====== Infinity ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity: **In the Marvel Universe, Infinity is both a fundamental abstract cosmic entity representing the entirety of space and the ultimate source of power channeled through the legendary Infinity Gems (or Stones).**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  *  **Role in the Universe:** As a cosmic being, Infinity is the sibling of [[eternity|Eternity]] (representing time), [[death|Death]], and Oblivion, forming the cosmic compass of creation. The power associated with this concept is made manifest in the Infinity Gems/Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power that govern specific aspects of existence. [[cosmic_entities_(marvel)]].
  *  **Primary Impact:** The quest to assemble the Infinity Gems into the Infinity Gauntlet has been the catalyst for some of the most universe-altering conflicts in Marvel history, most notably [[thanos|Thanos']] campaigns to court Death or bring "balance" to the universe, forcing heroes from every corner of the cosmos to unite against him.
  *  **Key Incarnations:** In the comics ([[earth-616]]), Infinity is a sentient, personified cosmic being, and the artifacts of its power are called the Infinity Gems. In the [[marvel_cinematic_universe|Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)]], this personification is absent; "Infinity" is solely represented by the six Infinity Stones, described as remnants of singularities that predate the universe itself.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
The concept of "Infinity" within Marvel Comics was not introduced as a single, cohesive idea but was built incrementally, primarily by the visionary writer-artist [[jim_starlin|Jim Starlin]]. The journey began with the introduction of the artifacts that would later be known as the Infinity Gems.
The first of these artifacts, the Soul Gem, appeared in ''Marvel Premiere'' #1 (April 1972), created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. It was a key plot device in the origin of [[adam_warlock|Adam Warlock]]. Starlin later took the reins of Warlock's story and introduced the other "Soul Gems," as they were initially called, in various storylines throughout the 1970s, particularly in the pages of ''Captain Marvel'' and ''Warlock''. For years, these were treated as separate, powerful objects.
The idea of uniting them was first executed by [[thanos|Thanos]] in ''Thanos Quest'' #1-2 (1990). It was in this two-issue miniseries that Starlin officially named them the **Infinity Gems** and established their common origin and ultimate purpose. This directly set the stage for the seminal 1991 crossover event, ''[[the_infinity_gauntlet|The Infinity Gauntlet]]'', which cemented the Gems and the Gauntlet's place as objects of ultimate power in the Marvel mythos.
The cosmic entity known as Infinity was introduced separately. Along with its conceptual siblings, Infinity first appeared in ''Quasar'' #24 (July 1991), written by Mark Gruenwald. This story established the hierarchy of cosmic beings, positioning Infinity as the embodiment of space, a counterpart to Eternity's embodiment of time. Starlin would later integrate these cosmic beings into his "Infinity" saga, making them key players in the conflicts surrounding the Gems.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
The origin of Infinity and its associated artifacts differs significantly between the prime comic universe and the cinematic universe, reflecting the different narrative needs of each medium.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
In the primordial history of the Earth-616 reality, before the current cosmic iteration, there existed a lone, omnipotent, and lonely cosmic being named **Nemesis**. In an attempt to end its cosmic solitude, Nemesis created life, but these creations lacked a moral compass and devolved into demonic monstrosities. Horrified, Nemesis destroyed its flawed creations and, unable to bear the solitude any longer, ended its own existence.
The cataclysm of Nemesis's self-destruction was the true "Big Bang" of the Marvel Universe. From this event, the core aspects of existence were born. The consciousness of Nemesis, however, did not vanish entirely. It shattered into seven fragments, each containing an aspect of its limitless power. These fragments cooled and solidified over eons into the artifacts known as the **Infinity Gems**.
Simultaneously, the universe that formed from this event gave rise to abstract cosmic entities, sentient personifications of essential concepts. The four primary beings, considered siblings, were:
  * **Eternity:** The personification of time and all that is.
  * **Infinity:** The personification of space and its boundless potential.
  * **Death:** The personification of mortality and the end of all things.
  * **Oblivion:** The personification of non-existence and the void.
Together, these four beings represent the totality of reality. Infinity itself is a near-omnipotent being, typically appearing as a star-strewn female figure. It rarely interacts with mortal affairs directly, but acts when the fundamental fabric of space itself is threatened, often in concert with its sibling, Eternity. The Infinity Gems are not a direct creation of the entity Infinity but are echoes of the same foundational power that birthed the universe and the cosmic entities themselves.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
The MCU streamlines this complex cosmic mythology into a more scientific, though no less grand, origin. As explained by The Collector in ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' (2014), the origin is rooted in the creation of the universe itself.
Before creation, there was nothing. Then, the Big Bang sent the building blocks of reality rushing outward. There were six **singularities** present in this primordial state. After the universe came into being, these six singularities were forged and concentrated by the Cosmic Entities (beings like the Celestials are implied to have been involved) into six ingots of immense power: the **Infinity Stones**.
