Licensing Expo Brings Another Guardians of the Galaxy Cartoon Hint

In the past, Marvel staffers have hinted both at conventions and in print that a Guardians of the Galaxy animated series could be coming soon from Disney XD...and with a feature film based on the property in theaters in just six weeks, it looks like there's now solid evidence that it could happen.

The evidence in question? The photo above, taken at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas for Bleeding Cool.

Back in July, Marvel's Steve Wacker hinted at the possibility in the letter column of the Guardians comic book.

"I can't officially confirm that we spent a LOT of time talking about Guardians of the Galaxy at this animation summit, but wouldn't that HYPOTHETICALLY be…amazing?" Wacker said in Guardians of the Galaxy #4's back pages. "Seriously though, don't ask me about it because it totally didn't happen."

Wacker, then a Marvel editor, has since left the publishing side to work in TV.

The characters have already appeared on Ultimate Spider-Man, to a flurry of attention and even a Guardians-centric trailer, which also led some to believe that Disney XD and/or Marvel Television had long-term designs on the characters.

Equally interesting, arguably, is the fact that Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. does not appear on this poster, perhaps suggesting that the series will run its course after just one season and be replaced by Guardians.

Then again, the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. logo appeared elsewhere on Marvel promotional material at the Expo, so it could just be that Guardians is one of the three properties (along with Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors) that the company sees the most upside for promoting at the show.

With no immediate or announced plans for an Incredible Hulk movie, it makes sense if that's the case; all three of these franchises have feature films hitting theaters soon, along with well-liked, recent interpretations for Avengers and Spidey.