The One-Above-All

• Core Identity: The One-Above-All is the supreme, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent creator of the entire Marvel Omniverse, existing beyond all realities, dimensions, and cosmic entities as the ultimate source of all life and existence.
• Key Takeaways:
• Absolute Supremacy: The One-Above-All is the single most powerful being in all of Marvel Comics, the master of the living_tribunal, and the ultimate architect of the multiverse. Its power is infinite and absolute, making it the final authority over all of creation.
• Meta-Narrative Role: It often serves as a meta-commentary on the nature of storytelling itself, representing the writers, artists, and creative force behind Marvel Comics. Its known manifestations have included a homeless man, a divine light, and even a form resembling legendary artist jack_kirby.
• Distinct from Other Entities: It is crucial to distinguish The One-Above-All from the powerful Celestial leader named The One Above All (note the different capitalization). It also possesses a dark, destructive counterpart known as the one_below_all.
• Continuity Status: The One-Above-All is a concept exclusive to the Marvel Comics continuity (Earth-616 and its related realities). It has never appeared, been mentioned, or alluded to in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The concept of a single, supreme creator in the Marvel Universe evolved gradually over decades, solidifying from vague allusions into a named entity. Early stories, particularly in titles like Doctor Strange, made references to a capital-G “God,” but these were often ambiguous and context-dependent. The formal introduction of a being who sits at the apex of the cosmic hierarchy came with the creation of the living_tribunal by Stan Lee, Marie Severin, and Herb Trimpe in Strange Tales #157 (1967). The Living Tribunal was established as the ultimate judge of the multiverse, who explicitly stated he served a higher, unseen master. This laid the philosophical groundwork for a supreme being, creating a narrative space for a final authority that even the most powerful cosmic entities answered to. The name “The One-Above-All” was first solidified and its role explored in detail by writer Mark Waid and artist Mike Wieringo in their landmark Fantastic Four run. In Fantastic Four #511 (2004), the team, mourning the death of the Thing, travels to the afterlife and beyond, eventually meeting the “creator” of the universe. In a highly meta-textual and celebrated scene, this creator appears in the form of a kindly artist at a drawing board, a clear homage to the legendary Jack Kirby. This appearance cemented The One-Above-All's identity not just as a deity, but as a representation of the creative process that fuels Marvel Comics itself. Later writers, such as Jim Starlin in his Infinity sagas and Al Ewing in The Immortal Hulk, have further expanded upon the nature of The One-Above-All. Starlin's work often places it at the center of cosmic crises, making it the ultimate restorer of balance, while Ewing introduced its antithetical counterpart, the one_below_all, adding a complex layer of dualism to its divine nature.

As the supreme creator and source of all that is, The One-Above-All does not have an “origin story” in the conventional sense. It is the origin itself. It pre-dates the multiverse and is the uncaused first cause from which all realities, dimensions, concepts, and beings spring. Its existence is absolute and eternal.

Within the Earth-616 continuity, The One-Above-All is the ultimate being, responsible for the creation of the multiverse and all life within it. It does not reside in any specific dimension but exists simultaneously everywhere and nowhere, beyond the confines of time and space. Its presence is rarely felt directly, as it delegates the maintenance and judgment of the multiverse to its primary servant, the Living Tribunal. Its direct interventions are exceedingly rare and typically occur only at moments of profound existential crisis, cosmic imbalance, or to provide guidance to a key individual. These appearances are always tailored to the perception of the being it is interacting with.

• To the Fantastic Four: It appeared as a friendly, humble artist—a clear stand-in for Jack Kirby—working at a drawing board. It explained that it creates stories for the love of it and restored Ben Grimm to life, comforting Reed Richards in his moment of despair.
• To Peter Parker: During the aftermath of the Civil War event, a distraught Peter Parker was visited by The One-Above-All in the guise of a kind, elderly homeless man. This manifestation offered him comfort and reinforced the idea that great power comes with great responsibility, urging him to have faith in himself and humanity.
• To Thanos and Adam Warlock: During the events of The Infinity Finale, after thanos absorbed the entire multiverse and confronted its consciousness, he was met by a golden, glowing version of himself who was revealed to be a manifestation of The One-Above-All. It communicated with Thanos and a resurrected Adam Warlock, ultimately intervening to restore reality and appoint a willing Adam Warlock as the new Living Tribunal.

