I'll tell you all something I've learned over the years with my friends. You can save the galaxy and take down scores. You can save millions of people by killing a few bad ones. You can do it all -- you just gotta tell yourself, and believe it when you say it -- "I'm the baddest mother @#$&#$% in the whole universe." 
- —Rocket Raccoon[src]
History
Origin
Centuries ago, a group of alien humanoids settled the largest planet in the Keystone Quadrant star system. They built a complex to house and treat the insane, recording their medical observations in a psychiatric diary. When the "Shrinks" funding was cut, they abandoned the project, but not before they created a staff of robot stewards to provide for the humanoids. They then separated the quadrant from the rest of the galaxy with an impenetrable force field.[4]
When a nearby star went nova, ensuing radiation gave sentience to the robots, who quickly chafed at the illogical directives of the humanoids, or "Loonies." Seeking to end their servitude, the robots used genetic engineering to give intelligence and awareness to the animals that had been left as companions for the patients. They charged the animals with the patients' care and protection, then relocated to the far side of the planet, which they proceeded to strip bare through industrial endeavors, one of which was construction of a vast, humanoid spacecraft called Ship. The half-industrial, half-verdant planet became known as "Halfworld."[4]
The animals continued to care for the humans, and the robots provided a lot of equipment, weapons, and parts for toys. The psychiatric diary left by the physicians (now known in legend as the "Shrinks") became an indecipherable icon called Gideon's Bible. Toys played an important part in Halfworld society as entertainment for the Loonies. Without toys, the Loonies lapsed into a deep melancholy, so the animals made certain nothing interrupted production. Two otters formed the first toy factory, and upon their death it was taken over by the mole Judson Jakes, who established his headquarters in the Spacewheel space station built by the tortoise Uncle Pyko. Pyko designed toys, weapons, an army of robots clowns, and the bat-like Drakillers.[4]
Ranger Days
Jakes' first attempt to steal Gideon's Bible, decipher its secrets, and turn them to profit was stopped by the Hulk. He had been transported to Halfworld by the energies released by the Galaxy Master and was met by Rocket Raccoon and Wal Rus. The Hulk decided that he liked these two critters and helped defend them against a powerful tank called a Robomower. The three of them fled into Rocket's space ship the Rakk 'n' Ruin and blasted off.
Rocket Raccoon explained to the Hulk that Halfworld is threatened by an insidious mole named Judson Jakes. Jakes sought to acquire the fabled Gideon's Bible, which he believed will enable him to conquer not only Halfworld, but the entire Keystone Quadrant. The Hulk agreed to help Rocket and Wal Rus safeguard Gideon's Bible from Judson Jakes' clutches.
Rocket Raccoon flew to the Cuckoo's Nest, where he discovered that Judson Jakes has not only stolen Gideon's Bible, but he has also kidnapped Rocket's girlfriend Lylla as well. The three boarded the ship once again and headed towards Judson's satellite headquarters, the Spacewheel.
