Tales To Astonish
Tales To Astonish began as one of Marvel/Atlas's 'mystery' titles, but later in the early to mid-1960's developed into a popular
anthology title featuring the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner, whose stories got equal time in the book. They were all yelling the names of classic Kirby monsters. What got me was the things they were yelling. Here's the breakdown: the 1999 annuals from DC were a very nice homage to the Silver Age, utilizing two mainstays of that olden time: gorillas and weird transformations. Big thanks to MD Carter for allowing me to borrow images from his website, The Monsters of Jack Kirby. The scenes of Leslie and Alice witnessing the arrival of Groot were homaged by John Byrne in his Gormuu story. Possibly the mental giants co-habit with living trees. Groot was among the classic Marvel monsters seen menacing a young Peter Parker in his dreams during Sensational Spider-Man#-1. A duplicate of Groot was created by Xemnu in Incredible Hulk Annual#5. The Guardians managed to retrieve Star-Lord with his ally Jack Flag and returned to Knowhere.
The Guardians were guided by a telepathic message sent to Mantis by Star-Lord to the Negative Zone, where Star-Lord was under siege at Prison 42 by the forces of Blastaar. Groot and Rocket Raccoon met with the Kree ambassador of Knowhere for help, but although Groot proclaimed "I am Groot. The team went into the field to Benthus Colony to oppose an army of the Badoon's Zom Brigade soldiers. Finally regrown in size, Groot joined a revamped Guardians led by Rocket Raccoon and including Bug, Mantis and Major Victory. Groot observed the others as they reacted to the discovery of Skrulls within Knowhere. As Mantis escorted Major Victory through the Guardians' base at Knowhere she paused to water Groot when suddenly Starhawk materialized and assaulted Major Victory. As Rocket Raccoon floated various names for the team, the miniscule Groot suggested "Groot and branches." They went with Guardians of the Galaxy instead. Now reborn in a tiny sprig body, Groot went to a bar in downtown Hala with Rocket Raccoon when they were approached by Star-Lord, who recruited Rocket Raccoon into his new team.
Later, Rocket Raccoon began to tend the sprig Groot had given him, awaiting his friend's rebirth. After Rocket Raccoon, Mantis, Bug and Star-Lord escaped the facility, Groot was engulfed in flames, bringing down the Babel Spire. Groot gave one of his cuttings so that he could be regenerated later. Groot and Rocket Raccoon conceived a plan to destroy the Babel Spire; Groot would turbo-boost his cellular growth until his form swamped the spire, altering his sap to become especially flameable; Mantis would then light him on fire to destroy the Spire. When Star-Lord was unexpectedly captured by Ultron, Rocket Raccoon and Groot were told to come up with a new plan. Continuing their mission on Hala, Groot accompanied Rocket Raccoon as they stole their way into the sub-basement of the Babel Spire. Groot and the team returned to Hala, and prepared for another strike against the Phalanx, this time employing Blastaar as an agent so that he could carry pollen spores from Groot when he was captured by the Phalanx and brought to their Babel Spire. The team were able to escape back to the lines of the Kree resistance, and before long Groot had regrown his entire body. Groot and the others were released by Mantis and eventually met back up with Captain Universe, who had found a countermeasure for the Phalanx weapon. The miniature Groot accompanied the team on their continued mission against the Phalanx, but with Bug, Rocket Raccoon and Starlord, was eventually apprehended by the Phalanx and taken prisoner.
When he demanded that Rocket Raccoon provide him with moisture, Rocket Raccoon responded by spitting on him. He regrouped with Starlord's team, and now took to riding upon Rocket Raccoon's shoulder. Groot miraculously survived the battle as one of his splinters which had been broken free, and now possessed his consciousness. Rocket Raccoon was upset by the apparent death of his friend. Knowing that he could not fit to follow the others, Groot helped Rocket Raccoon and Captain Universe to the pipe, and continued to battle Phalanx defenses, intending to meet a glorious death in combat which would befit one of his stature. Following Deathcry's death, the team sought to escape through a drainage pipe. Starlord's team arrived at their target, Hala, and fought their way through Phalanx security until running into a squad of Annihilation Wave soldiers whose hazardous combat brought down a significant number of Phalanx forces.