Reddit mentions of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1: Cosmic Avengers (Marvel Now) (Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel))

Bendis' first run of Guardians. It's in issue 4.

• Here's the big Guardians recommendations thread /r/comicbooks had a while ago: http://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/1l4hhi/rcomicbooks_guardians_of_the_galaxy/
  
  
• Here's a reading guide for the Guardians of the Galaxy and Marvel's cosmic stories in general for the 2004-2011 era: http://i.imgur.com/N7OXfyI.jpg
  
  
• In 2013, Marvel launched a new Guardians series by Brian Bendis, which starts with this volume here: http://amzn.com/0785166076
  
  
• You should know that it's really easy to read all these comics with a subscription to Marvel Unlimited, I use it myself and I think it's a great deal. $10/month or $70 for a year for access to tens of thousands of comics.
  
  
• As far as watching more Guardians, I would point you towards this list of their animated appearances in Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Avengers Assemble: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_(2008_team)#Television

Long-time comic fans usually prefer the Abnett & Lanning run at the core of the Cosmic Marvel Saga (recommended to read the whole saga):

• Guardians of the Galaxy | #1-25 | 2008-2010 | Abnett, Lanning, et al. | Cosmic Marvel Omnibuses
  
  New fans, especially those who like the MCU GotG characterizations, might enjoy the Bendis run:
  
  
• Guardians of the Galaxy | #0.1-27, #1-19 | 2013-2017 | Bendis
  
  If you want to start with the latest:
  
  
• All-New, All-Different Guardians of the Galaxy | #1-ongoing | 2017-2018 | Duggan

right here

That run of Guardians is the best (with this cast, any way). The current run, written by Bendis, is okay. There are two and a half volumes available as trades. Vol 1. Vol 2. Next is a cross over with All New Xmen.

There are GotG comics.

They don't lead up to the movie or anything... that I know of. Sometimes Marvel puts out movie "prelude" comics, but usually they're not very good. With the exception of those (there have only been a few), the comics and the movies are separate "universes." So like... in the movies, the founding Avengers team is Cap/Hulk/Thor/Iron Man/Black Widow/Hawkeye? In the comics, it's Iron Man/Thor/Hulk/Ant-Man/Wasp. The characters have different backstories and do different things and stuff.

Unfortunately, I don't know the GotG comics too well. I hear good things about the series by Abnett & Lanning, and then there is a more recent series as part of Marvel Now that I don't know a thing about. Hopefully someone else will chime in with more specifics.

Hm, I don't recall him asking what a raccoon is. How early back you talking? I just finished the first volume today, unless you were thinking about this

Correct! It's a fun read. You can check out the collected edition now :D