Star-Lord". SteveEnglehart.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Claremont, Chris (w), Byrne, John (p), Austin, Terry (i). "Star-Lord" Marvel Preview 11 (Summer 1977)
  3. ↑ Cronin, Brian (February 12, 2009). "Comic Book Legends Revealed #194". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2013. Heinlein’s lawyers contacted Marvel and a new printing was done and the text was removed. In fact, relatively few copies of Marvel Preview #11 exist with the original text.
  4. ↑ Moench, Doug (w), Colan, Gene (p), Palmer, Tom (i). "World In a Bottle" Marvel Super Special 10 (Winter 1979)
  5. ↑ Moench, Doug (w), Sutton, Tom (p), Sutton, Tom (i). "The Saga of Star-Lord" Marvel Spotlight v2, 6 (May 1980)
  6. ↑ Moench, Doug (w), Sutton, Tom (p), Sutton, Tom (i). "Tears for the World Called Heaven" Marvel Spotlight v2, 7 (July 1980)
  7. ↑ Buttery, Jarrod (April 2014). "Ready for the Spotlight". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (71): 12.
  8. ↑ Moench, Doug (w), Sutton, Tom (p), Sutton, Tom (i). "Planet Story" Marvel Premiere 61 (August 1981)
  9. ↑ Brennaman, Chris (April 2014). "Marvel Premiere". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (71): 32.
  10. ↑ Catron, Michael (August 1981). "Marvel Sets Release Dates for New Graphic Albums". Amazing Heroes (Fantagraphics Books) (3): 14.
  11. ↑ Starlord, The Special Edition at the Grand Comics Database
  12. ↑ Richards, Dave (October 14, 2012). "NYCC: Bendis, McNiven & Wacker Relaunch the Guardians of the Galaxy". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Legendary Star-Lord (2014)#1". Marvel. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Englehart, Steve (w), Gan, Steve; McLeod, Bob (p), Gan, Steve; McLeod, Bob (i). "Starlord First House: Earth!" Marvel Preview 4 (January 1976)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Christiansen, Jeff (March 7, 2014). "Star-Lord (Peter Quill)". Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014.
  16. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), McNiven, Steve (p), Dell, John (i). Guardians of the Galaxy v3, 0.1 (April 2013)
  17. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Lim, Ron (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "Dark Alliances" Thanos 8 (May 2004)
  18. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Lim, Ron (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "Divine Madness" Thanos 9 (June 2004)
  19. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Lim, Ron (p), Milgrom, Al (i). Thanos 10 (July 2004)
  20. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Lim, Ron (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "The Fallen" Thanos 11 (August 2004)
  21. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Lim, Ron (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "Crescendo" Thanos 12 (September 2004)
  22. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Blood and Thunder" Annihilation 1 (October 2006)
  23. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Nice Try, Drax" Annihilation 2 (November 2006)
  24. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Desperate Measures" Annihilation 3 (December 2006)
  25. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Revelation" Annihilation 4 (January 2007)
  26. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Ascension" Annihilation 5 (February 2007)
  27. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Di Vito, Andrea (p), Di Vito, Andrea (i). "Finale" Annihilation 6 (March 2007)
  28. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Green II, Timothy (p), Olazaba, Victor (i). "Starlord Part 1" Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord 1 (September 2007)
  29. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Green II, Timothy (p), Olazaba, Victor (i). "Starlord Part 2" Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord 2 (October 2007)
  30. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Green II, Timothy (p), Olazaba, Victor (i). "Starlord Part 3" Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord 3 (November 2007)
  31. ↑ Giffen, Keith (w), Green II, Timothy (p), Olazaba, Victor (i). "Starlord Part 4" Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord 4 (December 2007)
  32. ↑ Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (w), Pelletier, Paul (p), Magyar, Rick (i). "Somebody's Got to Do It" Guardians of the Galaxy v2, 1 (July 2008)
  33. ↑ Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (w), Sepulveda, Miguel (p), Sepulveda, Miguel (i). "The site of the necropsy rite, The Cancerverse" The Thanos Imperative 6 (January 2011)
  34. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "Hear me, Zodiac" Avengers Assemble 3 (July 2012)
  35. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "Thanos, I am Thor, son of Odin, prince of Asgard" Avengers Assemble 4 (August 2012)
  36. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "Great job, Quill!" Avengers Assemble 5 (September 2012)
  37. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "Uh, excuse me, Avengers?" Avengers Assemble 6 (October 2012)
  38. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "I know your type hates surprises, so you'll forgive the intrusion..." Avengers Assemble 7 (November 2012)
  39. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p), Miki, Danny (i). "Okay... I'm game... what do we do?" Avengers Assemble 8 (December 2012)
  40. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), McNiven, Steve (p), Dell, John (i). "What exactly do you think you're doing, Mister Quill?" Guardians of the Galaxy v3, 1 (May 2013)
  41. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), McNiven, Steve; Pichelli, Sara (p), Dell, John; Morales, Mark; McNiven, Steve; Pichelli, Sara (i). "Well, Hell! Gamora, get the Avengers on the line!!" Guardians of the Galaxy v3, 2 (June 2013)
  42. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), McNiven, Steve; Pichelli, Sara (p), Dell, John; McNiven, Steve; Pichelli, Sara (i). "My King. I have clear word from the Royal Guard's Earth Planet Initative [sic]" Guardians of the Galaxy v3, 3 (August 2013)
  43. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Pichelli, Sara (p), Pichelli, Sara (i). "Huuaarrgghh! Did I tell you?!" Guardians of the Galaxy v3, 4 (August 2013)
  44. ↑ Christiansen, Jeff (September 18, 2002). "Starlord (Sinjin Quarrel)". Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013.
  45. ↑ Starlord at the Grand Comics Database
  46. ↑ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Peterson, Brandon; Pacheco, Carlos (p), Peterson, Brandon; Martinez, Roger (i). Age of Ultron 7 (July 2013)
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Arbeiter, Michael (August 1, 2014). "Other Films and TV Shows Where You Can Find the Guardians of the Galaxy". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014.
  48. ↑ Hunsaker, Andy (April 29, 2011). "DVD Review: Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Vol. 1 & 2". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  49. ↑ Melching, Steven (writer); Archibald, Patrick (director) (July 6, 2014). "It's a Wonderful Smash". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 1. Episode 26. Disney XD.
  50. ↑ https://twitter.com/DisneyChannelPR/status/568100373510008832
  51. ↑ Radtke, Chris (February 1, 2010). "Planet Hulk is Loaded With Random Marvel Universe Cameos". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  52. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (February 5, 2013). "Chris Pratt Getting Guardians Of The Galaxy Lead". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Marvel Costume Kit 5". Sony. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  54. ↑ "First Full Look At Star Lord In Lego Marvel Super Heroes". Comicbookmovie.com. October 18, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.

External links