Unlike the comics, the MCU does not feature a personified, sentient entity named Infinity. The term "Infinity" refers solely to the Stones collectively and their infinite power. The origin of the Stones is tied directly to the birth of the universe, making them relics of creation itself. Each Stone governs a fundamental aspect of existence, and their nature is so potent that most organic beings cannot handle the raw energy of even one Stone without a containment unit or being destroyed in the process. This origin story removes the narrative of Nemesis and the cosmic family of abstract beings, focusing instead on the Stones as fundamental forces of nature, a source of power to be wielded rather than a consciousness to be communed with.
===== Part 3: The Nature of Infinity: Entities, Gems, and Power =====
The tangible expressions of "Infinity" are vastly different in the comics and films, from their names and colors to their specific abilities and the pantheon of cosmic beings they relate to.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
In the comics, the concept of Infinity is twofold: the entity and the Gems.
==== The Cosmic Entity: Infinity ====
As the literal embodiment of all space, Infinity is a nigh-omnipotent abstract being.
  * **Powers and Abilities:** Infinity can manipulate space, energy, and matter on a universal scale. It is effectively immortal and omnipresent, existing everywhere at once. Its power is equivalent to that of its sibling, Eternity, and together they represent the sum total of the space-time continuum.
  * **Role:** Infinity typically acts as an observer and a balancing force. It has only appeared during cosmic crises of the highest order, such as the schemes of Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet, the threat of the Magus during the ''Infinity War'', or when the universe itself faced existential threats like Abraxas or the Beyonders. It is a member of the cosmic jury that includes beings like the Living Tribunal and The In-Betweener.
==== The Infinity Gems ====
The seven Infinity Gems are the core of most "Infinity" storylines. Their colors have been subject to a major retcon to align with the MCU, but their functions have remained consistent.
^ Gem ^ Original Color (Pre-2017) ^ MCU-Aligned Color (Post-2017) ^ Power and Function ^
| **Soul** | Green | Orange | Allows the user to manipulate souls and spirits, both living and dead. It can steal, alter, or trap souls inside the idyllic "Soul World" within the gem. It also acts as a gateway to a higher state of consciousness. |
| **Power** | Red | Purple | Grants access to all power and energy that has ever or will ever exist. It can augment physical strength to limitless levels, boost the effects of the other gems, and manipulate vast amounts of energy. |
| **Time** | Orange | Green | Provides total control over time. The user can see the past and future, stop, slow, or reverse the flow of time, trap beings in time loops, and travel through any point in history. |
| **Space** | Purple | Blue | Grants mastery over space. The user can teleport themselves or any object to any location imaginable, warp or rearrange space, and achieve omnipresence (be everywhere at once). |
| **Reality** | Yellow | Red | This is the most powerful and dangerous gem. It allows the user to alter reality to match their whims, breaking the laws of physics and logic. Its power can be difficult to control without the other gems to stabilize it. |
| **Mind** | Blue | Yellow | Taps the user into the universal consciousness. It grants immense psionic abilities, including telepathy and telekinesis on a universal scale. The user can read, influence, or control any mind in existence. |
| **Ego** | Gold | N/A | ((This seventh gem was discovered much later.)) It contains the consciousness of the primordial entity Nemesis. When united with the other six, it allows Nemesis to be resurrected. It is not considered part of the classic Infinity Gauntlet set. |
==== The Infinity Gauntlet ====
The Infinity Gauntlet is the device, typically a golden glove, created to house the six primary Infinity Gems and allow a wielder to use their powers in unison. When all six Gems are placed in the Gauntlet, the wielder achieves effective godhood, gaining total control over the space-time continuum and all of reality.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
In the MCU, the lore is simplified and focused entirely on the Infinity Stones. There are no cosmic entities named Infinity or Eternity.
==== The Infinity Stones ====
The six Infinity Stones are the central MacGuffins of the MCU's first three phases, collectively known as "The Infinity Saga." Their colors were established from the beginning and later adopted by the comics.
