American Update: Anyone for seconds? Second appearances of Rocket Raccoon and Groot now available!
*Marvel: Breakout characters from the 2014 cinematic smash-hit, Guardians of the Galaxy, were Rocket Raccoon and Groot, the mis-matched buddies who inexplicably became the heart of the film. Each had made their first appearances many years prior – Rocket in Marvel Preview #7 as ‘Rocky Raccoon’ in a non-continuity back-up, and Groot as the Big-Panty-Monster in 1960’s Tales to Astonish #13. Oddly enough, however, both characters made their second appearances under the auspices of a certain Jade Giant: Hulk #271 co-starred Rocket Raccoon with Bruce Banner’s alter ego, and 1976’s Hulk Annual #5 brought Groot back, with a bunch of his BPM cohorts, to plague the Hulk in a seven-way monster tag-team. Each of these second appearances is new in this update. Our copy of Hulk #271 is VF- p at £50; Hulk Annual #5 is VG/FN at £25. With the popularity of the characters rocketing (sorry) after this year’s release of Guardians of the Galaxy 2, now would be a prudent time to pick these up; accept the word of one who knows.