Cosmo the Space Dog has finally joined Star-Lord and co. in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and she sports a few major changes from her Marvel Comics counterpart. The Guardians of the Galaxy reunite for one final MCU appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the second installment in Phase 5 of the MCU and the final MCU movie directed by James Gunn. Before they part ways, the Guardians officially welcome a new member into their ranks — one that had already appeared in two previous Marvel titles.
As a talking space raccoon with a criminal record, Rocket Raccoon marked a big step in the MCU in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, given that the most fantastical creatures introduced before him were alien gods and Earth-based superheroes. After various major appearances from Rocket and some cameos by Howard the Duck, Marvel Studios adds more talking animals to the MCU: Rocket Raccoon’s childhood friends Lylla the Otter, Teefs the Walrus, Floor the Rabbit, and Cosmo the Space Dog. The latter, having appeared in both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2 and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, is only now receiving a major role.
Cosmo’s Marvel Comics History Explained
Created by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and introduced in 2008’s Nova Vol. 4 #8, Cosmo the Space Dog is a regular dog who developed heightened intelligence while traveling through space. He was inspired by the real-life Soviet test animal Laika, who died after being launched into orbit in 1957. In Marvel Comics, Cosmo landed on Knowhere, where he welcomed Nova and helped the Guardians of the Galaxy establish themselves. After that, Cosmo assembled the Annihilators — a superhero team of cosmic heroes Star-Lord was inspired by. These feats made Cosmo a strong ally for many cosmic Marvel characters, especially Richard Rider and Peter Quill.
Marvel’s Cosmo Powers Explained
Cosmo was born a regular dog in the 1960s. During the Cold War’s space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, the latter chose Cosmo as a test subject to develop space travel and launched him into outer space. But instead of dying in orbit like Laika, Cosmo kept floating through space, where he was imbued with the same cosmic rays that gave the Fantastic Four their powers. Cosmo received psionic abilities such as telepathy, telekinesis, and human-level intelligence, abilities which also divide into various skills, including mental fields, camouflage, and mind control. Besides, Cosmo received an extended lifespan that surpasses that of any common dog.
Cosmo Comics Changes Explained
In Marvel Comics, Cosmo is a male brown labrador with a stoic personality and a disjointed speech pattern, due in part to his origins as a regular dog and in part to the language of his native country. He usually wears the same spacesuit he had when he left Earth and is quick to anger. In the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Cosmo is a female dog voiced by Maria Bakalova. She is much more innocent and easy-going than her comic book counterpart, and she speaks more fluent English.
Storywise, Cosmo was never in charge of Knowhere in the MCU, and she may not have met any character from the Nova Corps. Instead, she was taken prisoner by The Collector at some point before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1. When the Power Stone destroyed The Collector’s Lair, Cosmo stayed with him, but she later ended up befriending the Guardians. It’s possible that Cosmo’s adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy is her first taste of freedom after leaving Earth, unlike the more experienced Cosmo from the source material.
Cosmo’s Role In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Explained
It’s no coincidence that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 features three major talking animals. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Rocket Raccoon confessed that the process that made him a smart “trash panda” was physically and psychologically painful and that he felt lonely as a result. Now, Rocket Raccoon has the chance to meet more of his kind and bond with them over their similar nature, and accordingly, the talking Cosmo plays a role in this part of Rocket Raccoon’s MCU journey. While Cosmo and Rocket Raccoon disliked each other at first, they were already on friendly terms by The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Is Cosmo A Member Of The Guardians of the Galaxy?
In Marvel Comics, Cosmo is a member of the Knowhere Corps, a team of space heroes consisting of Cosmo, Mantis, Drax’s daughter Moondragon, Bug, and Prism, who assembled to protect Cosmo’s home planet Knowhere. Before that, Cosmo was the founder of the Annihilators, which included powerful cosmic superheroes such as Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator, Quasar, Ikon, and a reformed Ronan the Accuser. Cosmo has never been an active member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, but he has been a helpful ally and a close friend to Star-Lord’s team throughout the years.
This is another considerable change Cosmo displays in the MCU, as her first and only team seems to be the Guardians of the Galaxy. While not confirmed then, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special suggested Cosmo was already a full-time member of the Guardians. When facing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s High Evolutionary, however, Cosmo may play a key role alongside Rocket Raccoon, Lylla the Otter, and the rest of the talking animals, after which she can stay with whoever remains to form a new version of the Guardians or perhaps even a brand-new MCU team like the Annihilators or the Knowhere Corps.
