What Does Thanos In Avengers 2 Mean for Guardians of the Galaxy? (Spoilers)

Total speculation found below; however, if you are a Marvel Cosmic faithful - or really just a comic book fan - it's not surprising and makes complete sense.

Possible spoilers for the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

You. Are. Forewarned.

When news first hit about the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Marvel Cosmic fans had already had their two favorite Marvel comic books canceled about a year and a half prior, Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy. Of course, if you have been reading the Marvel comics you know why Nova was canceled, which was to make room for a new Kid Nova under the direction of Jeph Loeb.

But with a Guardians of the Galaxy movie underway - which, of course the Marvel comics execs knew about - why did they cancel the book? Especially seeing that the Guardians of the Galaxy movie is based on that canceled comic book.

While the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book is said to be getting a relaunch under Brian Michael Bendis, who recently brought them back in Avengers Assemble to less than stellar sales, why wouldn't Marvel just continue the 2008 comic book by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning?

Of course it could be that Marvel wants to give their buddy, Bendis, a credit on the Guardians of the Galaxy movie — or is it something else?

Was Marvel told something about what was planned for the Guardians - Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax The Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon and Groot - in the upcoming Marvel Studios Phase 2 movies?

While we can speculate on what was the exact cause of the cancelation, we do know it wasn't based on sales. So what then?

Cosmic Book News just exclusively released the news that Thanos would be appearing in both the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, in 2014, and then on to The Avengers 2 in 2015.

So what that says is: Thanos survives the Guardians of the Galaxy movie and goes on to be the major villain of The Avengers 2.

So what that really says is: The Guardians of the Galaxy do not survive the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

Yep, you read that right.

Most likely what will happen is a majority of the team will be killed off, save for Rocket Raccoon (currently being heavily hyped) as well as Star-Lord. The two of them will make their way to Earth to get help from the Avengers. Gamora, Drax The Destoyer and Groot will be killed off, with Groot regrowing in The Avengers 2 from a sprig, much the same way he does in the comics (also fan-fav).

More than likely The Avengers 2 will feature additional character(s) who will have a powerset to help defeat Thanos. Doctor Strange has already been rumored for Thor 2, and it was rumored that Marvel Studios had wanted the Silver Surfer and Galactus. In addition, Adam Warlock is rumored for the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, as well as his countepart, The Magus.

So basically the Guardians of the Galaxy are cannon fodder for The Avengers 2.

And Brian Michael Bendis will be doing the same with the new comic book.

I'll also say that this "theory" isn't mine, at least most of it, and leave it at that.

As a Marvel Cosmic fan are you surprised?

The Avengers 2 assembles May 1, 2015 with Iron Man 3 on May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, and the Guardians of the Galaxy movie on August 1, 2014.

Head on over to the Cosmic Book News The Avengers Movie Hub for more news, images and trailers.