Did you know: Tsinoy artist co-created lead hero of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

Marvel's "Guardian of the Galaxy" took the box-office by storm this weekend, as the rogue band of superheroes drew $11.2 million on opening night in the United States.

Those who have seen the move know that the Guardians are led the half-human, half-alien Peter Quill, or as the wisecrackin' space cowboy likes to call himself, Star-Lord.

But unknown to many, the hero's mixed heritage goes beyond the story: the character is was co-created by Chinese Filipino artist with an American writer.

Steve Gan, a Filipino citizen of Chinese descent, collaborated with legendary comic book writer Steve Englehart to give birth to the Star-Lord, who first appeared in the Marvel Preview #4 in 1976.

Englehart, however, left Marvel soon after the character's launch, and Star-Lord got lost in the shuffle.

"Star-Lord’s creators never fully realized their plans for him, and the character instead made infrequent appearances in Marvel’s comic book magazines of the era," wrote Jamie Lovett on ComicBook.com.

Englehart added on his own website: "So there sat Star-Lord, appearing but fitfully for many years, until Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning made him the leader of a small band of misfits called the Guardians of the Galaxy - and the rest is history."

Panday artist

But Star-Lord is far from the only comic book icon that Gan had a hand in creating.

Gan was also the first artist to work on Panday alongside Carlo J. Caparas. According to comic book artist Gerry Alanguilan, Gan was responsible for the visual look of the iconic Filipino character.

"Having spoken to Steve Gan, the original artist of Panday, on numerous occasions, I have gathered that although Carlo J. Caparas did indeed give some descriptions of the character, it is Steve Gan who created the visual look of Panday as he appeared in the comic book. He is also the one who created the visual look of all the other characters and the world in which they all move in," wrote Alanguilan on his website.

Filipino connection

Aside from Star-Lord, the Guardians also include Rocket, a gun-wielding raccoon; Groot, a tree-like creature; Gamora, the only woman in the group; and the musclebound Drax the Destroyer.

Notably, Drax is played by Filipino-American wrestler Dave Bautista, who is more popularly known as Batista. — Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News