Published Mar 18, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT
Nicolas Ayala is a Senior Writer for the Comics team at ScreenRant, with over five years of experience writing about Superhero media, action movies, and TV shows.
Without notice, Marvel officially kills off a Guardian of the Galaxy in the absence of his teammates. Currently in Marvel Comics, the Guardians of the Galaxy are experiencing a break of sorts, with some of the team's most famous members going off to live their own adventures while Star-Lord is Emperor of Spartax. Meanwhile, Guardians alumni Gamora and Cosmic Ghost Rider have joined a new Guardians of the Galaxy squad.
The MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy are also in a similar predicament, as Drax, Mantis, Nebula, and Cosmo have decided to stay in Knowhere while Gamora departs with the Ravagers and Star-Lord returns to Earth. The MCU's new Guardians are led by Rocket Raccoon, though they aren't confirmed to return for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Both the comic and the MCU versions of the Guardians of the Galaxy's most famous line-up are bound to reassemble eventually, but in the meantime, the team will see many of its members come and go, some more tragically than others.
Marvel Kills Off The Guardian Of The Galaxy Blackjack O'Hare In The Worst Possible Wa
The Mortal Thor #8; Written by Al Ewing; Art by Juann Cabal & Jesus Aburtov
As Thor slowly regains memories of his origins by learning to live like the regular human being Sigurd Jarlsson, the Nine Realms experience some political shake-ups. Thor's son Magni helps the Ice Witch Tjarvva fill the empty seat of Muspelheim, and Tjarvva summons Arinn, Regent of the Hearth's Fire, to fill her own empty seat in Jotunheim. Magni celebrates one of his biggest victories as an independent hero, but his joy is cut short when his companion, Blackjack O'Hare, is shot through the head with an arrow.
Blackjack had no chance against the weapon that killed him. Amora the Enchantress received a bow designed by none other than the mythological gods Ullr and Athena, who granted it the power to shoot arrows that can't be deflected or dodged. Amora could have easily killed Magni (or even Thor) with the same arrow, but she plans for Magni to become king so she can sneak into his reign and take over Asgard.
Blackjack O'Hare's death might be one of the most brutal in recent years. The adorable, lighthearted alien bunny served as Magni's comedic relief, and he had turned his life around from a life of mercenary work to swashbuckling adventures alongside Thor's son. The Mortal Thor #8 doesn't hold back with its graphic depiction of Blackjack's death, with almost a full explicit page dedicated to the exact moment the arrow pierces the back of his head.
Blackjack O'Hare Deserves An MCU Appearance
Blackjack O'Hare Could Be The Next Rocket Raccoon
With the High Evolutionary’s secrets finally laid bare in the MCU, the stage is set for Blackjack O’Hare to make his live-action debut. In the comics, Blackjack is the leader of the Black Bunny Brigade and Rocket Raccoon’s quintessential frenemy, a mercenary rabbit who eventually finds redemption by joining Gamora's Guardians of the Galaxy. While the MCU's Vol. 3 focused on the tragic Batch 89, Blackjack could represent a group of uplifted survivors who managed to escape the High Evolutionary’s purging of Counter-Earth.
Blackjack O'Hare is a natural fit for the new Guardians team led by Rocket Raccoon, introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's post-credits scene. Blackjack could provide the cocky cynicism that has always been the heart of the Guardians' dynamics. He could serve as the team’s scout or sabotage expert, clashing with Rocket's leadership style. The High Evolutionary's experimentation on animals is one of the darkest corners of the MCU, but also one of the most emotional pieces of storytelling Marvel Studios has explored to date.
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I Still Can’t Believe Marvel Basically Confirmed That The Guardians Of The Galaxy Would’ve Won The Avengers’ First Movie Effortlessly
A deleted Avengers: Endgame scene casually reveals the Guardians of the Galaxy could have defeated Loki and his alien army back in Phase 1.
It feels particularly egregious that Marvel recently killed Blackjack off in The Mortal Thor #8, especially after teasing a long-running partnership with Magni. To see such a charismatic character killed off so brutally is both effective as an emotional gut punch and disappointing after he got a second chance to prove his worth. An MCU version of Blackjack could realize the potential of those teased adventures, perhaps pairing him with a cosmic-traveling character like Hercules or a live-action version of Magni himself.
What do you think about Blackjack O'Hare's death?
The Mortal Thor #8 is now available from Marvel Comics.
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Created by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Upcoming Films guardians of the galaxy 4
First TV Show Guardians of the Galaxy
Latest TV Show I Am Groot
The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, rooted in Marvel Comics, has expanded into a prominent series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), blending action, humor, and a distinctive 1970s and 1980s soundtrack.
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Cast Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Taika Waititi
Movie(s) Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder
Character(s) Thor, Loki, Jane Foster, Valkyrie, Odin, Heimdall
The Thor franchise is a key component of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), focusing on the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor Odinson. The series explores Thor’s journey from a headstrong prince to a wise and powerful hero who plays a central role in the Avengers and the broader MCU narrative. The franchise is known for its blend of epic fantasy, Norse mythology, and humor, particularly in the later films directed by Taika Waititi.
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