The One-Above-All's nature is portrayed as omnibenevolent, though its love is often expressed through the granting of free will, allowing suffering and evil to exist as part of a larger, often incomprehensible plan. It is the ultimate source of power, love, and creation in the Marvel Universe.

The One-Above-All has not appeared and does not exist within the established canon of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The cosmic hierarchy of the MCU has been explored through entities like the Celestials, Eternity (as seen in Thor: Love and Thunder), and the Time-Keepers/He Who Remains of the TVA. However, the concept of a single, monotheistic, all-powerful creator has been deliberately avoided. There are several likely reasons for this exclusion:

• Thematic Focus: The MCU is grounded in a science-fiction approach to the cosmic, even with its magical elements. Beings like the Celestials are presented as ancient, god-like space engineers, not as true deities. Introducing a literal, omnipotent God-figure would fundamentally shift the tone and stakes of the universe.
• Narrative Stakes: The presence of an all-powerful, benevolent being would lower the stakes of many universe-ending threats. A being who could undo the Snap with a thought would make the struggles of heroes like the avengers feel less meaningful.
• Avoiding Religious Parallels: Marvel Studios has generally been careful to avoid direct parallels with real-world religions. Introducing The One-Above-All would inevitably draw comparisons to the God of Abrahamic religions, which the studio likely wishes to avoid for a global audience.

While the MCU may continue to introduce powerful cosmic beings, the specific, meta-textual, and supreme entity known as The One-Above-All from the comics remains exclusive to that medium.

The essence of The One-Above-All is a concept that transcends traditional categorization. It is not a being with “powers” so much as it is the source of power itself. Its nature is absolute, and its capabilities are, by definition, infinite.

The One-Above-All's defining characteristic is its absolute supremacy. It is the ultimate creator, the architect of the Omniverse, and the source of all life, energy, and reality. Its will is the final law of existence. Philosophically, it embodies the concepts of creation, love, and order. Al Ewing's run on The Immortal Hulk introduced a crucial dualistic aspect to its nature by revealing the existence of the one_below_all. This entity is the equal and opposite reaction to The One-Above-All—a being of absolute destruction, rage, and entropy. They are two sides of the same coin; one cannot exist without the other. The One-Above-All is the creative hand, while The One Below All is the destructive hand, and together they form a complete whole that governs the cycle of creation and destruction across all realities.

To list the “powers” of The One-Above-All is to list every power imaginable and unimaginable, as it is the source of all of them. Its capabilities are boundless.

• Omnipotence: The ability to do anything. The One-Above-All's power is infinite and without limit. It can create or destroy entire multiverses, alter reality, manipulate time and space, and resurrect the dead with a mere thought. Its power is so absolute that even the infinity_gauntlet is described as a mere fraction of its might.
• Omniscience: The ability to know everything. It has complete and total knowledge of all events, thoughts, and possibilities across the past, present, and future of every reality in the Omniverse.
• Omnipresence: The ability to be everywhere at once. It exists outside of time and space and is simultaneously present in all places and all times across all universes.
• Reality Manipulation: As the author of reality, it can write, rewrite, and erase existence on any scale, from a single atom to the entire Omniverse.
• Divine Creation: It is the source of all life. It created the cosmic entities like Eternity, Infinity, and Death, as well as the Living Tribunal to act as its agent.

The One-Above-All has no true form. When it chooses to interact with lesser beings, it adopts a form that its audience can comprehend or that is relevant to the situation.

• The Creator (Jack Kirby): In Fantastic Four #511, it took the form of a simple, friendly man at a drawing board, pencil in hand. This form symbolized its role as the storyteller, the “writer” of the Marvel Universe.
• The Homeless Man: In Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #40, it appeared as an unnamed homeless man to comfort Peter Parker. This form emphasized humility, wisdom, and the idea that divinity can be found in the most unexpected places.
• The Golden Being: In Thanos: The Infinity Finale, it appeared to Thanos and Adam Warlock as a radiant, golden being. This form projected pure power and divine authority, befitting an intervention at the highest cosmic level.
• The Voice: In early Doctor Strange comics, it was often an unseen, disembodied voice referred to simply as “God,” guiding Strange in his role as Sorcerer Supreme.

