Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has revealed Rocket Raccoon’s tragic backstory, detailing his painful past as a test subject of the villain High Evolutionary, who aimed to create the perfect hybrid between humans and animals. This tragic history includes the murder of Rocket’s closest friends, including the otter Lylla, the walrus Teefs, and the rabbit Floor.
Rocket’s backstory is presented powerfully on screen, evoking a range of emotions. However, compared to the original comic book source material, Marvel Studios has omitted many details that contribute to building the character of the Guardians’ beloved raccoon.
Rocket’s Home Planet: Halfworld
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Rocket’s “home” is depicted as a vast, desolate planet controlled by High Evolutionary. There, he was nurtured but ultimately seen as a failed experiment to be destroyed, leading to one of the film’s most heartbreaking moments.
In the comics, Rocket comes from Halfworld and has no connection to Counter-Earth. Halfworld is a half-organic, half-industrial planet located in the Keystone Quadrant. It can be considered the home of a group of anthropomorphic animals created to care for mentally ill patients, with Rocket serving as one of these beings for many decades until he had to flee and embark on wild adventures across the universe.
Rocket’s Collaboration with Hulk
Historically, Rocket Raccoon first appeared as a supporting character in the comic Incredible Hulk #271 by Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema, Bob Sharen, and Jim Novak. In this issue, Rocket collaborates with the Hulk after accidentally landing on Halfworld.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Rocket and Hulk first meet in the event Avengers: Infinity War, then later team up in Endgame. Alongside them, the two characters also help Ant-Man escape from a flooded quantum realm during the final battle against Thanos, although they have yet to face any challenges regarding their close friendship.
Frankie Fat Hands
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does not explicitly explain Rocket’s relationship with the creature Frankie Fat Hands. After escaping from High Evolutionary’s captivity, Rocket encountered Frankie, an extraterrestrial who later became a significant friend to Rocket. Frankie was the first to understand Rocket’s struggles, making it unfortunate that Marvel Studios did not explore this character in the emotional narrative of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Wal Rus
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 incorporates Rocket’s backstory through several flashbacks, including various test subjects like Lylla the otter, Floor the rabbit, and Teefs the walrus. While Lylla has existed in Marvel comics for many years, Floor and Teefs are original creations from James Gunn for his blockbuster. However, Teefs bears a strong resemblance to Wal Rus, Rocket’s first companion in the comics.
Wal Rus appears alongside Rocket in the comic Incredible Hulk #271. Similar to Teefs in the MCU, Wal Rus is a genetically modified creature with immense strength, metal limbs, laser capabilities, and a trunk-like arm. Wal Rus serves a significant role, and Rocket had many memorable encounters with him compared to Teefs.
Khevix and the Cuckoo Nest Facility
According to the comic Guardians of the Galaxy #8 by Donny Cates, Cory Smith, David Curiel, and Cory Petit, Rocket dedicated a significant amount of time in his past to look after Khevix at the Cuckoo Nest facility. Khevix, a patient, viewed Rocket as his close friend, and they shared many moments together before facing the threat of hostile robots and undergoing various cruel experiments.
This emotional storyline fits perfectly with Rocket’s tragic backstory in the MCU. The deep bond between Khevix and Rocket contrasts sharply with the cruelty inflicted by High Evolutionary, adding a layer of emotional depth that the film could have explored further. However, Marvel Studios decided not to delve into this detail.
Brainwashing Process
From the onset of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Rocket’s flashbacks are tinged with pain and sorrow. Rocket has always been a fiercely independent raccoon since enduring the first experiments by High Evolutionary. After sharing a heartfelt moment with another creature, Rocket’s memories come flooding back: “It hurts.”
Guardians of the Galaxy #8 revealed that Rocket’s awareness came after undergoing a series of traumatic experiments at Halfworld. The “scalpel” pain is palpable, as Rocket describes, while the animated version does not shy away from showing his past struggles. However, unlike his comic counterpart, Rocket’s experiences in the MCU seem to lack the richness of character development.
The Rakk ‘N’ Ruin Spaceship
Since Marvel Studios does not deeply explore Rocket’s life after escaping High Evolutionary until he joins the Guardians, the Rakk ‘N’ Ruin spaceship does not appear on screen. In the comics, Rocket and even Wal Rus often embarked on numerous thrilling adventures aboard this ship.
However, Rakk ‘N’ Ruin does not last long, and this is likely the reason why Marvel Studios decided not to include this vessel. Yet, if presented well, Rakk ‘N’ Ruin could have become one of the most iconic spaceships in the MCU.
The Toy War
Due to the needs of the inhabitants of Halfworld, their playful nature became an integral part of life there, and they also transformed into a major industry on this planet. Rocket Raccoon’s comic series by Bill Mantlo, Mike Mignola, Al Gordon, Christie Scheele, and Ken Bruzenak introduced readers to the Toy War, fought between two of the largest toy manufacturers in this area.
During this war, Rocket met and helped Lylla. Subsequently, both ventured out from Halfworld to embark on their personal adventures. However, Marvel Studios decided to integrate Lylla’s character into Rocket’s heartbreaking backstory while completely removing the entire Toy War from the film.
The Beginning of Rocket and Groot’s Friendship
When Peter Quill encounters Rocket and Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy, these two become a formidable duo in the galaxy’s underworld. Few realize that Rocket and Groot first met in prison, even sharing a cell together. Like many others, at first, Groot could not understand Rocket’s unique language, as he could only say “I am Groot.”
However, when witnessing Groot being captured by a group of soldiers, Rocket instinctively decided to protect his friend. As time progressed, their bond grew stronger, especially as Rocket began to understand Groot’s simple yet profound language. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 partially revisits this origin story through the characters Gamora and Groot.
Source: CBR
