Adam Warlock, The Magus, And More: Your Study Guide For Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

"The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is the upcoming and final installment in James Gunn's trilogy of space adventures for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Back in 2013, when the first official image from "Vol. 1" was released, it would not be unfair to say the general public expected very little from a movie starring a tree and a raccoon. Now, almost a decade later, the Guardians are staple of modern pop culture, not only appearing in their own projects but in most of Marvel's major crossovers events, a Disney+ miniseries, and a Christmas holiday special, too. 

Despite already possessing an extensive cinematic catalogue to draw from, Gunn's "Vol. 3" is set to introduce even more obscure characters and storylines from the comics onto the screen (Gunn does love his Z-listers). The sheer amount of information you're expected to process in order to appreciate the plot is going to be ... extreme. 

But that shouldn't necessarily deter you. Especially you, in fact, as you're the one who clicked on an article with the words "study guide" in the title. Welcome home you wonderful nerd! We've done our best to compile everything you need to know in preparation for "Vol. 3." We even have a couple of suggestions for further reading, just in case comics are your flavor of fun. 

Although not seen in the latest trailer for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," we know that the film will feature Cosmo the Spacedog (voiced by Maria Bakalova), a character who was officially introduced in "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" as the latest member of the Guardians. She technically appeared far earlier and far more briefly in Volumes 1 and 2. On the small chance that you missed her, in "Vol. 1," the poor puppy was held prisoner by the Collector (Benicio del Toro) as part of his, well, collection. That all changed when a certain infinity stone went nuclear. Don't worry, though, no CGI dogs were harmed in the making of this movie. In "Vol. 2," she's really just seen during the credits to remind everyone that there's a dog wearing a spacesuit hanging around. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't provided us with an origin for its version of Cosmo yet and, to be fair, the comics haven't done much better. On the page, Cosmo is the last surviving remnant of a bygone Soviet space program who possesses telekinetic abilities. Are her powers connected to the program? Who knows, we don't, because it's never explained. What is explained, however, is that Cosmo possesses a great mind and a rad job — the spacedog actually runs security for Knowhere, the decapitated floating head of a Celestial that so many call home. In the MCU, if Cosmo holds a similar position, it has yet to be revealed. The Guardians apparently bought Knowhere prior to the events depicted in James Gunn's Holiday Special, so maybe it's going to be a down-the-line sort of thing? 

Possibly the most highly anticipated addition to "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is that of Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), an on-again-off-again member of the Guardians. His inclusion was revealed during one of the end credit scenes of "Vol. 2" and, since then, TikTok has spent more than a little time marveling over Poulter's physical transformation in preparation for the role. No, we won't be hyperlinking to any of that. Use your imagination, ya filthy animals. Marvel's literal golden boy appears for a smattering of seconds in the latest trailer and he does not look pleased about it. Neither does Nebula (Karen Gillan).

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already strayed from a comics-accurate origin story for Adam. Oh, he's always a pod person but Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), who's typically the Mark Two to his Mark One, had no part in his creation. It's kind of difficult to play Dr. Frankenstein when you don't exist, yet. No, Adam was concocted by the Enclave, a group of scientists with a vicious urge to control the course of humanity's development. Unfortunately for them, Adam pulled a Mewtwo and came into the world with a conscience — a conscience but zero context for it. He figures it out, eventually.

By the way, notice that rock in Adam's forehead? In the comics, that's the soul stone, a gift from the High Evolutionary (more on him later). Between possessing an infinity stone and a regenerative cocoon, the latter of which resurrects him with additional powers to supplement whatever shortcoming led to his last death, Adam is an unparalleled cosmic force. Well, almost unparalleled ... there's always the Magus (more on him later, too). 

The latest trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" gave us our first look at Lady Lylla (rumored to be voiced by Lady Gaga), a sapient otter with whom Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) shares a deep affection. Her name appeared in "Vol. 1" on Rocket's rap sheet. Now, her inclusion, as well as James Gunn's reveal that "Vol. 3" will feature Rocket's origin story, seems to confirm that the upcoming film will take the Guardians to Halfworld, Lylla and Rocket's roboscaped home planet (more on that later). For now, let's focus on Lylla. Her origin is similar to Rocket's, but their subsequent life trajectories are where the real differences come into play. 

