Groot

Groot
Groot on the cover of I Am Groot #1.
Art by Flaviano Armentaro.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales to Astonish #13
(November 1960)
Created byStan Lee
Larry Lieber
Jack Kirby
In-story information
SpeciesFlora colossus
Team affiliationsGuardians of the Galaxy
S.H.I.E.L.D. Paranormal Containment Unit
Nova Corps
PartnershipsRocket Raccoon
Notable aliasesMonarch of Planet X
Seed of Slaughter
Tree
Abilities

Groot (/ɡrt/) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #13 (November 1960). An extraterrestrial, sentient tree-like creature, the original Groot first appeared as an invader that intended to capture humans for experimentation. The character can only say the repeated line "I am Groot", but has different meanings depending on context. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, Star-Lord, Thor, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer are able to understand him.

The character was reintroduced as a heroic, noble being in 2006, and appeared in the crossover comic book storyline Annihilation: Conquest. Groot went on to star in its spin-off series, Guardians of the Galaxy, joining the team of the same name.

Groot has been featured in a variety of associated Marvel media, including animated television series, toys and trading cards. Vin Diesel voices Groot in the MCU, starting in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy, with Krystian Godlewski playing the initial incarnation of the character via performance capture and James Gunn doing so for his reborn offspring, colloquially known as "Baby Groot".