Editorial: Who is Rocket Raccoon?

Who is... Rocket Raccoon? Gather 'round and let the Raccoonatic Commander tell ya!
(Contains some spoilers)

Biography:

There is a good amount about Rocket's past we do not completely know.  We know he is a genetically modified raccoon from Halfworld, but we do not know if that modification is inherited or if Rocket is an individual specimen.  We don't really know for sure how was raised or trained.  What we do know is the history of the character.  He was created by Bill Mantlo in 1976 for Marvel Preview #7, more specifically, for a black and white side feature in that issue called "Sword in the Star", which was essentially intended to be the Odyssey in space.  Inspired by The Beatles' song "Rocky Raccoon," Rocket appears to meet the feature's protagonist Prince Wayfinder after a struggle with a living tree (not Groot) on the planet Hailailae, also known as Witch-World.  Rocket who, rather, introduces himself by saying his friends call him "Rocky" (which is still true), accompanies the Prince for the remainder of the issue (It should be noted that, while already a bit sarcastic and snarky and already wielding a gun, reference to his origin, this version of Rocket displayed a sort of stuffy British personality, with obvious accompanying slang). After a battle with a beast called a Plagueosaur, the two are confronted by Circe and her anthro-animal knights.  Ultimately, Circe's magic wins the battle and the issue ends in a (to be continued...?) style.  It was not to be, however, and the next Rocket was seen was years later in Hulk #271...

Wal Russ

Simply, the events of Marvel Preview 7 really do not fit well into Rocket's history.  Rocket is not from Witch-World, he is from Halfworld and, in Hulk 271, it is revealed he had never previously left the Keystone Quadrant, in which Halfworld is located.  Hulk 271 and Rocket's 1985 four-issue limited series involve his time on Halfworld, named because it is half barren robot-ruled wasteland and half a verdant pleasant home to genetically modified animals like Rocket.  Rocket's origin song provides some elements in these issues, namely Gideon's Bible, renamed Halfworld Bible in his 1985 series, and his love interest Lylla (somewhat similar to "Lil"). His first mate and friend Wal Russ is also another likely Beatles reference.  While I do recommend reading Hulk 271 and the 1985 series, I will not bother to completely summarize them here because, well, that's explained later.  At the end of the 1985 series, Rocket has defeated the mole Judson Jakes and the snake-like Lord Dyvyne, fully cures Halfworld's insane humans, called "loonies", and leaves Halfworld (and the Keystone Quadrant) in the robot-constructed humanoid Ship with Lylla, Wal Russ, and the mercenary turned ally Blackjack O'Hare. Happily ever after, etc.

Well, Rocket falls off the radar for the following years. In the years after leaving Halfworld, we know very little about Rocket's life other than he was some sort of space-faring adventurer.  A minor appearance as a D'Bari prisoner in She-Hulk in the early 90's is the only appearance worth mentioning from those years.  It was not until 2007, when he was captured by a different alien race, the Kree, that Rocket was truly back in the limelight...

In Annihilation: Conquest Starlord, Peter Quill aka Starlord is recruited to help take down the Phalanx.  As
the Phalanx can take over and control advanced technology, it is presumed that Pete's being from Earth will assist in creating a low-tech task force for the job.  Rather than wait for recruits, the Kree offer to Peter a number of their prisoners, among them some who would later become friends and members of a different team, namely Bug, Mantis, Groot, and, of course, Rocket Raccoon.  Rocket, who was supposedly apprehended for a restricted zone infraction, is revealed to have a practically superhuman intuitive sense, which likely accounts for his later-claimed tactical genius.  Aside from first meeting Groot and developing an almost symbiotic friendship with the tree-like being, it is in Conquest that Rocket first shows his fondness for crazy over-the-top heavy weaponry (having primarily used high-tech pistols in the 80's).  Ultimately, Peter Quill's taskforce completes their mission and the Phalanx is defeated, but not without some sacrifices along the way.  Among those is Groot who allows himself to be turned into a living bomb to destroy the main Phalanx tower.  Fortunately, among Groot's abilities is the ability to revive from even a small splinter of his body.  (At the conclusion, Rocket is taking care of such a sapling Groot).

In 2008, Peter Quill decides he wants to form a team to protect the galaxy from cosmic threats like Annihilus and the Phalanx (both of which had just previously been threats).  He recruits Phyla-Vell aka Quasar, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Adam Warlock, and Rocket Raccoon.  Recruited for his tactical genius, Rocket agrees to join his buddy Pete's team along with Groot, still a potted sapling (following the events of Conquest).  Headquartered in Knowhere, a severed celestial head at the edge of space-time that is functionally a lot like a space station/interdimensional crossroads (yes, really), the team does not actually have a name at first.  They come across a couple members of a hero team from the future who have been displaced in time from an alternate future timeline that is in a state of flux because of an anomaly.  When Rocket learns the name of that future team of heroes, he likes it a lot, in fact, he is rather insistent that Peter's team use it as their own.  That name, of course, is the Guardians of the Galaxy.  Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2 is a great story, it ran from 2008 to 2010 for 25 issues and I highly recommend it.  I will not bother summarizing all the events, but, among the dangers the Guardians face are a zealous space group called the Universal Church of Truth, a tear in space-time, and the re-emergence of Thanos, which ties in with the Thanos Imperative (a series that immediately follows Guardians v2).  Along the way, in addition to firing off plenty of crazy guns of various varieties, Rocket proves his worth in his assigned task in the Guardians as team tactician and even leads the team at one point in Guardians v2.  By the conclusion of the Thanos Imperative, in 2011, however, the Guardians have lost some members and their leader Peter Quill sacrifices himself alongside his old buddy Richard Rider to save the galaxy from the Cancerverse.  Trapped in a hostile, dangerous dimension the two are presumed dead.  The Guardians of the Galaxy disband as a result of those events. 

