Let this serve as notice that Rocket Raccoon can’t be stopped, only contained

That Rocket Raccoon is going to be part of the Marvel Movie Universe’s next wave of films, as a front and center player in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, represents a new level of out-thereness in that gold-standard franchise. Yes, the follow-up to this summer’s spectacular Avengers is going to have a walking, talking weapons-master raccoon that likes to blow things up. I once thought Asgard would be hard to pull off, but that was done quite well. This, however, is a whole new hornet’s nest.

Then again, he did have his own little mini-series back in the 1980s, illustrated by none other than the still wet behind the ears Mike Mignola. So the ‘coon can carry a story. But will this be a bridge too far cinematically? We shall see.

Godspeed, Marvel.