While Rocket Raccoon desperately searched for Lylla, the Hulk had an encounter with Judson's chief scientist Uncle Pyko. Pyko knows that the Hulk's prodigious strength would give the opposition a great advantage, so he convinces the Hulk to return home to Earth. He provided the Hulk with the means to teleport his body back to his homeworld. Rocket Raccoon meanwhile got the drop on Judson Jakes. Although he failed to recover Gideon's Bible, he did succeed in rescuing Lylla.[5]
Toy War
Jakes' "Mayhem Makaniks" encountered its first competition when the serpentine Lord Dyvyne organized "Dyvynities, Inc." and forced Jakes from Spacewheel. Jakes retreated underground and a Toy War ensued. Both coveted the otter Lylla, who was legal heir to the toy empire and romantically involved with Rocket Raccoon.[6]
Rocket Raccoon opposed Jakes and Dyvyne and tried to end the war. The two joined forces in a mutual attempt to kill him, even as Pyko joined Rocket. Pyko, Lylla, Rocket, and his first mate, Wal Russ, took Gideon's Bible to the robots and presented it to the Head Robot, who combined the information contained in the volume with the robots' advanced technology to create helmets that would cure the Loonies. The four animals distributed the helmets.[7] A last assault by Jakes and Dyvyne was narrowly foiled by the animals, the robots, and the newly aware humanoids.[8]
The grateful humanoids began to plan the future, and offered Rocket, the other animals, and the robots positions as assistants and entertainers. Not interested in those roles, the animals and automatons entered Ship and launched an expedition to explore space and its many worlds.[9]
He was captured by the enigmatic alien, the Stranger, and were imprisoned in the Stranger's Labworld for the alien to study him. He remained there until freed by Overmind.[10]
When Rocket stopped by the planet Dandesh Four to refuel his ship, he saw an alien D'bari shapeshifting into a Xartan and realized the Xartans were hiding from the Skrulls by posing as the extinguished D’bari. Because of this discovery, the D'bari started fighting him. Rocket was doing fine until the arrival of Taryn O'Connell, a member of the Ovoid race, and the trucker-turned-space explorer Razorback distracted him and the D'bari Vuk used a petrifying gun on him.[11] When the planet was invaded by Skrulls, Vuk set his device to overload, threatening to petrify everything within 100,000 miles. This had the reverse effect on Rocket, who changed back to flesh and blood and got acquainted with She-Hulk.[12]
Phalanx Invasion
Later, Rocket Raccoon was held prisoner by the Kree on the planet Aladon Prime. Rocket claimed he was framed for the charges put against him.
On Aladon Prime, he was introduced to Peter Quill, the former Star-Lord, as one of the members of a strike commando team that Peter would lead against the Phalanx, who had taken over the Kree empire. The rest of the team included Bug, Deathcry, Mantis, Captain Universe, and Groot. Rocket was presented as the master tactician and the heavy weapons expert of the group. Rocket instantly formed a bond with Groot.
They were sent to Hala to destroy a bio-tech reproduction facility. They'd be attacked once in a while, but Rocket would prove to be a loyal and useful combatant and companion. They were soon attacked by the Phalanx. During the battle, Captain Universe killed Deathcry in an act of self defense, and Groot was killed as they were escaping. This saddened Rocket, as he considered Groot to be his "buddy" at this point.
A couple days later, while waiting for Quill to get back from a reconnaissance mission, Groot caught up with the team again, but now he was only as big as a twig. Just then, Quill arrived with the news that the Phalanx had already released the virus as a airborne nanovirus - meaning that everyone on the planet are slowly becoming infected. Suddenly, the Phalanx came out of nowhere and attacked the team, and they were forced to flee. They fled out into the open streets of Hala. There, Rocket, Quill, Bug and tiny Groot were captured, while Mantis and Captain Universe evaded capture. Later, imprisoned, Rocket was debating with the team what the Phalanx were going to do them. Rocket was betting on dissection. Mantis and Captain Universe eventually were able to bust them out of their prison cells, and gain more information on the virus. They made their escape, but were engaged by Kree soldiers. The Kree soldiers immediately disobeyed the Phalanx's orders of preventing their escape when they found out they were firing at the legendary Star-Lord. They gave the team their ship, and Rocket piloted it out of Hala to another Kree world, Alon-Gin. After a few days of recuperation, Rocket, a normal sized Groot, a powerless Captain Universe, and the others came to Quill ready for the next mission.[13]
A few days later, Rocket and the crew were back on Hala taking part of an anti-Phalanx resistance, that Quill was secretly leading. Rocket's plan to get Blastaar captured, tortured and killed by the Phalanx so that he could release spores inside the Babel Spire, the heart of the Phalanx's power, worked. Not long after, they entered the spire and started planting bombs around the place. Mantis then telephatically communicated to Rocket telling him that Quill had been captured and Captain Universe had been killed. He immediately came up with a plan with Groot that involved Mantis using her abilities to speed up Groot's growing abilities so that he could wrap himself around the spire. Once Groot had wrapped himself around the spire, Rocket, Mantis and Bug went to rescue Quill. They found the nearest balcony and jumped off it, as Groot detonated himself causing the entire spire to crumble. Back on the streets of Hala, they were attacked by the Phalanx's leader, Ultron (in the body of cosmic hero Adam Warlock). Ultron attacked and subdued Mantis, but before he could attack the rest of the team, Nova Prime, Gamora, and Drax the Destroyer came swooping in to save them. Quill's team's mission was now to get themselves out of the fight. Quill brought an unconscious Mantis while Rocket kept a tiny piece of Groot to plant later. They saw that the Phalanx were building another giant structure, which would turn out to be a giant version of Ultron. Before they had time to react, more cosmic powers arrived to defeat Ultron. Quasar and Adam Warlock finally managed to defeat Ultron, and the Kree empire was saved.
