Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The remnants of the Guardians Of The Galaxy (Drax The Destroyer, Gamora, Mantis, Nebula and Star Lord) are trying to stop their old member Groot, who has somehow been transformed into a load of asteroids called Grootfall, from attacking and transforming the planets in the Manifold Territories. Last issue they re-recruited ex-member Rocket Raccoon, who had been defending the planet Refuge from Grootfall, because Peter Quill thinks he can help them communicate with what his old friend has become.
The Guardians are a sorry bunch these days. Quill is morose. Gamora and Rocket lose themselves in booze. Nebula buries herself in keeping their spaceship running. Drax sharpens his knives. But Mantis wants to do something about it. Peter claims to have communed with Groot (#3) and thinks he knows how to get him back. Angry Rocket says that they all know Groot is dead and the Grootfall asteroids aren't *him*. Drax thinks they should just carry on killing them.
Then empath Mantis angrily interrupts to remind them that they used to be superheroes. They can't just kill their friend. Peter's right that Groot is trying to talk to them but it requires all of them. She also berates them for never talking about what happened at the Proscenium. While talking she morphs through 7 different clothes, appearances, voices and attitudes. Rocket's never seen this before but Gamora drunkenly explains that Mantis got a 'magic dress' which came with multiple personalities.
Nebula's been ignoring all this to scan what's going on in the Territories. She's detected a lot of activity in Torment Pass and it's attracting lots of Grootfall asteroids. As the ship heads there we are reminded of the political situation we saw in #2. Sectors United are battling the Whitecaps for domination of the Manifold Territories. Now we learn that SU's base Standoff has been destroyed and taken their front line with it. The Generals mobilised all their remaining forces to try to outflank the Whitecaps but instead it's turned into a pitched space battle in Torment Pass.
Our gang get there and are greeted by the crab-alien Krakeen Toreth, Peter's old friend they met in #2. Quill tries to warn him about the incoming Grootfalls but Krakeen's to interested in killing Whitecaps. And the Whitecaps won't listen either. Then the asteroids arrive and attack both sides, destroying ships and turning people into Groots. Krakeen leads a suicide charge into the maw of 1 of the Grootfalls.
To get Groot's attention Star-Lord tells pilot Rocket to take them to the nearest Grootfall asteroid. They have to plough through loads of Groot-people who force their way into the spacecraft. Drax and Gamora glory in fighting the invading forces and accept their imminent death. Mantis doesn't want to die but transforms to her warrior form anyway. Drax and Mantis get sucked out into space. Gamora asks her sister Nebula to work out how they can escape but Nebula gets taken by Groot vines. Gamora is enveloped by Groot bodies. Quill tries to keep them out of the cockpit with his element gun long enough to get the ship to the biggest Groot asteroid. But soon Rocket is the last Guardian standing, reminding the absent others that he never asked them to 'save' him from Rescue anyway. But Peter isn't actually dead yet. He's triggered his Star-Lord helmet to protect him from vacuum and rides the remains of the spaceship into the fiery mouth of Groot.