Lylla is a business heiress whose parents ran a massive toy company, which would be the perfect setup for a Hallmark film, were it not for the ensuing murder. Mommy and daddy Lylla were killed for profit by Judson Jakes, a sapient mole who really, really wanted to be the CEO of an empire in which he owned no claim. There's a few versions of what happens next, but the important thing to understand is that a bunch of greedy ne'er-do-wells attempt to marry her to legally steal her fortune. Typically, she marries Blackjack O'Hare (three guesses what sapient he is), a mercenary who does good from time to time but, uh, struggles.

Some versions of the story end with Rocket giving that marriage his blessing — he's rarely around, anyway — and others end with Lylla getting a divorce so that she can be with her favorite trash panda. Either way, we're hoping that James Gunn carved out some space for a fuzzy soap opera in "Vol. 3." Honestly, it would make our year. 

The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) made his first public appearance for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" at the 2022 San Diego Comic Con. Iwuji appeared in full costume, no doubt in a move designed by Marvel to mimic similar live appearances from Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the trickster god. While the High Evolutionary has never been the friendliest dude, that live appearance served to cement his presence in "Vol. 3" as a purely antagonistic force. How else are we supposed to interpret a threat of human dissection? More recently, TEV (his name takes too long to write out) appeared in the latest trailer for "Vol. 3," creepily observing someone in what we can only describe as a human hamster wheel, which leans pretty heavily into the whole mad scientist vibe.

In the comics, TEV started out as a dude named Herbert Wyndham doing weird science projects in his parent's basement. Eventually, his work in genetics expanded, resulting in his expulsion from Oxford University for being hilariously unethical. In fairness, he was close to success, so close that an Inhuman sought him out with the final puzzle piece to making his dreams of radical evolution possible. Cue the montage — Herbert moved his work to a remote mountain atop of a demon's eternal cage (no, seriously), created a race of animal-based humanoids called the New Men, then moved his work and his citadel (oh yeah, he made a citadel) to space, where he literally created a second earth to house his New Men. 

It's vitally important to understand how condensed that last paragraph is. Herbert got around. He fought, recruited, and even accidentally created heroes, all in the name of the belief that he alone could mold a better society, populated by better life. 

As far as we know, there's no official confirmation that "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" will feature the Magus. Sure, Marvel could be keeping him under wraps as part of some big reveal, but it's also possible that he's simply not in the movie. Besides, there are a million other characters to juggle in James Gunn's script anyway, and the Magus demands an exorbitant amount of exposition. At the very least, we'll know for certain in 2023. 

The Magus is a monstrous god worshipped by the Universal Church of Truth. His skin is chalky white — or a lovely lilac, depending on the artist — and his eyes are blood red beneath a shock of silver hair. He is quite literally demented, which is never a great descriptor for a deity. The Magus' power is so catastrophic that Adam Warlock required the aid of Thanos, the mad titan, to defeat him ... and even that was a near thing. While we don't know if he will appear in "Vol. 3," we know who will portray him, should the need arise, because the Magus is actually Adam Warlock himself. Twisty, right?

The Magus is Adam Warlock from a distant, possible future, after numerous regenerations and untold traumatic experiences. Like Adam, death isn't necessarily the end for the Magus, although at least one possible version of him was consumed by Adam's soul stone, which cut off his access to his variant of the regenerative cocoon. Remember how we said that this guy demands exorbitant exposition? He's a time-jumping, psychopathic serial killer hellbent on snuffing out his previous lives until they're embittered enough to become him. Then again, maybe he just likes killing.

James Gunn has long since confirmed that "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" will be the last film to feature the current roster for the Guardians. The lineup includes Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star Lord, Nebula, Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementief), Rocket Raccoon, Groot (Vin Diesel), and Cosmo the Spacedog. Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) is no longer a member, as the only surviving iteration of the character never underwent the emotional arc that convinced her to become a Guardian in the first place (more on her later). 

Now, Gunn's comments obviously come with a tinge of finality, especially since this will almost certainly be his last production with Marvel, but that doesn't inherently mean that characters will die. Sometimes, people get happy endings, or at least peaceful ones. Besides, the team is already changing, as the above roster proves. Whatever comes in "Vol. 3," it won't be totally unprecedented. The only real question is, then, how will the Guardians change? Will they evolve (haha), or disband?

