How Avengers: Infinity War Is Basically Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

If anything, Rocket’s growth from angry trash panda to a part of the family is truly played out throughout Infinity War. After the events of Vol. 2, he’s allowed to express himself and do the right thing in a way we’ve never really experienced from him. Instead of opening with him stealing batteries, we’re shown the team working together to answer a distress signal. Instead of being a destructive megalomaniac, he helps Thor unconditionally - and doesn’t take anything from a weapons forge designed to build God-wielding tools of death, his favourite thing!

As for the ending, the deaths of the Guardians of the Galaxy are some of the most heartbreaking of the cull. It’s not the same as characters who’s mantle can be taken on by new heroes. Where Black Panther is a rite of passage, and costumes such as Spiderman and Captain America can be passed on, the Guardians remain entirely their own creations - irreplaceable in their unique abilities. That’s not to say it wasn’t crushingly devastating seeing T’Challa and Peter Parker bite the dust, or rather, become the dust; but as superheros go, we know their personas can be continued through their suits. In comparison, Groot and Gamora are the very last of their kind, and Rocket and Starlord are genetically unique. There is no replacement.

So what does all this mean? Recapping the events of Infinity War is one thing, and reveals the weight of the Guardians of the Galaxy within the film - to the point that the latest Marvel movie hits all the beats of a standalone film encapsulated in an Avengers shell.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is reliant on the events of the Avengers movies, but should be able to prop itself up within its own timeline - meaning the deaths of all but Rocket will definitely be reversed. There’s no way they’ll be able to salvage a movie without its key audience-drawing characters, or have time to set up new ones in Avengers 4 when they’ll be dealing with the aftermath of Thanos’s actions. If we look outside the movies, James Gunn has already confirmed Mantis will be in Vol. 3 - enough clue that the rest will be coming back with her. I don’t think anyone wants a Mantis-lead GotG.

For one step further, if we go totally literal, then the introductory song of The Rubberband Man in the GotG’s first appearance is a strong indicator that they’re going to ‘bounce right back’.

Now Dr. Strange is dead and the time stone has been turned into a glorified glove buckle, the only person that can fix the timeline and bring people back, just like with Vision, is Thanos. What on earth would make him want to do that after he’s just completed his life goal? Simply put: Gamora.