There’s no doubt that Dave Bautista, most commonly known by his WWE ring name Batista, was the perfect choice to play Drax in the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy. His portrayal of the character is iconic and inseparable, just as Robert Downey Jr. perfects the role of Tony Stark and Chris Evans does Steve Rogers. Easily, Drax is one of the best aspects of Guardians of the Galaxy, and that’s saying something given the popularity of the movie.
Indeed, just as James Gunn put it, there’s no Drax without Batista, at least not in the MCU. It’s not the first time the character has appeared, of course, though the movie did do a lot of legwork to revitalize the awkward hero group. Indeed, the latest Marvel-Square Enix game to release is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, in which there's another take on Drax, and it’s just as good as Batista’s.
Drax in the MCU, in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy leans heavily on the MCU, even allowing fans to find Batista’s costume for Drax, Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord, and so on. This even applies to the characterization, meaning Drax is a serious character whose concept of what is literal and what isn’t is often used for hilarious instances. Furthermore, his passion for combat and lack of social skills make the character shine and stick out from other Guardians, like Gamora, and it really brings out the best of Batista’s representation of Drax too.
Indeed, both characters exist with similar traits and actions, but it’s truly their delivery that makes them shine. Batista, again, was the best option for Drax in the MCU, and Jason Cavalier was the best choice for Drax in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Hopefully, the ride isn’t over yet because, if any game is deserving of a sequel or a DLC, it’s Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
Where Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Drax Beats The MCU’s
That’s not to say they are perfectly equal though. Batista’s Drax, for example, has a bit more life about him than Drax does in his animations for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Mostly, however, it is small potatoes except for one major storyline, where the MCU’s version pales in comparison to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and that’s Drax’s backstory and origins.
As MCU viewers know, Drax’s wife and daughter were killed by Thanos, and Drax swears to defeat him. It even is what he alludes to when the Guardians try to attack Thanos on Knowhere, but then Drax is snapped away alongside every GOTG member except Rocket. Drax’s quest for vengeance was essentially dropped in the MCU, even leaving Batista notably confused on that one.
Without getting too far into spoiler territory, that story is very much not dropped in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and it plays a major role in Drax’s character, allowing his more emotional side to show than it does in the MCU. The scenes in which his background comes into play aren’t just some of the best in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but the most emotional, heartbreaking, and relatable. No matter what, though, it seems clear that Drax The Destroyer will have a stronger emphasis in Marvel entertainment properties in the future, and while Batista/MCU set the precedent, there’s more to this warrior than meets the eye.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.