Infinity Gems

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The Infinity Gems are Marvel Comics artifacts, and are in fact six immensely powerful sentient beings ^[1]. Originally referred to - erroneously - as Soul Gems, the six can be used in unison to make the wielder omnipotent, and in complete control of the universe. A later story line added a seventh Gem, although this may not be in continuity (see below).

The six Infinity Gems

1 Description
2 History
3 Recent Appearances
4 Other Media
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Description

Each gem is a smooth oblong, about the length of a man's thumb.

The seven Infinity Gems are known by their respective power:

Space (purple) -

Allows the user to exist in any location (or all); move any object anywhere throughout the universe and warp or rearrange space.

Prime Owners: Runner; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Mind (blue) -

Allows the user to boost mental power and access the thoughts and dreams of other beings. Backed by the Power Gem, it is possible to access all minds in existence simultaneously.

Prime Owners: Grandmaster; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Soul (green) -

Arguably the most dangerous, as this gem is sentient and has a hunger for souls. Allows the user to steal, manipulate and alter souls, living or dead. Adam Warlock has been the sole custodian of this gem for many years, feeling responsible for many of the souls that he himself has taken. Ironically, the gem is the gateway to an idyllic, pocket-universe.

Prime Owners: In-Betweener; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Reality (yellow) -

Perhaps the most powerful, and most difficult to utilize. Allows the user to fulfill wishes - even if in direct contradiction with scientific laws. Can result in disaster if not careful as to the nature of the wish.

Prime Owners: Collector; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Time (orange/red*) -

Allows the user total mastery of time. Past, present and future are all accessible or visible through its power. With advanced training in the use of the gem, time can even be used as a weapon, trapping enemies or entire worlds in unending loops of time.

Prime Owners: Gardener; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Power (red/pink*) -

Contains access to all power and energy that ever has or will exist, and backs the other gems and boosts their effects. Allows the user to duplicate almost any physical superhuman ability and become invincible and therefore unbeatable when using raw power alone.

Prime Owners: Champion; Thanos; Nebula; Adam Warlock; Magus; Rune; Loki.

Ego (gold) -

The seventh gem. It contains the consciousness of Nemesis, which when merged with the other gems reforms the cosmic entity the gems were once an integral part of. Also allows the user to manipulate dimensional energies. Not one of the original six gems, this artifact was found in the Ultraverse when Loki attempted to steal the other gems from the existing users.

Prime Owners: Loki

Note:

Prior to the events of The Infinity Gauntlet, the Time Gem was orange and the Power Gem was Red. Currently the Time Gem is red and the Power Gem is pink. The Power Gem appeared blue when worn by the Thunder God, Thor.

[edit] History

The first Gem to be seen in continuity is Soul,^[2] with all six being seen for the first time during the first Thanos War. ^[3] They were seen years later by the Silver Surfer and referred to as the Soul Gems. ^[4] It is not until Thanos retrieves the entire set that the Gems are referred to as Infinity Gems. ^[5]

Discovering the true potential of the gems, Thanos explains to the Runner that the gems are actually the remains of a once omnipotent but lonely being. Attempts to create other life forms failed as the creations had no concept of good or evil and devolved into beasts. Realising its' error, the being destroyed the flawed creations and committed suicide, being unable to endure eternity alone. A fraction of this being remained, however, and became the Infinity Gems. Taking the Gems from the In-Betweener and the Elders of the Universe - a fatal experience for some - Thanos uses them to create the Infinity Gauntlet, a glove set with all six gems.

Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet. Art by Ron Lim. Publisher Marvel Comics

Thanos becomes the equivalent of God, but a series of doubts within himself that spells his downfall. ^[6] Nebula also tries to wield the Infinity Gauntlet, but her inexperience proves her undoing. Following the events of the Infinity Gauntlet, the Living Tribunal declares that the Infinity Gems can no longer be used in unison. When the gems are separated they are distributed to the individual members of the Infinity Watch. The Magus collects and reunites the gems, but once again a sole wielder of all six gems proves to be unfulfilling and have disastrous consequences. ^[7]

Note:

The god Loki discovers the existence of a seventh gem, and that all seven were originally extracted from the consciousness of a cosmic being known as Nemesis. The gems temporarily gain independent consciousness, and some even manifest as physical entities that battle the Avengers and Ultraforce. ^[8] The transformation is reversed and the gems recovered, although the seventh gem - Ego - has not been seen since. As Malibu Comics was purchased and subsequently dissolved by Marvel, it is possible that this story did not occur in mainstream Marvel continuity.

[edit] Recent Appearances

The World Devourer Galactus collects all six Infinity Gems for the purpose of ending his need to consume planets. The gambit fails, and instead allowed a deadly, inter-dimensional parasite to gain egress into the Marvel Universe. In the chaos that follows the gems are scattered once more - save for the Soul Gem - which Thanos retains for Adam Warlock. ^[9]

In the recent JLA/Avengers crossover, the Infinity Gems were one of 12 featured items of power. The villain Darkseid obtains the Gauntlet, but casually discards it upon discovering that the gems do not work in the DC universe. ^[10]