Guardians of the Galaxy

Have I ever told you about the time I was hanging out in a bar at a convention years and years ago and I was talking to a Marvel editor about how they should do something with Rocket Raccoon, and the editor told me that would never, ever happen? Well, it turns out there are no bad characters, only characters that haven't been turned into Funko Pop vinyl figures yet. Flash forward to late 2014, and Marvel just announced a sixth Guardians Of The Galaxy ongoing title. Turns out raccoons make big bank. The new book is called Guardians Team-Up, and it features Guardians, teaming up. Brian Michael Bendis will write and Art Adams will draw the first story, co-starring the Avengers. They will probably fight first. (The Guardians and the Avengers. Not Bendis and Adams.)

Cosplay always goes mainstream at Halloween, with the witch and ghost and vampire costumes of yesteryear making way on the streets, and at parties and bars, for the sort of pop culture costumes we're more used to seeing at conventions. These days, everyone wants to be Iron Man. But a lot of comic fans take pride in going the extra mile at Halloween, and nowhere is that more true than at Toronto's annual Snailoween Party, organized by local retailer Silver Snail Comics. Cosplay photographer Paul Hillier was on the scene to capture some of the finest outfits of the night, and he's agreed to let us share them here at ComicsAlliance.

As successful as 'Guardians of the Galaxy' was at the box-office (and, as the highest-grossing film of the year, it certainly was that), the film's iconic soundtrack was equally as successful. "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and is currently the 10th largest selling album of 2014. You've been able to buy the digital album, the CD, vinyl and even a "Deluxe Edition," but so far, no actual cassette like the mix tape in the film. But, that's all about to change.

Marvel is getting back into the cosmic book business with its next epic crossover event (between the current one and the one after, I mean); The Black Vortex. Announced at New York Comic-Con this past weekend, the event bring together the Guardians Of The Galaxy with all of Marvel's current outer space books -- plus increasingly frequent visitors the All-New X-Men. The event was devised by Legendary Star-Lord writer Sam Humphries, who also kicks things off with Black Vortex: Alpha in February, with art by Ed McGuinness. ComicsAlliance spoke to Humphries to find out more about the ancient artifact at the heart of the story that will pit heroes against heroes and spark up a different kind of space race.

Each weekday, ComicsAlliance brings you a carefully selected variety of links from around the web about comics and comics-related media, including movies, video games, toys, and whatever else might be worth noting. Quite frankly, these are items you may just need to know about to have a productive day. Take a look at today's hand-picked links after the jump.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy movie created new stars for Marvel, with solo titles spinning out for Rocket Raccoon, by Skottie Young, and Legendary Star-Lord, by Sam Humphries and Paco Medina. Much of the credit for tapping in to this corner of the Marvel Universe belongs to Nicole Perlman, the screenwriter who zeroed in on Guardians as a movie project and first saw its potential. Now Perlman gets another chance to play in the house that she helped to build. Marvel announced at the Women of Marvel panel at New York Comic-Con on Sunday that Perlman will write an ongoing Gamora series launching some time in spring 2015. Further details, including the artist for the project, have not been released.

Marvel is planning its first big cosmic event since the end of the Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning-penned Annihilation/War of Kings cycle that ran from 2006 to 2010. (Or last year's Infinity, if you count that, but that was all about Earth, so we don't.) Black Vortex will cross over between Guardians of the Galaxy, the space-bound All-New X-Men, Cyclops, Legendary Star-Lord, Nova, Captain Marvel, and more. Marvel also announced Operation S.I.N., by Kathryn Immonen and Rich Ellis, which serves as both a prequel of sorts to the recent Original Sin event and a tie-in to Marvel's Agent Carter TV show; and Kanan: The Last Padawan, a five issue mini series also written by Greg Weisman and illustrated by Pepe Larraz, tying in to the Star Wars: Rebels animated series.

Marvel Television has released the first teaser for its forthcoming Guardians Of The Galaxy animated series, set to air next year on the Disney XD channel. The clip introduces viewers to two of the animated cast -- Rocket Raccoon in gun-toting action, and Star-Lord offering up a taste of his best cocky swag -- and provides a taste of the show's fast-moving, neon-heavy animation style. The animated series was "announced" at New York Comic-Con on Friday (it's been announced at least twice previously, including at San Diego Comic-Con, but people have short memories for things they haven't see). No official launch date has been given, as the series is still in production.

It looks like the good folks over at Mondo have been on quite a tear lately when it comes to cornering the market on comic book themed vinyl records. Just a few months ago at San Diego's Comic-Con International, they put out a limited edition Batman: The Animated Series soundtrack, and now, they've announced that they're following that up with a collectible edition of the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Each weekday, ComicsAlliance brings you a carefully selected variety of links from around the web about comics and comics-related media, including movies, video games, toys, and whatever else might be worth noting. Quite frankly, these are items you may just need to know about to have a productive day. Take a look at today's hand-picked links after the jump.