Rocket saw to the regrowth of Groot after the battle.[14]
Guardians of the Galaxy
Afterwards he joined Star-Lord's Guardians of the Galaxy, where he proved essential to holding the team together when Star-Lord's leadership was questioned.[15]
Return to Halfworld
After Star-Lord's supposed death, the Guardians disbanded and Rocket Raccoon got a job as a mail carrier for Timely Incorporated. After receiving a mysterious package filled with the same killer toy clowns from Halfworld, Rocket quit his job, taking one of the company's sentient shipping and packaging devices with him to quickly access an orbital weapons cache, and immediately set out to locate Groot. When the duo reached Halfworld, they were immediately fired upon and Rocket's ship was destroyed. After regaining his memories of the events that took place on Halfworld, and preventing the mind jumping Star Thief from merging with the organic core of Halfworld, Rocket and Groot vowed to continue to keep Star-Lord's Guardians alive.
Mojo TV
Rocket Raccoon and Groot are having a libation in a low-down dirty spacer bar in low-down dirty spacer space when they are accosted by a group of Badoon who attempt to arrest them for 'Crimes against the Royal Brotherhood'. A quick shootout ensues and Rocket creates an avenue of escape by shooting holes in the beer barrels causing the saloon patrons to stampede for the free beer. The duo make a hasty exit and are soon rocketing away when they find themselves pursued by Badoon Attack Cruisers. Rocket orders Groot to take evasive action while he goes to boost the stardrive to allow them to escape. He finds the stardrive compartment empty and the scene cuts to a shot of the surprised Rocket with a cliffhanger closing credits and Mojo proclaiming "Best Pilot Episode Ever!".[16]
They then find themselves staring at an empty compartment where a stardrive should be and questioning why they are hearing voices like suddenly their lives just got a narrator or something. Their ship blows up and they appear in space in combat space armor bewildered at what just happened and how they got there. They target their Badoon attackers forcing one of the pilots to eject. They squeeze into his craft and it begins to plummet to an ice planet below. Mojo calls for the scene to cut and hit the Bio-Stasis on his stars. He proceeds to plan for the next scene expecting to make enormous money on the show. In the background, Rocket's Timely Inc. Shipment Processing Device analyzes the situation and informs the duo they are caught up in an artificial dramatic construction. They blast through a wall realizing they are in a "Flarkin' TV Studio" and are confronted by a hologram of Mojo who opens fire with real weapons.[17]
Rocket Raccoon and Groot are transported to the Mojoverse by the inter-dimensional TV producer known as Mojo. He has decided to use the pair in his latest reality television show. He recruits various criminals that the heroes have fought in the past. He places the pair in scenarios were they would have to battle them again, however if an innocent life form was caught in the crossfire, they would be killed in the process. [18] As the duo moved from one scenario to another, Mojo began advertising action figures with a collection pack that allows buyers to assemble their own 12" Groot figure after collecting all five. The demand was so high, Mojo stand to make a fortune until the Timely Inc. Shipment Processing and Analysis Device decides to take control of the situation and holds a B-00-M Meson Beam Gun at Mojo's face. It allowed the reality system to stop just enough for the heroes to escape. They confront destroying Mojo who is revealed to be a robot controlled by Major Domo. In exchange for his life, Major Domo agreed to give Rocket and Groot a new starship along with weapons and riches to sweeten the deal.[19]
Thanos Returns
The Guardians followed the returned Thanos to Earth, where he and his own Zodiac fought the Avengers, when the Avengers returned to the Stark Tower after a battle, the Guardians of the Galaxy suddenly arrived offering help.[20]
