Living Tribunal
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The Living Tribunal is a Marvel Comics cosmic entity and first appeared in Strange Tales Vol. 1, #157 (cameo - first full appearance next issue). The Tribunal is an omnipotent entity empowered by an unknown force to oversee the realities that constitute the Multiverse, from the mainstream universe (616) to all the alternate realities (eg. What If ) and pocket universes (eg. Earth X ).
The Living Tribunal rarely appears and only then in exceptional circumstances, such as when passing judgement on Earth, [1] monitoring the actions of other cosmic deities [2] or acting as a referee on matters affecting an entire universe. [3]
The Living Tribunal's power is apparently limitless, as the entity is capable of nullifying the combined power of the Infinity Gems. [4] The Living Tribunal has only been surpassed once: Thanos of Titan becomes one with the entire universe through the use of an artifact called the Heart of the Universe and even the Living Tribunal is apparently powerless to stop him. [5] It is uncertain as to whether this was the true Living Tribunal or merely an avatar, as the entity is supposedly beyond the beings and artifacts of any one universe.
[edit] Appearance
The Living Tribunal has three faces, although only one is fully visible, with the other two being partially and completely covered respectively. The three faces represent Equity, Necessity and Vengeance and correspond to the three prime cosmic beings (and their counterparts) in all universes.
In the primary Marvel universe these beings are:
- Equity - Galactus
- Necessity - Eternity
- Vengeance - Death
Note:
The fourth side of the Living Tribunal's head is a void. The Tribunal once stated that it could have represented the cosmic entity the Stranger, but the latter refused. [6]
[edit] References
- ^ Strange Tales Vol.1, #157 - 163
- ^ Rom Vol. 1, #41
- ^ Warlock and the Infinity Watch Vol. 1, #1
- ^ Warlock and the Infinity Watch Vol. 1, #1
- ^ Marvel Universe:The End #1 - 6
- ^ Silver Surfer Vol. 3, #31
