Infinity Gems | |
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Thanos wearing the Infinity Gauntlet with six of seven Infinity Gems. Cover of trade paperback (2nd printing) of Infinity Gauntlet. Art by George Pérez. |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Soul Gem: The Power of Warlock #1 (Aug. 1972); Power & Time Gem: Marvel Team-Up #55 (Mar. 1977); All Six Gems: Avengers Annual #7 (1977). |
In story information | |
Type | Jewels |
Element of stories featuring | Adam Warlock; Thanos |
The Infinity Gems are six fictional gems that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Originally referred to as Soul Gems, the six gems are sentient and can be used in unison to make the wielder omnipotent, and in complete control of the universe. A seventh gem is revealed to exist in the limited series Avengers/Ultraforce.[1]
Contents |
Description
Each gem is a small, smooth oblong, and known by their respective powers:
Name | Color | Abilities | Prior Owners |
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Soul | Green | This gem is sentient and allows the user to steal, manipulate and alter souls, living or dead. The gem is the gateway to an idyllic pocket-universe. | Adam Warlock; Gardener; In-Betweener; Thanos; Doctor Strange |
Time | Orange | Allows the user total control over the past, present and future. Allows time travel, can age and deage beings and also be used as a weapon by trapping enemies or entire worlds in unending loops of time. | Gardener; Thanos; Adam Warlock; Gamora; Maxam; Namor |
Space | Purple | Allows the user to exist in any location (or all locations), move any object anywhere throughout the universe and warp or rearrange space. | Runner; Thanos; Adam Warlock; Pip the Troll; Black Bolt |
Mind | Blue | Allows the user to boost mental power and access the thoughts and dreams of other beings. Backed by the Power Gem, the Mind Gem can access all minds in existence simultaneously. | Grandmaster; Thanos; Adam Warlock; Moondragon; Charles Xavier |
Reality | Yellow | Allows the user to fulfill wishes, even if the wish is in direct contradiction with scientific laws. | Stranger; Collector; Thanos; Adam Warlock; Iron Man |
Power | Red | Accesses all power and energy that ever has or will exist, and can back the other gems and boost their effects. Allows the user to duplicate almost any physical superhuman ability and become invincible. | Champion of the Universe; Thanos; Adam Warlock; Drax the Destroyer; Thor; She-Hulk; Titania; Reed Richards |
Ego | Gold | The seventh gem. It contains the consciousness of the cosmic entity Nemesis, which when united with the other gems reforms the character. This gem is found in the Ultraverse when the Asgardian god Loki attempts to steal the other gems. | Sersi |
History
The Gem Soul first appears in the limited series The Power of Warlock[2] with all six appearing during the second Thanos War storyline in an Avengers and Marvel Two-In-One annual, with Thanos harnessing their latent energies to power a giant gem to extinguish every star in the universe.[3] In the third volume of the title Silver Surfer, the character refers to the gems as Soul Gems,[4] with Thanos referring to the entire set as Infinity Gems in the limited series Thanos Quest. This series also reveals the origin of the Gems, with Thanos explains to the Elder of the Universe the Runner that the set are actually the remains of a once omnipotent but lonely being. Unable to endure eternity alone, this entity eventually commits suicide, creating all of reality in the process, although a fraction of the being remains and becomes the Infinity Gems.[5]
