WATCH: Donny Cates previews the new Guardians of the Galaxy

Earlier this week, Marvel relaunched Guardians of the Galaxy with a brand-new series by writer Donny Cates and artist Geoff Shaw. The cover for the first issue hinted at a powerhouse team unlike any previous incarnation. However, that was just a bit of misdirection for the real lineup that emerged. Shortly before the issue was released, SYFY WIRE spoke to Cates about his plans for the book, and a villain’s ultimate revenge from beyond the grave.

**SPOILER WARNING: There are spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy #1 below!**

Thanos was killed off in the leadup to Infinity Wars, but the Mad Titan’s reign of terror isn’t over yet. At the reading of Thanos’ will, a holographic recording of Thanos revealed that he made a contingency plan to upload his consciousness into the body of another person. According to Cates, this allowed him to answer a question he had about the relationship between Thanos and Gamora.

“The prime suspect is the answer to a question that has bugged me for years,” said Cates. “Which is, a man who is obsessed with death and only cares about dying adopted a daughter [Gamora] and trained her to be an assassin. Why? Why is she there? Why did he take on a prodigy? Everyone in the galaxy seems to think that the answer to that question is he was just training a new body.”

Cates went on to say that the first arc will be the new Guardians of the Galaxy vs. the galaxy for the life of their former teammate, Gamora. Cates also added that he’s now the “showrunner” of Marvel's cosmic titles, and there may be more news to come on that front later this year.

For more GOTG details from Cates, check out the whole video. And for even more from Cates, including intel about Venom, Death of the Inhumans, and Marvel Knights, head here for our entire Behind the Panel conversation.