The Infinity Gems (originally referred to as Soul Gems and later as Infinity Stones) are six fictional gems appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, named after and embodying various aspects of existence. The gems can grant whoever wields them various powers in accordance to the aspect of existence they represent, and have the potential of turning the wielder into a god-like being when the main six (Mind, Power, Reality, Soul, Space, and Time) are held together. Thus, they are among the most powerful and sought-after items in the Marvel Universe; playing important roles in several storylines, in which they were wielded by characters such as Thanos and Adam Warlock. Some of these stories depict additional Infinity Gems or similar objects. Although, the Infinity Gems altogether give its user nigh-omnipotence, the Gems only function on the universe they belong to and not on alternate realities.
The Gems have appeared in several media adaptations outside of comics, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise, where they are called Infinity Stones and have their colors altered. These changes were later adapted into the comics.
The first appearance of an Infinity Gem occurred in 1972 in Marvel Premiere #1. It was originally called a "Soul Gem".[1][2] In 1976, a second "Soul Gem" appeared in a Captain Marvel story which established that there were six Soul Gems, each with different powers.[3] One year later, two more "Soul Gems" were introduced in a Warlock crossover involving Spider-Man.[2] The main six Gems appeared when the death-obsessed villain Thanos attempted to use them to extinguish every star in the universe.[2][4] In a 1988 storyline in Silver Surfer vol. 3, the Elders of the Universe tried to use 6 of the "Soul Gems" to steal the energy of the world-eating entity Galactus.[2]
In the 1990 limited series The Thanos Quest, Thanos refers to the entire main set as "Infinity Gems" for the first time. In this storyline, he steals most of the Gems for the second time and reveals the Gems to be the last remains of an omnipotent being.[5] Thanos then places all six main gems within his left gauntlet.[6][full citation needed] In the miniseries The Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos uses the Gems to become nearly omnipotent and kills half the universe's population as a gift to his love, the cosmic embodiment of Death. Although he easily repels an attack by Earth's heroes and other cosmic entities including Eternity, the Gauntlet is eventually stolen from him by Nebula, who undoes the last 24 hours, including his mass killings. Adam Warlock then recovers the Gauntlet and, by order of the Living Tribunal, divides the Gems that fit in the gauntlet among a group he calls "the Infinity Watch", consisting of himself, the superheroes Gamora, Pip the Troll, Drax the Destroyer, Moondragon, and his former adversary Thanos. The group's adventures in defending the Gems appear in the series Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992–1995).[7]
The 6 main Gems are next gathered by Warlock's evil alter ego, the Magus, in the 1992 limited series The Infinity War, where he is defeated by Warlock and Earth's heroes, including Thanos.[8] In the 1993 limited series The Infinity Crusade, the embodiment of Warlock's goodness, the Goddess, attempts to destroy evil in the universe by destroying free will. The 6 main Gems are then once again retrieved by the Infinity Watch.[9]
Then, 6 of the gems appeared in the crossover between the Marvel universe and the Ultraverse, when the vampiric Rune, stole the gems from the Infinity Watch.[10] The gems were dispersed in the Ultraverse and Loki looked for them. The reunion of the gems with a seventh gem, the Ego Gem, revealed the existence of the entity Nemesis, that said that she was the conscience of the gems.[11] Nemesis was slain and the gems dispersed again.
