Who Is Marvel’s Adam Warlock?
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will introduce to the screen a powerful character named Adam Warlock. Actually, powerful might be an understatement. In fact, in some comic book story arcs, he becomes one of the most powerful beings in the entire Marvel Universe.
Within the MCU, Adam is a creation of Ayesha, a Sovereign High Priestess. Somehow, he’ll get involved with the High Evolutionary. But who exactly is Adam Warlock in the comics? And what’s his story? Let’s find out.
“The Perfect Human Being”
The being who would come to be known as Adam Warlock was an experiment. He was created by researchers who referred to themselves as The Enclave. They hoped to use him to enforce their will on the world. However, this being could sense the evil of the researchers, and burst out of his cocoon. He escaped without even having a name. Instead, he was simply called “Him.”
“Him” already had extraordinary strength, speed, flight, and the ability to survive in the vacuum of space. Even more extraordinary is his ability to regenerate inside a cocoon. Every time he emerges from the cocoon he becomes even more powerful. In time, he gained the ability to manipulate matter itself. Eventually, he was strong enough to turn Thanos into granite.
Soul Gem Bearer
After regenerating, “Him” finally received a new name. The High Evolutionary called him Warlock. Furthermore, the High Evolutionary had plans to make Warlock even more incredible. So, he embedded the Soul Gem into Warlock’s forehead, similar to Vision’s Mind Stone in the MCU. However, the Soul Gem grants him so many more abilities.
Adam Warlock can manipulate souls, travel through time, create portals, and cast incredibly powerful spells. He can live within the Soul Gem, and even place others inside it. Adam Warlock is immortal. His soul is so powerful that it cannot even be claimed by Death. It would take a truly incredible evil to challenge him.
The Evil Magus
It wouldn’t be long before he met that great evil. But whose power could rival his own? An alternate timeline future version of himself of course! This evil being named himself Magus. His power was nigh unstoppable. In fact, Magus’ ability to travel through time and manipulate events was so prolific, he effectively set in motion all of the events that created himself. Magus is his own maker.
Adam Warlock wasn’t nearly powerful enough to defeat him. So he teamed up with Pip the Troll (whom we met in the MCU at the end of Eternals), Gamora, and even Thanos himself. They used their combined power to defeat Magus. Even then, he was only temporarily defeated. Just like Adam Warlock, he is powerful enough and clever enough to conquer Death in many ways.
Infinity Gauntlet Wielder
After defeating Magus with Thanos, the Mad Titan decided that he wanted the power of the Soul Gem himself. In fact, he wanted all of the Infinity Gems along with the Infinity Gauntlet. Since Thanos had many of the the other Gems, Adam could not win. Realizing he had to surrender, he hid inside the Soul Gem within his cocoon once more. Just like before, when he emerged, he was even more powerful.
The Soul Gem was so attuned to Adam Warlock’s will that it could call forth all the other Infinity Gems. It could call forth the Infinity Gauntlet itself so that he could wield the power for good. However, in order to be a logical and impartial deity, he chose to remove all good and evil from himself, creating alternate versions. The evil version was, in fact, Magus once again.
The Living Tribunal
Adam would go on to defeat Magus in many timelines and in many stories. But in one particular timeline, Adam made an incredible sacrifice. With all the chaos across the Multiverse, he took it upon himself to become the ultimate cosmic judge of justice. Adam Warlock became The Living Tribunal.
The Living Tribunal is perhaps one of the most powerful beings in the entire Marvel Universe, save for the One Above All. Even with his power, Adam Warlock did all he could to fight for good.
Guardian of the Galaxy
After many grand cosmic adventures, he would eventually return to his own life. He would work alongside the heroes he had come to know and love. After all, he spent many years working with Gamora and even Drax. Knowing there was an entire galaxy to save, he joined the team they were on.
As a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, he would continue to fight for good. In fact, he had to fight his evil alternate self once more when the Magus was born again. Star-Lord was there to help, and used the Cosmic Cube to transform him back into Adam Warlock once again.
Are you excited to see Will Poulter’s portrayal of Adam Warlock in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?
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