Throughout Phase 1 and 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios largely worked to introduce its core members of The Avengers ? Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk ? and continue those stories in various sequels. However, one standout of Phase 2 was James Gunn?s Guardians of the Galaxy, which took a lesser known comic book team and propelled them to be some of the most popular characters within the MCU.