Later that year, Rocket appeared in a side feature in Annihilators.  Having taken the supposed death of his
good friend Peter Quill particularly hard, Rocket has given up being a hero and is working at the mailroom of Timely Inc.  This particular story leads to him reuniting with his buddy Groot and returning to Halfworld, which he had somehow completely forgotten existed.  It is here that Rocket's true story is revealed when he is captured by his former friends and his memories are repaired.  Halfworld is an Asylum for the Criminally Insane.  Animals such as Rocket were genetically modified to be wardens/caretakers for the Asylum's patients, it was thought their appearances would assist with the patients' recovery.  Rocket, himself, was the Chief of Security. An ol' cosmic baddie, a major telepathic threat named Barry Baumann aka the Star-Thief, was among the patients at that asylum.  Star-Thief's powers proved to be more than the asylum could handle and he caused the patients and animals to fight amongst themselves.  He even corrupted the head doctor, Doctor Dyvyne.  Fortunately, Rocket, along with his second-in-command Blackjack O'Hare, finally imprisoned the Star-Thief.  Rocket created a biological lock for Barry that would require him and the other security members to be present and commit to unlock.  To make sure the lock could never be unlocked, that Barry was completely secure, Rocket decided to throw away part of the "key" by leaving Halfworld forever.  He made Blackjack Chief of Security and had his memories erased and rewritten in the form of childerns' tale (and that is essentially what the occurrences in the 80's comics essentially were, the partially pseudo-memories).  And he was sent away in a ship, with no memory of that past.  Rocket was presumed to never return and Lylla, who was his love interest in reality as well, ending up marrying Blackjack.  So it is, when Rocket is lured back to Halfworld in Annihilators his former friends are suspicious and assume he has been corrupted by the Star-Thief.  What they do not know is that Star-Thief had long since left his current host body to rot and moved into the biologically-based systems of the asylum itself.  So, with Rocket's biological signature within the asylum, along with the others, he is able to open his lock and free himself.  Eventually, though, Rocket, Groot, and Blackjack are able to trick Barry into being locked up once more (in a plan that involves Rocket in a dog costume. Heh).  The day saved, Blackjack offers Rocket a job as Co-Chief of Security.  Rocket refuses, realizing he needs that it is his (and Groot's) job to be a hero, to keep the spirit of the Guardians of the Galaxy alive.

Rocket's next appearance, in 2012, is a side feature in Annihilators: Earthfall that involves Mojo's Majordomo trying to cash in on a Rocket and Groot show (and accompanying merchandise).  Certainly not a significant story in Rocket's history but somewhat amusing, nonetheless.  Also, in 2012, the Guardians are suddenly back together in Avengers Assemble, Peter haven apparently somehow returned from the Cancerverse.  The Guardians of the Galaxy assist the Avengers in their battle against Thanos.

Later, Rocket made an appearance in a digital Infinite comic leading up to the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy v3.  In his Infinite comic Rocket is at a bar, which he often is at when not on missions, and he meets someone who claims he saw being similar to Rocket (Rocket having believed himself to be unique).  Before the patron can reveal much more he is assassinated from an unseen attacker.  And so, that comic ends in the mystery which is supposed to be solved at some point in Guardians v3.

2013, the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy v3.  Rocket is, of course, an active member of the team and, really as he always was, essentially the heart of the team.  Alongside their new friend Tony Stark, who Rocket seems to love teasing about being from the primitive planet Earth among other things, the Guardians of the Galaxy is together once more. (Rocket, alongside Gamora, make an appearance in the NOW Nova series, training the new Nova Sam Alexander and, supposedly, having once known Sam's father)

Powers, etc.

Rocket is a genetically modified raccoon, as such he has naturally acute senses and reflexes. He is also a tactical genius, and is exceptionally cunning.  A talented marksman, his weapons of choice are guns, the larger and more destructive, the happier Rocky is, although he occasionally resorts to using blaster pistols of some sort. 

Size-wise, Rocket is not much larger than a regular raccoon.  Though his size changes somewhat in various issues, Peter Quill's estimate in Conquest was around two-and-a-half feet tall, and that, based on comparison, is probably close to accurate.  Rocket can walk upright, obviously, but still being mostly procyonid in proportions, is capable of dropping to all fours (in a panel of Guardians v2 and of the Annihilators side feature he is shown doing this).  And, of course, because of his genetic modifications, Rocket can speak... and he does, in pretty much every panel he is in, the guy always has something to say.

For a list of comic appearances for Rocket, though I covered most of them in his bio, check out the comic appearances section at Rocket Raccoon Times.

To summarize: Rocket Raccoon is a gun-wielding flarking badass with a mean sense of humor who cares very much for his friends, even if he seldom outwardly shows it.  Rocket Raccoon is awesome.