Marvel Cinematic Universe

Abstract: These MCU Guardians, however, are a very recent reimagining of the Guardians--each of whom is from a different alien species--as a close-knit family unit. This characterization is absent from previous media iterations of the Guardians. This article argues that this reimagining allows the MCU Guardians to represent behavioral and familial trends amongst broad swathes of millennial audiences. In doing so, it combines sociological research on families alongside cultural studies literature on the road story and urban geography research on resilient placemaking.