Infinity Gauntlet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Infinity Gauntlet is a fictional artifact that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The Gauntlet is a glove mounted with the six Infinity Gems. Each Infinity Gem grants its bearer complete mastery over one aspect of the Universe, being Time; Space; Mind; Soul; Reality and Power. A seventh gem, Ego, is revealed later to exist.[1]
A wielder of all six Infinity Gems has, in theory, virtual omnipotence and can manipulate the universe on whim. Only the cosmic entity Living Tribunal has been implied to be beyond the power of the Gems, as it managed to prevent them from being used in conjunction.[2]
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[edit] Publication history
Note that the mini-series The Thanos Quest is the prologue to the Infinity Gauntlet.
In 1991, Marvel Comics produced The Infinity Gauntlet, a six-issue limited series written by Jim Starlin and penciled by George Pérez and Ron Lim.
In 1992 and 1993, respectively, two six-part sequels — The Infinity War and The Infinity Crusade — were published dealing with the ramifications for the Marvel Universe. These two series were also written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Ron Lim.
[edit] Fictional artifact history
The Titan Thanos, desperate to win Death's affections, decides to offer her a gift of love by erasing half the sentient life in the universe. The surviving heroes on Earth band together, and guided by a newly-resurrected hero Adam Warlock, battle Thanos. In a bid to impress Death, Thanos allows the heroes a slight chance of winning, but still manages to kill almost all of them. Thanos then goes on to imprison the cosmic pantheon — consisting of Galactus; the Stranger; the Titan Chronos; Epoch; the entities Love and Hate; two Celestials; Master Order and Lord Chaos; and Eternity — before losing the Gauntlet in a moment of carelessness to his granddaughter Nebula. After another battle with the heroes and the cosmic pantheon (as Nebula inadvertently undoes their defeat) Nebula loses the Gauntlet to Adam Warlock. Thanos then appears to commit suicide by detonating a nuclear bomb rather than be taken prisoner, but actually retreats to contemplate his loss.
[edit] JLA/Avengers
In a crossover storyline between the Marvel Comics' superhero team the Avengers and the DC Comics superhero team the Justice League of America, the Infinity Gauntlet is one of the twelve items of power both teams are competing to collect. It briefly falls into the hands of Darkseid, Thanos's DC Universe counterpart, but he rejects it as it is useless in his reality.[3]
[edit] Illuminati
The Infinity Gauntlet is featured in the limited series The New Avengers: Illuminati. Mr. Fantastic and the other members of the group locate all six gems, and each take one for safekeeping. To prevent any misuse of power, each member keeps the location of the gem in his possession a secret.[4]
[edit] In other media
[edit] Video games
In 1995, the company Capcom released a game loosely based on the events of the Infinity Gauntlet storyline, titled Marvel Super Heroes.
In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the Gauntlet appears in an alternate future.
[edit] Trading cards
In 1995, the company Fleer released an Overpower game that features the Infinity Gauntlet.
In 2006, Upper Deck Entertainment released the Heralds of Galactus expansion set for its VS System trading card game. It features the Infinity Gauntlet.