The Guardians divulged that Earth was "off-limits" to all extraterrestrials, explaining Thanos's used Earthbound-agents in amassing items of power such as a man-crafted Cosmic Cube. The Guardians and the Avengers embarked in a journey through space to find Thanos.[21] The heroes were attacked by the Badoon, who were working for Thanos, after escaping a near-death experience, the heroes managed to defeat the enemies and found themselves against an intense light, revealed to be a massive the Cosmic Cube floating in space at the heart of an astral ghost of Thanos.[22]
Thor tried to defeat Thanos but is apparently killed along his team and the Guardians. In reality, they were sent to the Cancerverse, where they found the Elders of the Universe, supposedly killed by Thanos to impose his supremacy. There, Tony Stark found that Thanos' weapon wasn't actually a Cosmic Cube and that it had defects.[citation needed]
They bargained with the Collector, in exchange of a weapon capable of deactivating the "Cube" and return to Earth, the Avengers and the Guardians would let Thanos to be defeated by the Elders. With the help of other members of the Avengers, Thanos was defeated and sent to punishment by the Elders.[citation needed]
Due to his enormous help with the defeat of Thanos, Star-Lord personally offered Iron Man a spot in his team, which he gladly accepted.[citation needed]
Infinity Wars
During a meeting set up by Doctor Strange to discuss what to do with the Infinity Stones, Gamora appeared and took possession of all the stones so she could reunite with the piece of her soul trapped in the Soul Stone and to remake the universe. To prevent opposition, she folded the universe in half and then merged those halves together, forming Warp World and placed it inside the Soul Stone. Rocket was hiding inside Groot when this happened and trapped when Groot and Star-Lord were merged into the being Pete. Rocket was freed when Star-Lord and Groot were separated by Adam Warlock using the Infinity Stones. Rocket and his allies then fled from the Soul Stone through a portal but had to leave Drax behind so he could keep the portal open.[23]
Faithless
Rocket, Star-Lord, and Groot traveled together until Rocket discovered that the process that created him was reversing, causing him to slowly die. Not wanting his friends see his condition and wanting to die his own way, Rocket left for Halfworld without saying a world.[24] Rocket was watched over by Gamora so she could bury him when he died and to protect him from his enemies.[25]
When most of the Guardians of the Galaxy were captured a future version of the Universal Church of Truth that was led by J'son, the remaining members Groot and Moondragon went to see Rocket and convince him to help. Rocket reluctantly agreed and revealed a giant battlesuit he planned to use,[26] that doubled as a life-support system.
After convincing the young Magus to help him and the Guardians stop the Church, Rocket and his allies attacked the Church's ship where they were confronted by a horde of Drax clones and then a large contingent of brainwashed heroes and villains. Rocket and his allies were quickly overwhelmed, and Rocket's battlesuit was destroyed by Beta Ray Bill's Stormbreaker. Thinking that Rocket was dead, J'son sent the Guardians and Magus away. However, Rocket survived and was found by miniature clones of Groot. The Groot clones handed Rocket a weapon as Rocket prepared for a final desperate fight.[27]
Rocket managed to knock out the guards in the engine room and rework to use his engineering skills to reverse the engines' polarity and take control of the targeting systems. Rockets' efforts freed his allies from the Church's captivity while also turning their apathy weapon against them. Rocket and his allies fled the Church's temple using Lockjaw's teleportation power before it traveled back to its future time period. Rocket was then taken to Halfworld where he was successfully treated for his deterioration.[28]Attributes
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Powers
Raccoon Physiology: Rocket possesses the same enhanced abilities attributed to Earth raccoons, including an acute sense of smell and sharp eyesight.[4] A raccoon's brown coat mostly consists of dense underfur which insulates against cold weather.