In a story arc of the Thanos series (2003–2004), Galactus gathers six of the Gems but accidentally allows an interdimensional entity named Hunger access to the Marvel universe. Thanos and Galactus banish the entity and the Gems are scattered again with the exception of the Soul Gem, which Thanos retains for its customary custodian Adam Warlock.[12] In New Avengers: Illuminati, a 2007–2008 limited series, a cabal of Earth's heroes gather the Gems and attempt to wish them out of existence but discover that they must exist as part of the cosmic balance. Instead, the Illuminati divide and hide the Gems.[13]
In a 2010 Avengers storyline, the human criminal known as the Hood steals several Gems but is defeated by use of the remaining Gems; the Illuminati attempt to hide them again.[14][15][16][full citation needed] The Illuminati later wield the 6 main Gems to stop another universe from collapsing into their own but the cost of this however, was the destruction of the gauntlet and all gems minus the Time Gem which simply disappeared.[17][full citation needed] Afterwards, the previously vanished Time Gem appears to Captain America and some of the Avengers and transports them into future realities, shattering time in the process.[18][full citation needed]
As a result of the Incursions, the entire Multiverse is destroyed. However, Doctor Doom combines fragments of several alternate realities into Battleworld. Doctor Strange gathers the 6 main Infinity Gems from various realities into a new Infinity Gauntlet, which he leaves hidden until the surviving heroes of Earth-616 return.[citation needed] The Gauntlet is subsequently claimed by T'Challa (the Black Panther), who uses it to keep the Beyonder-enhanced Doom occupied until Mister Fantastic can disrupt his power source.[citation needed]
Following the recreation of the Multiverse, the Infinity Gems (now known as the Infinity Stones) are recreated and scattered across the universe, with their colors switched and some taking on uncut ingot forms. In Marvel Legacy #1, the Space Stone (now colored blue) appears on Earth where a Frost Giant working for Loki steals it from a S.H.I.E.L.D. storage facility, however he is intercepted and defeated by a resurrected Wolverine.[19]Star-Lord discovers an extra-large Power Stone (now colored purple) being protected by the Nova Corps,[20][full citation needed] and an alternate universe Peter Quill named Starkill has the Reality Stone (now colored red).[21][full citation needed] A future version of Ghost Rider is revealed to possess a shard of the Time Stone (now colored green),[22][full citation needed] while in the present the complete stone restores the ruined planet of Sakaar and is claimed by the Super-Skrull.[citation needed] The Mind Stone (now colored yellow) is found on Earth in the hands of petty crook Turk Barrett,[23] and the Soul Stone (now colored orange) is mentioned to Adam Warlock to be in the hands of his dark aspect, the Magus;[24][full citation needed] however, Ultron is able to claim it after ambushing and killing him.[23][full citation needed] The Stones are shown to have a pocket universe existing within each of them.[25] Loki would later discover the Stones are originated from the primordial universe where Celestials reside, guarding a deposit of countless Infinity Stones which they infuse with their cosmic energy and deliver to different realities across the Multiverse. Adam Warlock would use the Soul Stone to grant sentience to each of the Stones, which then travel the universe, finding a suitable host and bonding with them.[26]
Each Gem is shaped like a small oval[27] and is named after, and represents, a different characteristic of existence.[citation needed] Possessing any single Gem grants the user the ability to exert great control over the aspect of existence the Gem represents. If a user is able to tap into the full potential of a Gem, the user gains complete control over a Gem's aspect of existence.[citation needed] The Gems are not immutable.[28] For instance, on two occasions, one or more of the Gems have appeared as deep pink spheres several feet in diameter,[3][29] while on other occasions, the Gems have appeared in their small oval shape but with different coloring. (e.g. the Soul Gem being colored red when worn by the Gardener).[30] In the Ultraverse, after merging into their original form of Nemesis, the Gems were again separated after a battle with Ultraforce and the Avengers.[31] As part of the Marvel Legacy initiative, the Infinity Gems (now known as the Infinity Stones), had their colors altered to match the colors of the Infinity Stones from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[32]
Allows the user to enhance their mental and psionic abilities and access the thoughts and dreams of other beings. At full potential, when backed by the Power Gem, the Mind Gem can access all minds in existence simultaneously. The Mind Gem is also the manifestation of the universal subconscious.
The Mindscape: allows the user to bring anything they imagine or dream of to life. Overseen by the Sleepwalkers.
Power
Red
Purple
Allows the user to access and manipulate all forms of energy and/or powers; i.e. enhancing their physical strength and durability; augment any superhuman ability; and boost the effects of the other five Gems. At full potential, the Power Gem grants the user nigh-omnipotence.
