WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy #13 by Al Ewing, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee and VC's Cory Petit, as well as Iron Man #8 by Christopher Cantwell, Angel Unzueta, Frank D'Armata, and VC's Joe Caramagna, both on sale now.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are known for having a unique roster that features some of the most alien and obscure characters of all time. Currently, their lineup includes one of the most underappreciated and overpowered telepaths in the Marvel Universe: Moondragon. Not only has she been helping the Guardians stave off an invasion of celestial demigods on an alien world, but Moondragon has also taken the time to reach out across the cosmos and offer a helping hand to another Avenger when they need it most in the pages of Iron Man.
While one half of the team is out investigating the disappearance of another group of explorers on a recently discovered rim world, the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy are defending the current Throneworld of the Kree/Skrull Alliance from the recently arrived Progenitors. These ancient, cosmic beings are only concerned with experimenting on the lifeforms that inhabit Throneworld, leaving them almost entirely off guard when the Guardians intervene. While the likes of Groot and Nova are quick to tear the Progenitors apart before sending them back to their far corner of the universe, Moondragon takes the time to examine their last remaining thoughts. Not only did she hold her own on the battlefield, but in searching the Progenitor's mind she uncovers just who brought them there in the first place.
This isn't the first time that Moondragon has adventured across another world, nor is it the first time she's tussled with cosmic demigods. The daughter of the man who would become Drax the Destroyer, Moondragon was born Heather Douglas. When her family was attacked by Thanos, Heather barely survived the explosion that killed her parents before being found and adopted by Thanos' own father, Mentor. After being brought back to Titan, Heather studied under the Shao-Lorn monks of that world, and their teachings unlocked her psychic abilities.
When Thanos attacked Titan, Heather narrowly escaped back to Earth where she took up the guise of Madam McEvil in her first appearance in 1973's Iron Man #54 by Mike Friedrich, Bill Everett and George Tuska. She had donned this disguise in order to study Earth's heroes before eventually revealing herself and helping them in their first encounter with the Mad Titan. Since then, she has battled as both an Avenger herself, as well as part of the Defender, Infinity Watch and now the Guardians of the Galaxy. As busy as she might be, Moondragon is somehow still able to find time to help an old friend, even if they are half a galaxy away.
In the pages of Iron Man #8, Patsy Walker has been left in a catatonic state after using her own psychic abilities to reach out to the near-godlike Korvac. While Tony disappeared for no apparent reason, Hellcat was left in the astral plane while Korvac and his crew pursued her in the real world. Thankfully, Moondragon was there to help guide Patsy on how to fully realize her psychic potential beyond what Korvac's intrusion had opened up already. Not only did she lead Patsy through her own memories, but she offered a sympathetic shoulder to lean on when faced with the darkest parts of her past. This is something that Moondragon is all too familiar with, having recently come to terms with her own inner darkness and even physically merged with a better, alternate version of herself.
As powerful as Moondragon is, her value goes far beyond the fact that she is quickly rising to the role of the Marvel Universe's most prominent psychic, but rather that she is also becoming one of its most likable heroes as well.
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