- Raccoon Senses: Being a raccoon, many of Rocket's senses are heightened to levels well above human. He’s able to see much better than the average human and is extremely well adapted to near dark conditions. His enhanced sense of smell allows him to detect subtle changes in scents around him, enabling him to detect the approach of others and increasing his ability to operate in darkness. With his broad auditory range, he can perceive tones outside the range of the human ear as well as subtle sounds caused by vibrations on the ground. His hyper sensitive paws allow him to identify objects before touching them with vibrissae located above his claws.[4]
Enhanced Strength: Rocket is much stronger than a normal Earth raccoon. He is able to physically overpower people many times his size, and carry a weight of artillery weapons that only the average sized humanoid can normally use.[4]
Enhanced Durability: Rocket can survive damage that would normally be sufficient to kill an animal of his size, and injure a normal sized human.[4] He withstood getting thrown by Starhawk,[citation needed] and being shot with energy blasts fired by powerful beings such as an Ultron-possessed Adam Warlock.[citation needed]Abilities
Expert Marksman: Rocket is well-versed in the use of high-powered firearms, from all over the galaxy.[4]
Skilled Combatant: Rocket is a fair combatant as well as armed proficient fighter.[4]
Accomplished Tactician and Strategist: He is an instinctive tactical genius, though relatively inexperienced in that field. However, Star-Lord once told him, "You got the best tactical mind I ever met." He able to formulate battle strategies with his brilliant tactical sense and allows him to alter many strategies to fit the changing need of the situation.[4]
Pilot: Rocket is an accomplished starship pilot.[4]Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
Trivia
- Rocket once attempted to make "Blam! I murdered you!" his catchphrase.[29]
- Star-Lord once told Rocket: "You got the best tactical mind I ever met."[citation needed]
- Rocket is named after The Beatles song' "Rocky Raccoon" (which incidentally is also his nickname). The title of his canon debut in Incredible Hulk #271 is even a parody of the song's opening lyrics.
- As seen in Rocket Raccoon (Vol. 3) #3-4, Rocket wears tighty whities.
See Also
- 419 appearance(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 11 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 46 minor appearance(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 38 mention(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 4 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 922 image(s) of Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 67 quotation(s) by or about Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 2 victim(s) killed by Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
- 2 item(s) used/owned by Rocket Raccoon (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 3) #22
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #146
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy: Mother Entropy #2–3
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #9
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #271
- ↑ Rocket Raccoon #1
- ↑ Rocket Raccoon #2
- ↑ Rocket Raccoon #3
- ↑ Rocket Raccoon #4
- ↑ Quasar #15
- ↑ Sensational She-Hulk #45
- ↑ Sensational She-Hulk #46
- ↑ Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord #1–4
- ↑ Annihilation: Conquest #2–6
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 2) #1
- ↑ Annihilators: Earthfall #1
- ↑ Annihilators: Earthfall #2
- ↑ Annihilators: Earthfall #3
- ↑ Annihilators: Earthfall #4
- ↑ Avengers Assemble (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ Avengers Assemble (Vol. 2) #5
- ↑ Avengers Assemble (Vol. 2) #7
- ↑ Infinity Wars #1-6
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 5) #8
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 5) #4
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 5) #7–8
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 5) #9–11
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 5) #12
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol. 3) #8
- ↑ Marvel Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide #2
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 9