^ Stone ^ MCU Color ^ Containment Unit / Location ^ Power and Function as seen in the MCU ^
| **Space Stone** | Blue | The Tesseract | Grants the power to open portals to any point in space, enabling interstellar travel. It is also a source of immense, sustainable energy. Used by Loki to bring the Chitauri army to New York. |
| **Mind Stone** | Yellow | Loki's Scepter, later Vision's forehead | Grants advanced intelligence and powerful psionic abilities. It can control minds, project energy blasts, and was responsible for giving sentience to both Ultron and Vision. |
| **Reality Stone** | Red | The Aether (a liquid/gaseous form) | Allows the user to warp reality, converting matter and energy into other forms. Malekith sought to use it to revert the universe to eternal darkness. Thanos used it to create illusions and transmute matter. |
| **Power Stone** | Purple | The Orb, later housed by the Guardians of the Galaxy | An immense source of destructive power. It can amplify the user's strength and project devastating energy capable of destroying entire planets. It incinerates most organic beings who touch it directly. |
| **Time Stone** | Green | The Eye of Agamotto | Provides control over time. Doctor Strange used it to create time loops, reverse localized time to repair damage, and peer into millions of possible futures to find the one path to victory against Thanos. |
| **Soul Stone** | Orange | Hidden on Vormir, guarded by Red Skull | The most mysterious stone. It has power over life and death and requires a terrible sacrifice—the life of someone the seeker loves—to be obtained. It appears to hold a form of sentience and a pocket dimension. |
==== The Infinity Gauntlet (MCU) ====
Two Infinity Gauntlets were created in the MCU.
  * **Thanos's Gauntlet:** Forged by the dwarf king Eitri on Nidavellir under duress from Thanos. It was an Uru-metal gauntlet capable of channeling the power of all six stones.
  * **Stark's Gauntlet:** A nano-tech gauntlet created by Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Rocket Raccoon. It was designed to be wielded by the Avengers to reverse Thanos's snap and could reconfigure itself to fit different users.
Both gauntlets demonstrated that using the Stones inflicts a severe, often lethal, physical toll on the wielder due to the immense gamma radiation and cosmic energy they emit.
===== Part 4: Key Wielders & Cosmic Interactions =====
The pursuit and use of the Infinity Gems/Stones have defined the legacies of many of Marvel's most powerful characters.
==== Core Wielders and Seekers ====
  * **Thanos:** The Mad Titan is the character most intrinsically linked to the Infinity Gems. In the comics, his primary goal was to use the Infinity Gauntlet to extinguish half of all life in the universe as a grand romantic gesture to win the affection of the cosmic entity Death. In the MCU, his goal was reframed as a utilitarian, albeit twisted, desire to bring balance to a universe he believed was overpopulated and consuming itself. In both continuities, he is the most infamous and proficient wielder of the completed Gauntlet.
  * **Adam Warlock:** Warlock's destiny is forever tied to the Soul Gem. He was its guardian for years and the primary hero who orchestrated Thanos's defeat in the original ''Infinity Gauntlet'' saga. He eventually gained possession of the Gauntlet himself and, under the orders of the Living Tribunal, separated the Gems among a new group he formed called the Infinity Watch to prevent them from ever being used together again.
  * **Nebula:** In the comics, Nebula was a cunning space pirate who briefly stole the Gauntlet from a distracted Thanos at the climax of the ''Infinity Gauntlet'' event. Her brief tenure as a vengeful god was unstable and chaotic, and she was quickly tricked out of it by Adam Warlock. In the MCU, her arc is one of a victim seeking revenge on her abusive father, Thanos, and she plays a key role in the "Time Heist" to undo his actions.
  * **The Avengers (Specifically Tony Stark, Hulk, and Steve Rogers):** In the comics, Captain America once wielded the Gauntlet to prevent an alternate universe from colliding with Earth-616, though the effort shattered the Gems. In the MCU, the Avengers are central to the story of the Stones. Hulk performs the "Blip" to bring everyone back, and Tony Stark makes the ultimate sacrifice, using a custom-built gauntlet to wipe out Thanos and his army, proving that even a mortal man can wield infinite power for a noble cause.
==== Cosmic Opposition ====
The immense power of the assembled Gems has drawn the attention of the universe's most powerful forces, who often act to prevent reality from being irrevocably damaged.
  * **The Living Tribunal:** In the comics, the Living Tribunal is a vastly powerful cosmic entity charged with safeguarding the multiverse. After Thanos's defeat, the Tribunal decreed that the Infinity Gems could no longer be used in unison, forcing Adam Warlock to disperse them.
  * **Cosmic Entities (Eternity, Galactus, etc.):** During the ''Infinity Gauntlet'' storyline, the most powerful cosmic beings of the Marvel Universe, including Eternity, Galactus, the Celestials, and the Stranger, confronted Thanos directly. Despite their combined might, they were effortlessly defeated by the Gauntlet-wielding Titan, demonstrating the supreme power he held.
==== Affiliations ====
  * **The Infinity Watch (Earth-616):** After Adam Warlock gained the Gauntlet, he was deemed unworthy of wielding it alone by the Living Tribunal. He then formed the Infinity Watch, entrusting one Gem to each member to keep them separate and safe. The original lineup included:
    *  Adam Warlock (Soul Gem)
    *  Gamora (Time Gem)
    *  Drax the Destroyer (Power Gem)
    *  Pip the Troll (Space Gem)
    *  Moondragon (Mind Gem)
    *  An undisclosed guardian for the Reality Gem (secretly Thanos himself).
