Marvel Announces Rocket Raccoon And Groot Series

Marvel Comics has announced a new series starring everyone's favorite duo of intergalactic troublemakers. Rocket Raccoon and Groot will launch in December, from writer Skottie Young and artist Felipe Andrade.

Young previously wrote and drew a solo series starring Rocket, and he's itching to return to the character.

"The first time around, I started [ROCKET RACCOON] out with a four-issue story arc; I enjoyed doing that but also felt antsy to tell more stories," Young tells Marvel.com. "So after I finished the original story arc, I start writing more one and two-shots. I loved diving into new tales with each issue and really letting Rocket have some fun out in the galaxy. This time around, I'll be sticking with that formula the whole time—really just leaning into the shorter stories. I think this helps our book stay open for new readers, offers something a bit different than the other longer arc books from Marvel and will let me give Filipe a ton of different fun things to draw. We all win!"

While Groot was never far from Rocket's side during that first solo series, the change in title this time around is indicative of an expanded role for the character going forward.

"[Yes], there will be more Groot," Young vows. "Issue #5 of Rocket Raccoon was my favorite, and I'm already thinking on how to top that one."

The first Rocket and Groot story will riff on stories like Prison Break and Memento.

"Rocket Raccoon is a Big Bad Crime Lord, who is running a crime empire but has no memory of who he is or where he came from," Editor Jake Thomas says. "Groot will have a bunch of crazy symbols carved into his bark like tattoos that are clues to who Rocket is and what happened to him to turn him into this." He promises future arcs will tell self-contained stories that feature "crazy riffs on genre tropes, insane space adventure and snarky bad-guy whoopin'."

Check out Young's full cover for Rocket Raccoon and Groot #1 below, and watch for the issue to hit stands in December.