As The One-Above-All does not exist in the MCU, there are no powers or manifestations to analyze. The ultimate sources of power depicted in the MCU are far more tangible and, crucially, fallible.

• The Infinity Stones: These six singularities represent control over fundamental aspects of the universe (Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time, Soul). While their combined power is immense, allowing Thanos to wipe out half of all life, it is a tool that can be wielded, not a conscious, omnipotent being.
• Eternity: As seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, Eternity is a cosmic entity at the center of the universe that grants a single wish to the first person who reaches it. It is portrayed as a powerful but passive force, a cosmic mechanism rather than an all-knowing creator deity.
• The Celestials: These beings are “cosmic gods” who create stars, planets, and life across the universe. As shown in Eternals, however, they are not all-powerful; they can be defied and even killed. They are architects on a galactic scale, but they are not the ultimate source of the universe itself.

The power structure in the MCU is polytheistic and tiered, lacking the single, absolute apex represented by The One-Above-All in the comics.

The One-Above-All's “relationships” are better understood as a cosmic hierarchy it has established. It sits alone at the top, with all other beings, no matter how powerful, existing on planes below it.

• The Living Tribunal: The most significant of The One-Above-All's servants. The Living Tribunal's entire purpose is to safeguard the Multiverse and maintain cosmic balance on behalf of its master. It acts as the supreme judge, with the authority to erase entire realities if they pose a threat to the multiversal whole. All its power and authority are granted by, and subservient to, The One-Above-All. The Tribunal cannot and will not act against the will of its creator.
• The One Below All: Less of an agent and more of a “dark twin” or an essential, opposing aspect. The One Below All is the personification of destruction, wrath, and entropy. It is the force behind the malevolent Gamma Mutates, most notably the “Devil Hulk.” It is locked in an eternal, cosmic dance with The One-Above-All, representing the necessary force of destruction that allows for new creation. They are the yin and yang of the Marvel Omniverse.

By definition, no being can truly be an “enemy” or “opposition” to The One-Above-All, as it is infinitely more powerful than anything else. However, some beings and concepts represent forces antithetical to its creative nature.

• Thanos (with Absorbed Multiverse): In one of the few instances of a being even attempting to challenge the cosmic order on this scale, a power-mad Thanos in The Infinity Finale managed to absorb the entirety of the abstract cosmic entities, including Eternity and the Living Tribunal. In doing so, he became the reality of the multiverse. This act forced a direct confrontation with The One-Above-All, which ended with Thanos's immediate defeat and the restoration of order. This storyline serves as the ultimate proof that no amount of acquired power can ever match the inherent supremacy of the creator.
• Oblivion: One of the four great cosmic abstracts (along with Eternity, Infinity, and Death), Oblivion represents the void of non-existence. While Death represents the end of life, Oblivion represents the end of everything, including existence itself. As such, its fundamental nature is antithetical to The One-Above-All's role as the source of all existence. However, like all abstracts, Oblivion is merely a component of the creation The One-Above-All authored.

The One-Above-All sits at the absolute pinnacle of power. The hierarchy below is vast and complex, but its position is undisputed.

1. 1. The One-Above-All: Supreme Creator of All.
2. 2. The Living Tribunal: Supreme Judge of the Multiverse, direct servant of The One-Above-All.
3. 3. Cosmic Abstracts: Beings like Eternity (the sum total of the universe), Infinity, Death, and Oblivion, who personify fundamental concepts.
4. 4. Other Cosmic Beings: This tier includes powerful entities like the Celestials, Galactus, the Phoenix Force, and the Stranger.
5. 5. Skyfather-Level Beings: Rulers of pantheons like Odin, Zeus, and other god-like figures.
6. 6. Mortal Beings: This includes all other life, from humans to aliens, including superheroes and supervillains.