===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines =====
The quest for infinite power has fueled Marvel's most epic tales.
=== The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) ===
This is the definitive Infinity story. After collecting all six Infinity Gems, Thanos mounts them on his gauntlet and becomes omnipotent. To prove his love for Mistress Death, he erases half of all life in the universe with a simple snap of his fingers. Earth's remaining heroes and the universe's most powerful cosmic beings unite to fight him in a desperate, losing battle. The conflict is ultimately resolved not by force, but by Thanos's own hubris. He sheds his physical form to become one with the universe, leaving the Gauntlet unattended on his empty body. Nebula seizes it, but Adam Warlock ultimately outsmarts her, claims the Gauntlet, and reverses the devastation.
=== The Infinity War (1992) ===
A sequel to ''The Infinity Gauntlet'', this story sees Adam Warlock purge the good and evil from his being to wield the Gauntlet with pure logic. This act gives birth to two new entities: the Magus (his evil side) and the Goddess (his good side). The Magus, a twisted future version of Warlock, becomes the main antagonist, creating evil doppelgängers of Earth's heroes and attempting to seize the Infinity Gauntlet for himself to reshape the universe in his own dark image. The storyline forces Thanos to ally with the heroes to stop a threat even greater than himself.
=== Infinity (2013) ===
A modern event written by Jonathan Hickman, this storyline is not directly about the Gems but involves Thanos launching a full-scale invasion of Earth while the Avengers are off-world fighting a galactic threat known as the Builders. Thanos's stated goal is to find and kill his Inhuman son, Thane. This event redefined Thanos's motivations for a new era and showcased the Avengers operating on a massive, cosmic scale. The MCU film ''Avengers: Infinity War'' drew visual and thematic inspiration from this event, particularly the "Outriders" and the "Black Order" (renamed the Children of Thanos).
=== The MCU's Infinity Saga ===
This is the overarching narrative of the first 23 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It begins with the introduction of the Tesseract (Space Stone) in ''Captain America: The First Avenger'' and the Mind Stone in ''The Avengers''. Over a decade of films, each Infinity Stone is slowly revealed. This culminates in ''Avengers: Infinity War'', where Thanos successfully collects all six Stones and erases half of all life. In the climactic finale, ''Avengers: Endgame'', the surviving heroes execute a "Time Heist" to retrieve the Stones from the past, reverse Thanos's snap, and defeat him once and for all in a final, epic battle.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
  * **Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610):** In this continuity, there are a total of eight Infinity Gems. Two are located in the N-Zone, and a separate Gauntlet is required for each hand to wield them all. The power of the Gems was shown to be capable of causing massive "Incursions," threatening to destroy realities.
  * **"What If...?" (MCU Series):** The Disney+ animated series explores several alternate timelines involving the Infinity Stones. One prominent story features Ultron successfully uploading his consciousness into Vision's body, acquiring the Mind Stone. He then bisects Thanos, takes the remaining five Stones, and becomes "Infinity Ultron," a multiversal threat who can perceive and travel to other realities, forcing The Watcher to assemble the Guardians of the Multiverse to stop him.
  * **Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (Video Game):** In this crossover fighting game, the Infinity Stones are a core gameplay mechanic. The story involves Ultron and Sigma from the Mega Man X series fusing into "Ultron Sigma" and using the Reality and Space Stones to merge the Marvel and Capcom universes, forcing the heroes of both worlds to unite and find the remaining stones.
===== See Also =====
  * [[thanos]]
  * [[adam_warlock]]
  * [[the_infinity_gauntlet]]
  * [[cosmic_entities_(marvel)]]
  * [[marvel_cinematic_universe]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((The original color of the Soul Gem in its first appearance in ''Marvel Premiere'' #1 was red, not green.))
((Jim Starlin has stated that he conceived of Thanos and the Infinity Saga while taking a psychology class in college.))
((The MCU's decision to change the colors of the Infinity Stones was primarily for cinematic and branding purposes, allowing each stone to have a distinct and recognizable visual identity. The comics officially adopted the MCU's color scheme in 2017 with the ''Marvel Legacy'' relaunch.))
((The acronym often used by fans to remember the location/container of the MCU Infinity Stones is T.H.A.N.O.S.: **T**esseract (Space), **H** (unknown/unconfirmed), **A**ether (Reality), **N**ecklace (Time), **O**rb (Power), **S**cepter (Mind). The 'H' remains a popular point of fan debate.))
((In the comics, the Infinity Gauntlet does not physically harm its user in the same way it does in the MCU. Beings like Thanos and Adam Warlock can wield it with no visible strain, a testament to their immense cosmic power levels in the source material.))
((Source Material: ''Thanos Quest'' #1-2, ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #1-6, ''The Infinity War'' #1-6, ''Infinity'' #1-6.))