Absolute Power

tHe InfInIty GAuntlet

The Infinity Gauntlet is a device created to use the combined power of the six Infinity Gems which, when brought together, comprise the totality of universal forces. The Time, Space, Power, Mind, Soul, and Reality Stones are first united by Thanos (pictured above) to power a cannon he built to extinguish the stars. However, his dream of universal genocide is defeated by Earth Super Heroes the Thing, Spider-Man, and the Avengers before the Mad Titan is executed by the spirit of Adam Warlock acting as the Avatar of Universal Life. Gravitating to their previous individual custodians—the Elders of the Universe—the gems are then employed in a concerted attack on Galactus and believed lost forever in a black hole. However, the cosmic artifacts are inherently attuned to universal crisis points and beings of power, and are soon back in operation.

When Thanos returns to life, he gathers the six gems, claiming they are remnants of a primal cosmic being from the time of universal creation who divided its omnipotent essence into six parts. Evidence later suggests that this might be subterfuge or misdirection on Thanos’ part. Understanding their unified ability to manipulate the totality of all existence, and that they can overwhelm the Multiverse’s most powerful beings such as Galactus, the Celestials, and Eternity, Thanos recovers the gems, constructing a glove to combine the gems’ power. He then begins an assault on all life in the name of his uncaring mistress, Death. Again, Thanos is confronted and ultimately defeated by Adam Warlock and a coalition of Earth’s champions, after which cosmic adjudicator the Living Tribunal decrees the gems are too dangerous to ever be combined again. As a consequence, they are split up and each one assigned a guardian in Warlock’s Infinity Watch.