The Arena: resembles a Colosseum where heroes fight each other in a contest of might. Ruled by Dynamus, the living embodiment of the Power Cosmic.
Reality
Yellow
Red
Allows the user to fulfill their wishes, even if the wish is in direct contradiction with scientific laws, and do things that would normally be impossible. At full potential, when backed by the other five Gems, the Reality Gem allows the user to alter reality on a universal scale and also create any type of alternate reality the user wishes.
World Pool: used to access alternate realities, which are portrayed as an endless comic book collection. Overseen by Archivus, the chronicler of the Multiverse.
Soul
Green
Orange
Allows the user to steal, control, manipulate, and alter living and dead souls; as well as animate the motionless. The Soul Gem also acts as a gateway to an idyllic pocket universe. At full potential, when backed by the Power Gem, the Soul Gem grants the user control over all life in the universe.
Soul World: the final resting place for all lost spirits. Overseen by the Soul-Eater Devondra.
Space
Purple
Blue
Allows the user to exist in any location; move any object anywhere throughout reality; warp or rearrange space; teleport themselves and others; increase their speed, and alter the distance between objects contrary to the laws of physics. At full potential, when backed by the Power Gem, the Space Gem grants the user nigh-omnipresence.
The Vast: an endless expanse of empty existence stretching on into forever. Its ruler is unknown.
Time
Orange
Green
Allows the user to see into the past and the future; stop, slow down, speed up or reverse the flow of time; travel through time; change the past and the future; age and de-age beings, and trap people or entire universes in unending loops of time. At full potential, when backed by the Power Gem, the Time Gem grants the user nigh-omniscience and total control over the past, present, and future.
Ellipsis: manipulates the flow of time for anyone within it. Its ruler is unknown.
Additional Gems have appeared in crossover media and alternate universes outside the Marvel Universe.
Name
Color
Powers and capabilities
Known owners
Ego
White
The Ego Gem contains the consciousness of the cosmic entity Nemesis and recreates her when united with the other six Gems. The Ego Gem is found in the Ultraverse when the Asgardian god Loki attempts to steal the other six Gems.
In The Infinity Gauntlet 2015 limited series, released as part of the Secret Wars crossover event, Anwen Bakian uses the Reality Stone to create the Death Stone. Anwen gives it to Thanos, and it corrupts him with black matter and turns him to dust.
The Reed Richards of Earth-616, in an attempt to "solve everything", meets with a council of alternate universe Reeds. Three of them wear Infinity Gauntlets, and they learn that the gauntlets only work in their respective universes of origin..[33][full citation needed]
Contest of Champions
In the Contest of Champions miniseries, an alternate version of Tony Stark uses the Reality Gem to win the superhero civil war and affect the outcome of a presidential election. When he tries to use the Gem on Battleworld, he is killed by the Maestro, who says the Gems do not work in any universe other than their own.[34][full citation needed]
Heroes Reborn (2021)
In an alternate reality depicted in the Heroes Reborn miniseries, the Infinity Gems are in the possession of Thanos, who has them placed in his Infinity Rings.[35][36]
New Avengers
During the "Incursion" storyline, the Avengers travel to a parallel Earth where a pastiche of the Justice League have replaced this Earth's Avengers who all died in a previous cataclysm. Here the Gems are all square planes of "forever glass" which are assembled into the "Wishing Cube", a composite of the concepts of the Infinity Gems and the Cosmic Cube.[37]
Secret Wars
After various alternate universes are combined into Battleworld, Doctor Strange gathers Infinity Gems from other universes into a new Infinity Gauntlet that works in the area where Doom has built his palace. Strange leaves the Gauntlet hidden until he has access to someone he can trust it with. After his death, the Gauntlet is claimed by T'Challa,[38][full citation needed] who uses it against Doom in the final battle.[39][full citation needed][40][full citation needed]
