Editing Guardians of the Universe (section)

===Background===
The Guardians evolved on the planet Maltus, being among the first intelligent life forms in the universe. At this time, they were tall, grayish-blue humanoids with black hair, who roughly resembled humans except for their skin color. They became scientists and thinkers, experimenting on the worlds around them. One experiment led to the creation of a new species, the [[Psion (comics)|Psions]]. In a pivotal moment, billions of years ago, a Maltusian named [[Krona (DC Comics)|Krona]] used time-bending technology to observe the beginning of the Universe. However, this experiment, and later attempts to stop it, unleashed disaster upon all existence. Originally, the experiment splintered the Universe into the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|Multiverse]] and created the evil Anti-Matter Universe of [[Qward]].<ref name="dc-ency"/> Following the retroactive destruction of the Multiverse, it was revealed that Krona flooded the beginning of the Universe with [[entropy]] causing it "to be born old".

Feeling responsible for this, the Maltusians relocated to the planet Oa (at "the center of the Universe") and took on the mantle of the Guardians. Their goal was simple: combat evil and create an orderly universe. They acted quickly on that goal. During this period, the conditions of Oa caused them to evolve once again: they now lost half of their height, with white hair and larger heads. They now act as the leaders of the [[Green Lantern Corps]], an interstellar police force which patrols the universe.<ref name=Guide>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=132}}</ref>