T'Challa becomes Star-Lord in the What If..? animated series, providing fans with an intriguing new perspective on the character. Though no such analog exists in Marvel Comics, fans know that the character's history is rich and complex, holding many possible clues to the character's future both in live-action and animated entries in the MCU.

Star-Lord took a long and circuitous route to becoming an icon in the Marvel Universe, debuting in a magazine before transitioning into the comics proper. He only ed the Guardians of the Galaxy in the 21st century, leading to his meteoric rise in stature. But much more exists in the comics for the MCU to explore beyond his recent adventures.

Updated November 30, 2022, by Darby Harn:

Secret Wars crossover event, which more than likely influences the movie. His adventures in the multiverse could chart his future course in the next few years, especially with The Multiverse Saga unfolding across time and space in live-action.

He Started As A Space Cop

Star-Lord made his debut in the comics in Marvel Preview #4 in 1976, a magazine format comic book popular at the time. His first story presented him as essentially an intergalactic police officer who would go on a cosmic journey as envisioned by writer and co-creator Steve Englehart. That didn't happen, as Englehart left the title fairly quickly.

Comic book fans know the Guardians of the Galaxy shared no connection with Star-Lord originally. The original Guardians team debuted in 1969 in Marvel Super-Heroes #18. The character would not become associated with them until their reboot in Marvel continuity in the early 2000s.

His Father Isn't Ego

Ego the Living Planet counts among the most powerful Marvel cosmic beings and in the MCU, Peter Quill's father. In the comics, that's not the case. Quill still comes from power, though, as his father is an alien man named J'Son of Spartax. He served as the Emperor of the Spartoi Empire, a major intergalactic power akin to the Shi'ar.

J'Son crash-landed on Earth on his way back home and fell in love with Meredith Quill. He eventually left her and his son to return to his empire, which at the time was at war with the Kree.

He Is Far More Competent

Peter Quill stands among the most powerful heroes in the MCU, but he's often presented as somewhat immature and impulsive. The Star-Lord in the comics proves far more competent. Not only does he rate alongside the best martial artists in Marvel Comics, but he's also a brilliant tactician and strategist.

His special space suit also benefits him with superhuman strength and endurance, making him far more powerful than the live-action version, at least on the surface. The MCU version inherited some cosmic power from his father, Ego, though.

Master Of The Sun

Star-Lord gains vast power in the comics after fighting the Dark Olympians, becoming the Master of the Sun. The Dark Olympians include the most powerful Olympian gods in Marvel Comics and after Quill destroys a black hole they intended to unleash on innocents, he siphons their god-like power.

Quill uses this power to incredible effect, fighting Knull the Symbiote God and his infinite symbiote army when they invaded Earth in the King In Black crossover event. With Quill's cosmic potential in the MCU, it's possible that live-action explores this comic storyline.

The New Guardians Of The Galaxy

In the movies, Star-Lord helps form the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the comics, the team existed long before he ever became associated with them. He only ed the team in 2008 when the Guardians were reimagined after the epic Annihilation crossover event, which featured Annihilus invading from The Negative Zone.

The original team existed in what would become a dark, alternate future timeline in the comics and featured a different roster including Yondu, Vance Astro, and Charlie-27. The new team exists within Earth-616, the main Marvel Universe.

Secret Wars

Star-Lord significantly factors into the 2015 Secret Wars, among the most important Marvel Comics events. He counts among the few survivors after an incursion destroys Earth-616, the main Marvel Universe in the comics. He escapes along with other heroes including Mr. Fantastic, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and others in a life raft.

Doctor Strange scatters the heroes once they arrive, throwing them into harrowing adventures that the MCU likely explores to some degree given where the franchise is headed in Phases 5 and 6.

He Once Impersonated Steve Rogers

During another major Marvel crossover event, 2015's Secret Wars, Star-Lord impersonated Steve Rogers for a time. Peter Quill takes up Steve Rogers' persona to hide from God Emperor Doom, who rules Battlworld, the only surviving reality left in the multiverse.

While on Battleworld, Star-Lord faced off against a powerful Kitty Pryde variant from the Age of Apocalypse dystopian timeline. He also played an important role in Doom's ultimate defeat, allowing the multiverse to be reborn.

He Plays A Big Role In Civil War II

During the Civil War II crossover, Star-Lord and the Guardians of the Galaxy played a vital role. Captain Marvel enlisted them in her fight against Iron Man and his ers over whether to preemptively knock out superhuman threats.

The team arrives as a backup for Captain Marvel's forces when they're outnumbered and outgunned by Iron Man. This storyline could have bearing on the MCU if it's adapted for the screen, though the exact circumstances would have to be different.

He Got Engaged To Kitty Pryde

MCU fans know Gamora is Star-Lord's chief romantic interest in the movies, but he got engaged to Kitty Pryde for a long period in Marvel Comics. Their long-distance relationship eventually led her to him out in space and the Guardians, potentially signaling future MCU developments depending on how Pryde is introduced.

The two remained together until the cataclysmic events that occur in Civil War II. As the story ends, Kitty finds out that Star-Lord knew Thanos was alive and imprisoned on Earth, but lied about it. Before this, everyone believed Thanos was dead.

Star-Lady

When Peter Quill assumes the Spartoi throne in place of his father, he has to leave the Guardians of the Galaxy behind. In his place, Kitty takes on the name Star-Lord and leads the team. This development somewhat prefigures her role as a pirate in the current Marauders run in X-Men comics, where Kitty leads a roguish mutant squad.

The team gets stranded on Earth after Civil War II after their ship is destroyed. When it's repaired, Kitty decides to stay home, yielding the title and leadership of the team back to Peter Quill.