In the storyline “The Book of Peter,” written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Peter Parker is at one of his lowest points. His identity has been publicly revealed during Civil War, his Aunt May is dying from an assassin's bullet meant for him, and he is overwhelmed by guilt and despair. While sitting atop a snowy rooftop, he is approached by an old, unassuming homeless man. This man speaks to Peter with uncanny wisdom and compassion, understanding the depth of his pain. He listens as Peter questions his faith and his life's mission. The man doesn't offer magical solutions but instead provides profound comfort, reminding Peter of his own strength and the importance of his choices. He tells Peter, “With great power comes great responsibility… it's a gift. You're a gift to all of us.” The story strongly implies this man is The One-Above-All in a humble guise, choosing to offer not a cosmic miracle, but a moment of human connection and faith to a hero who desperately needed it. It is one of the most subtle and emotionally resonant appearances of the entity.

Written by Mark Waid, this iconic story sees the fantastic_four journey through the afterlife to save the soul of Ben Grimm. Their journey takes them to the very “top floor” of creation: a simple, white room containing a drawing board, a chair, and a friendly man sketching with a pencil. This man, drawn to resemble Jack Kirby, reveals himself to be the creator of their universe. He explains that he “tells stories” and that they are his greatest creations. When a grieving Reed Richards demands to know why he allowed Ben to die, the creator responds with empathy, explaining the necessity of stakes and meaning in any story. In a moment of ultimate power and compassion, he uses his pencil to “redraw” Ben Grimm, bringing him back to life. This event was a profound meta-commentary on the relationship between creators and their characters and remains the most definitive and beloved depiction of The One-Above-All.

In Jim Starlin's conclusion to his modern cosmic saga, Thanos, through cunning and immense power, succeeds in absorbing the cosmic energies of all the abstract entities, effectively becoming the new, singular reality. He finds himself in a void, believing himself to be the new supreme being. It is here that he is confronted by The One-Above-All, who appears as a shimmering, golden version of Thanos himself. The One-Above-All calmly explains the flaw in Thanos's plan: he destroyed the vessel (the multiverse) and now has nothing to rule. In this moment, The One-Above-All demonstrates its true power, effortlessly resurrecting Adam Warlock. It facilitates a conversation where Thanos, realizing the emptiness of his victory, agrees to sacrifice himself to restore the multiverse. The One-Above-All then offers the vacant position of the Living Tribunal to Adam Warlock, who accepts. This storyline reaffirms The One-Above-All's role as the ultimate restorer of cosmic balance, whose power and wisdom are absolute and beyond the reach of even the most ambitious cosmic manipulators.

Due to its abstract and meta-fictional nature, The One-Above-All is the subject of frequent fan discussion and confusion.

One of the most common points of confusion is the distinction between The One-Above-All (the supreme being) and The One Above All (the Celestial). The latter is the unseen leader of the Celestials of the Fourth Host on Earth. He is an immensely powerful space god, on par with other major Celestials like Arishem the Judge. However, his power, while vast, is infinitesimal compared to the true supreme being. The key differences are:

• Capitalization: The supreme being's name is hyphenated: One-Above-All. The Celestial's is not.
• Scale of Power: The Celestial is a powerful member of a race of cosmic beings. The One-Above-All is the creator of those beings and everything else.
• Role: The Celestial is an active, albeit mysterious, participant in cosmic events. The One-Above-All is an observer and the ultimate source of reality itself.

This is a popular and understandable fan theory, fueled by the Fantastic Four #511 appearance. While The One-Above-All took on the likeness of Jack Kirby, it is not literally Jack Kirby the man. This manifestation was a symbolic representation. The One-Above-All is best understood as the embodiment of the entire creative force behind Marvel Comics. This includes Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and every writer, artist, editor, and creator who has ever contributed to the Marvel tapestry. The Kirby appearance was a tribute to one of its most important foundational “avatars.”

The One-Above-All serves as the clear analogue for a monotheistic God within the Marvel Universe's cosmology. Its omnipotence, omniscience, and role as the single creator align with the attributes of God in the Abrahamic faiths. However, Marvel has consistently and deliberately kept this connection symbolic rather than explicit. It is never referred to as “God” in a way that directly links it to a specific real-world religion, allowing it to function as a universal spiritual concept within its fictional framework without alienating any portion of the audience. It is the God of the Marvel Universe, not a specific god from our world.

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