A separate section of Battleworld known as New Xandar also has a Gauntlet fought over by multiple factions until the majority of the Stones, except the Reality Stone, were taken by Thanos.[41] Thanos eventually tracks the missing Stone to Nova Corps member Anwen Bakian. When Thanos confronts her to get the Stone, Anwen gives him a duplicate of the Reality Stone she created called the 'Death Stone'. When used along with the other five Stones, the Death Stone corrupts Thanos with black matter and turns him to dust.[42]
In a reality where Doctor Doom retained the power of the Beyonder, Doom acquired the Infinity Gems from the Elders of the Universe and used them to defeat the Celestials in a 407-year-long war before finally forsaking his power.[50][full citation needed]
In an alternate reality where the original Fantastic Four died, a new Fantastic Four – consisting of Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider – was formed. With Iron Man replacing Ghost Rider, they were the only heroes available to fight Thanos when he initially assembled the Infinity Gauntlet. Despite Iron Man's use of Negative Zone-enhanced Celestial armor, Thanos still easily defeated the team until Wolverine tricked Thanos into erasing Mephisto from existence before cutting off Thanos's left arm, and therefore the Infinity Gauntlet. With Thanos powerless, Spider-Man used the gauntlet to undo the events of Thanos's godhood.[51][full citation needed]
The Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Gems, and an original weapon called the "Infinity Sword" appear in The Super Hero Squad Show.[52] After Iron Man and Doctor Doom destroy the Infinity Sword while attempting to claim it, the first season of the series sees the titular squad collecting the sword's fragments, or "Infinity Fractals", before Doctor Doom's Lethal Legion can. While Doom rebuilds the Infinity Sword, the Silver Surfer tells him that it is useless without the Infinity Gauntlet before taking the sword out to space. The second season sees Thanos attempting to collect the Infinity Gems for his Infinity Gauntlet until the Silver Surfer, corrupted into the Dark Surfer by the sword, steals the completed gauntlet from him. After the Super Hero Squad defeat the Dark Surfer, the gems and sword are destroyed, sending Infinity Fractals across the universe.
The Infinity Gauntlet and five of the Infinity Stones appear in Avengers Assemble. This version of the Infinity Gauntlet has slots for five of the stones as the Soul Stone was in Adam Warlock's possession and Thanos feared him.
The Power Stone appears in the Marvel Future Avengers episode "Mission Black Market Auction". This version was originally kept within Asgard before it was stolen and taken to a black market on Earth.
The Infinity Stones appear in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.[58][59] Players can equip one of the Infinity Stones at the start of a battle, which can be used perform an "Infinity Surge" technique at any time or a limited "Infinity Storm" ability that gives the character a temporary power-up; the effects vary by the chosen stone.[60] In the game's story, Ultron and Sigma use the Space and Reality Stones to fuse themselves into Ultron Sigma and merge the Marvel and Capcom universes into one under their control, leading to the heroes of both universes joining forces to retrieve the remaining Infinity Stones before Ultron Sigma. While Thanos unknowingly destroys the Reality Stone while fighting Ultron Sigma, X destroys the hybrid villain before the heroes build a new society.[61]
The Infinity Stones and a suit of "Infinity Armor", of which the Infinity Gauntlet is a part of, appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. These versions of the Stones and the Armor came into existence at the Heart of Infinity near the center of the universe. Additionally, using them together will make the user unstable and cause them to progressively kill themselves and all life in the universe.
Miscellaneous
From January to August 2012, Wizkids presented the Infinity Gauntlet program at stores that host HeroClix tournaments.[62] An Infinity Gauntlet prop was released, followed by a different Gem each month, each of which can be added to the Gauntlet to increase its power. Additionally, the Gems can be displayed on a stand that comes with the Gauntlet or on each Elder that Thanos encountered in the story Thanos Quest.[63]
Replica Infinity Gauntlets were given out as trophies at Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament 8, a Road to Evo tournament held in 2012.[64]
References
^The Power of Warlock #1–8 (Aug. 1972 – Jun. 1973: bi-monthly)