Thanos becomes omnipotent and in the limited series Infinity Gauntlet (the name for Thanos' gauntlet, on which all six gems are mounted) exerts his will over the universe (by erasing half the population of the universe in a tribute to Death), but eventually loses the Gauntlet to the space pirate Nebula. Nebula's attempt to wield the Gauntlet fails due to her inexperience, and the character is dehabilitated after undoing an action performed by Thanos, who is defeated by Earth's heroes.[6] In the title Warlock and The Infinity Watch the Gems are separated and distributed by hero Adam Warlock to the group the Infinity Watch.[7] The creature the Man Beast abducts the members and uses the combined Mind, Power, Space and Time Gems to create a monstrous energy humanoid called the Infinity Thrall, although both are eventually defeated by Adam Warlock. The cosmic entity the Living Tribunal then declares that the Infinity Gems can no longer be used in unison.[8]
This decree is overturned — courtesy of the machinations of Warlock's evil alter ego, the Magus — in the limited series Infinity War. The character unites the Gems and plans universal conquest until tricked and defeated, with Warlock revealing that the Reality Gem was a fake.[9] The Gems then feature in a concluding limited series titled the Infinity Crusade.[10] In the one-shot title Rune/Silver Surfer the Gems are stolen by the extradimensional vampire Rune and dispersed throughout the alternate universe Ultraverse.[11]
The Asgardian god Loki enters the Ultraverse and collects the Gems, also discovering the existence of a seventh Gem - Ego. The character learns the Infinity Gems were originally part of a gestalt being (formed by several parts) known as Nemesis. The Ego Gem, possessing the Avenger Sersi, merges with the other Gems to reform Nemesis and battles superhero teams the Avengers and Ultraforce, before being dissipitated once again.[12]
The cosmic entity Galactus collects all six Infinity Gems in the title Thanos, intent on ending his need to consume planets. The plan fails, however, and instead allows a deadly inter-dimensional parasite access into the Earth-616 universe. After the threat is averted, the Gems are scattered with the exception of the Soul Gem, which the Titan Thanos retains for Adam Warlock.[13] The Gems feature briefly in the limited series JLA/Avengers, when the Infinity Gauntlet is found by DC Comics villain Darkseid, who discards it upon discovering that the Gems do not work in his own universe.[14]
The Gems feature in the limited series New Avengers: Illuminati and become the possessions of the metahuman group the Illuminati. Reed Richards of the Illuminati attempts to will the Gems out of existence to prevent further misuse, but the entity the Watcher Uatu reveals that the Gems must exist as part of the cosmic balance. The Gems are then separated and each is placed in the care of an Illuminati member, who vow to never use them or reveal their location.[15] The Gems are reunited in the non-canon limited series Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers, with the pets of various heroes finding the Gems and being forced to use them to battle Thanos. Lockjaw, pet of the Inhumans, then gives the Gems to Reed Richards.[16]
Other media
The Infinity Gems also feature in the Marvel Super Heroes (1995) and the Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (1996) arcade games; and in television The Super Hero Squad Show (2009).
Footnotes
- ^ Avengers/Ultraforce # 1 - 2 (Sep. - Oct. 1995)
- ^ The Power of Warlock #1 - 8 (Aug. 1972 - Jun. 1973: bi-monthly)
- ^ Avengers Annual #7 & Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2 (1977)
- ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #6 - 10, 16 - 17 (Dec. 1987 - Apr. 1988 & Oct. - Nov. 1988)
- ^ Thanos Quest #1 - 2 (Sep. - Oct. 1990)
- ^ Infinity Gauntlet #1 - 6 (July - Dec. 1991)
- ^ Warlock and The Infinity Watch #1 (Feb. 1992)
- ^ Warlock and The Infinity Watch #5 - 6 (June - July 1992)
- ^ Infinity War # 1 - 6 (June - Nov. 1992)
- ^ Infinity Crusade # 1 - 6 (June - Nov. 1993)
- ^ Rune/Silver Surfer #1 (June 1995)
- ^ Ultraforce/Avengers #1 (Sep. 1995) & Avengers/Ultraforce #2 (Oct. 1995)
- ^ Thanos #1 - 6 (Dec. 2003 - Apr. 2004)
- ^ JLA/Avengers #1 & 3 (Sep. & Dec. 2003); Avengers/JLA #2 & 4 (Oct. 2003 - May 2004)
- ^ New Avengers: Illuminati #1 - 2 (Feb. - Mar. 2007); #3 (July 2007); #4 (Sep. 2007) & #5 (Jan. 2008)
- ^ Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #1 - 4 (July - Oct. 2009)
External links
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