Contains material originally published in magazine form as Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: the Black Vortex alpha #1, Guardians of the Galaxy #24-25, Legendary Star-Lord #9-11, All-new X-Men #38-39, Guardians team-up #3, Nova #28, Cyclops #12, Captain Marvel #14 and Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: the Black Vortex omega #1.

When you gaze into the Black Vortex, what reflection stares back? That's what the Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men are about to find out. The two teams' pair of star-crossed lovers, Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde, have stolen this ancient artifact to keep it out of the hands of Peter Quill's father, the deposed Spartax emperor who now calls himself Mister Knife. But the Vortex offers a glimpse of cosmic power to anyone who peers within. An item of such value has no shortage of suitors. Mister Knife wants it back, and at his side stand his Slaughter Lords and the son of Thanos. Could this dark mirror deliver unto Thane the full legacy of the Mad Titan? Then, never far from interestellar conflict, there are the Kree and their warlord, Ronan the Accuser. To keep their prize safe from mounting threats, Peter and Kitty will need all their allies - including Storm, Beast, Captain Marvel, Nova and the time-torn original X-Men, who may soon be reunited with the space-faring teenage Cyclops. But with the fate of the universe at stake, will one or more of the united heroes succumb to temptation and embrace the gifts offered by the Black Vortex? Could absolute power corrupt the Guardians and the X-Men?