Some are speculating that Rocket will bite the dust because the trailer seems to focus on him more than the others. Further, several cast members have hinted that "Vol. 3" is the end of the road for their characters or, at the very least, their present contracts, including Pratt, Bautista and Karen Gillan. Their potential departures (or deaths) could make room for new members, like Adam Warlock, or more room for older members, like Mantis, who "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" set up as having a greater storyline in "Vol. 3." 

The Gamora that audiences will see in "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" will not be the same Gamora they have grown accustomed to. The version of her that defied Ronin the Accuser (Lee Pace), fought Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russel), and inadvisably fell in love with Peter Quill, died at the hands of her adoptive father, Thanos (Josh Brolin), in "Avengers: Infinity War." What's left of her resides forever inside the soul stone, alongside Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansen), aka Black Widow. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has not clarified as to what that particular experience is like, so we're going to pretend that kicking it in the soul stone is kind of like having a permanent private paradise ... most other theories would make it a literal hell.

Sidestepping that theological nightmare, the reason that Gamora is still traipsing around the MCU post-mortem is because of time-travel shenanigans. This new Gamora comes from an earlier point on her own timeline, so she's missing the sweet, sweet character development that put an end to her days as a bloodthirsty assassin. Thanks to some footage shared at the 2022 San Diego Comic Con, we know that Gamora will return in "Vol. 3" as a new leader of the Ravagers, the same space pirate organization that employed the late Yondu (Michael Rooker) and still employs Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone). 

Based on comments from Zoe Saldaña, "Vol. 3" might be Gamora's last adventure. Like all of the actors mentioned previously, however, her comments are vague enough to not guarantee anything. With an air of finality looming over the film, will the new, older Gamora get a crash course in emotional growth, or will she be forced to endure death a second time? 

So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has nailed its portrayal of Rocket Raccoon. He's a gun toting, short fused, master pilot with a penchant for plotting and four letter words. The fact that he just happens to be a cybernetically enhanced space raccoon has not been addressed in any substantial way, not until the latest trailer for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," that is. As the trailer suggests, there once was a point in Rocket's life when he was a regular animal. 

In the comics, Rocket is the product of extensive delegation. On the planet that would later come to be known as Halfworld, humanoid aliens tended a sizeable population of clinically insane patients. When they lost their funding, the humanoid aliens cranked out a cast of robots to tend to the patients in their upcoming absence. Soon afterward, the robots got smacked with a massive dose of radiation from a nearby star going nova. Somehow, that radiation gifted them sentience and, with that sentience, they collectively agreed to abandon the medical field. The sentient robots gathered up the planet's animal life and performed deeply invasive and deeply traumatic genetic and cybernetic experiments upon them so that the animals could also gain sentience and subsequently take over care for the patients, which we should probably mention are called "Loonies" in the comics. 

Unlike the humanoid aliens, who immediately dipped after they created the robots, the robots simply moved to the other side of the planet and fashioned it to their liking, an action which would ultimately earn the planet its title of Halfworld. The animals handled their duty of care slightly better than those who came before but it wasn't the life for Rocket, who took his nonconsensual consciousness and bolted.  

This last bit is for all the folks out there who might enjoy a little comic exploration. Consider this your assigned reading in preparation for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." It's important to remember that everything suggested here will be functionally adjacent, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe enjoys taking liberties with the source material.

If you're interested in Cosmo the Spacedog, we recommend "Nova Vol. 4 #8, 9, & 10"  from 2007 and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 #1" from 2008. If you're interested in Adam Warlock and the Magus, Marvel recommends these issues as essential reading, including "Fantastic Four #67" from 1967 and "The Infinity Entity #1" from 2016. We extra recommend looking into "Warlock #1" from 1972 because James Gunn listed it as one of his favorite comics of all time back in 2017.  If you're interested in Rocket Raccoon, Lady Lylla, and Halfworld, we recommend "The Incredible Hulk #271" from 1982 and "Rocket Raccoon #1,2,3 & 4" from 1985. 

If you're interested in the The High Evolutionary, try out this comprehensive reading list, which includes "Thor #131 – 153" from 1966 and "Fantastic Four #164 176" from 1975. A word of caution ... good ol' Herbert wormed his way into almost every run of every comic, so be mindful of spoilers when clicking that last hyperlink. 

As of now, "Vol. 3" is set to release May 5th, 2023. Hopefully that gives you enough time to parse through all of your new homework!