The Guardians of the Galaxy just made it clear they're not even in the running. Not only are these heroes - who hail from the distant future - more powerful than the Avengers, but they have such unique superpowers that Hank Pym is forced to it he doesn't even know the for what they can do.

In The Ultimates #8 (Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee and Travis Lanham), Captain America's team meet the new Guardians of the Galaxy, made up of a new Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Ultimate Nullifier and Cosmo. Thanks to an initial misunderstanding, the Guardians and Ultimates throw down, leading the cosmic heroes to showcase a huge range of abilities. As the Guardians take down multiple heroes at once, Ant-Man bellows, "these guys have powers we don't even have names for."

The Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy Are Basically Gods

By the 61st Century, Superheroes Are Unimaginably Powerful

The issue showcases a handful of powers for these new heroes, including:

• Captain Marvel - Wields the Omni-Bands, which channel cosmic energy. Built an advanced spaceship while stranded in prehistory.
• Star-Lord - Telekinesis, control over fire and technology.
• Ultimate Nullifier - Partially intangible, fires N-Guns that can nullify anything he fully understands, including a charging Hulk. Personally killed Mephisto.
• Cosmo - God-tier telepathy, can extend senses across time, allowing him to smell and pursue individuals who are thousands of years in the past or future.

The team share their credentials, which include killing Mephisto, out-thinking the Celestials, and defeating 'the Ultron Dominion.' Fans of recent X-Men comics will recognize 'Dominion' as the term for a godlike AI which has transcended time and space. It took every mutant from the past, present and future unifying their powers to defeat the Dominion known as Enigma, but the Guardians reveal they achieved the same result by splitting themselves across time and space to fight in every moment simultaneously. What's more, the Guardians who fans meet this issue are just four of a 250,000-strong army.

The Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy Are Unbelievably Powerful

Their Heavy Hitters Make Thor Look Like an Insect

The new Guardians of the Galaxy are residents of Earth-6160 - a world whose timeline has been mangled and warped by the villainous Maker. The Maker's time travel didn't just rewrite the present of this reality - it also destroyed the utopian future of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Thankfully, the Guardians were so powerful that they sensed their timeline being rewritten, creating an impossible ship to escape. Sadly, the ship was eventually destroyed, scattering the Guardians across time and space.

However, fans do get to see the Guardians at the height of their power, and the team's true form is staggering. Not only are the Guardians part of a group who protect 400 millions worlds, but their heavy hitters include the Starbrand, Captain Universe, a younger version of the Molecule Man, a Phoenix-Force empowered Giraud and a new Infinity Gauntlet wielder named Gary. To put those names in context, Molecule Man is so powerful that he could destroy Galactus with a single thought.

Giraud is a classic Guardians of the Galaxy character - a telekinetic freedom fighter from the planet Haven who becomes the latest host of the Phoenix Force.

While the 61st Century has been destroyed by the Maker, the Guardians are so powerful that Star-Lord says they should be able to restore it, while also allowing the new version of the timeline to survive too. However, that will depend on Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Ultimate Nullifier and Cosmo finding and rescuing the other of their godlike superteam. The team end the issue on good with the Ultimates, agreeing to work together against the Maker in future. Hopefully, that time comes sooner rather than later, as fans need to see these Avengers-beating Guardians of the Galaxy again as soon as possible.

The Ultimates #8 is available now from Marvel Comics.