Cosmo the Space Dog is a beloved Marvel Comics character, but you wouldn’t know it from watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He makes a small cameo appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy as an Easter Egg, but honestly, he deserves to be so much more.

In the Guardians of the Galaxy, Cosmo makes two appearances; one towards the middle of the film and another at the end. In the middle of the film, when Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Rocket Racoon, and Groot meet up with the cosmic being the Collector to sell one of the Infinity Stones, they pass by a container with Cosmo in it. The next time he makes an appearance is at the end of the film when the Collector is resting and staring at his destroyed collection and as he stares, Cosmo rushes up to him and begins to lick his face. Yet, in Marvel Comics, Cosmo is more than just a cuddly canine.

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Before becoming a prominent figure in the Marvel Comics, Cosmo is a test animal of the Soviet Space Program (CCCP) and is launched into space during the 1960s. After drifting from Earth’s orbit, he arrives on Knowhere which is a city, scientific station, and a literal head of Celestial. But the origin of the head of the Celestial is still undetermined in the MCU. While roaming around on Knowhere, he becomes mutated by cosmic rays, which extends his life span, and develops psionic powers. Some of the powers he develops include telekinesis and telepathic defense, cloak, illusions, and manipulation. After developing his psionic powers, Cosmo becomes the head of the security of Knowhere.

But Cosmo’s intriguing backstory doesn’t stop there because after becoming head of security, his life becomes entwined with Richard Rider a.k.a. Nova, a former member of the Nova Corps who bonds with Worldmind (the Xandarian supercomputer) and becomes a cosmic hero. When Nova and Cosmo team up in the comics, they investigate a number of deaths that are occurring on Knowhere and realize the creatures responsible for the deaths are a horde of zombies. As the two eradicate the zombie threat, they realize Abyss, a creature that can turn people into zombies at will, is behind it all and they imprison him, ensuring the safety of the citizens of Knowhere. In addition to being aided by Nova, Cosmo also aids and is aided by the Guardians of the Galaxy on multiple occasions including the fight against Lord Mar-Vell, a cosmic hero that eventually turns into a villain. But in the aftermath of the war against Mar-Vell, Nova and Star-Lord lie on their death beds and Star-Lord tells Cosmo to create a league of cosmic heroes to protect the universe. After the demise of Star-Lord, Cosmo fulfills his wish and bands together Quasar, Silver Surfer, Ronan the Accuser, Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator, and Spaceknight to form the Annihilators.

With the upcoming Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and with returning director James Gunn, one can only hope Cosmo the Space Dog becomes more than just an Easter Egg. When one takes a glimpse at Cosmo’s credentials in the Marvel Comics, it’s clear as day as to why he deserves a bigger role.

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Matthew Sandage
(135 Articles Published)

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Matthew Sandage is a reader, writer, film lover who lives in Plainfield, Connecticut. Matthew’s previous occupations include a deli and seafood clerk and now works as a writer for Valnet, Inc., covering Screen Rant. Soon to be a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a BA in English and a concentration in General English Studies. He loves to write and read about comic book superheroes/antiheroes.

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