Infinity (Marvel Comics)
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Infinity is one of the fictional cosmic entities in Marvel Comics' universe. She is first mentioned in Quasar #19 and first appeared in Quasar #24 (1991) (see notes)
Infinity is one of the five essential entities within the Marvel Universe alongside Eternity, Death, Oblivion, and Galactus. These beings call each other brothers and sisters, though due to their nature as personifications of abstract concepts, they are not family in any conventional sense.
Infinity is the personification of space. She is the sister or other half of Eternity, who is a personification of time (sometimes also presented as the personification of all life in the universe). Together they represent all life and existence in the Marvel Universe, while their counterparts Death and Oblivion represent death and non-existence. It was revealed that Eternity and Infinity are in fact two different aspects of the same being, when they appeared as a single entity during the Infinity War.
Eternity and Infinity are in constant competition with Death and Oblivion, with Galactus providing a balance between the two. This competition is not hostile, but an inevitable result of their natural purposes. Where Eternity and Infinity try to expand life and the universe, Death and Oblivion desire to reduce it, usually to a point where there is an exact balance between life and death, but sometimes they seem to want the complete end of existence.
In this conflict, Oblivion endowed his champion, Maelstrom with some of his power, making him his avatar. Maelstrom tried to end Infinity. To stop him, Infinity made Quasar her own avatar. Quasar won and Oblivion and Infinity came to a new agreement. (Quasar #19-25) [ The role of Infinity is thought to be one of great importance to the workings of the Marvel Universe, but exactly what her role is has yet to be defined.
[edit] Notes
- A cosmic entity known as "Infinity" appears in Thor #184-188, but acts quite differently from the Infinity in Quasar. It is therefore unlikely that the two are the same character, though the Marvel Universe Handbook: Master Edition considers them both to be the same character. This Infinity was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema in 1971. It was later revealed in the Quasar series that the Asgardian king Odin had tapped into a fraction of Infinity's power creating the "Infinity" that appeared in the Thor series. This being, while wielding a fraction of Infinity's power, did not represent the actual Infinity.
- A female villain known as both "Infinity" and "Crazy Eight" appeared in the Incredible Hulk #380 (1991).
- Eternity's son Entropy killed Eternity in the pages of Captain Marvel, only to become the new Eternity himself. It is unclear how this has affected Infinity.
- Despite her cosmic importance, she has only appeared a few times in comics, perhaps because Eternity can fulfill the same purpose in most stories and is more renowned as a character. She commonly appeares alongside Eternity.
[edit] Other Media
Infinity appears along side Eternity in the short lived fox kids animated show The Silver Surfer.
Eternity and Infinity first appeared in episode 4 The Planet Of Doctor Moreau. From that episode, they would observe the actions of The Silver Surfer as they wanted to recruit him for a mission. Sometimes they would feel confident in their choice, and sometimes they would feel doubt.
The Watcher would introduce The Silver Surfer to them in the Season 1 finale The End Of Eternity, Part 1. Thanos created the means to reverse time and space, which would allow him to destroy the universe in order to please Lady Chaos. The Surfer is chosen as he was immune to the changes of the cosmos (Due to the power cosmic). The episode ends with the destruction of the universe.
- Eight more episodes were written, unproduced (including The End Of Eternity, Part 2). Only Thanos, Lady Chaos and The Silver Surfer survived the destruction of the universe. During the battle, the Surfer uses his power to restore the universe as well as recreating it.
As a result, some of the people and places have changed (Such as Thanos seeking peace rather than destruction). Only Eternity, Infinity and The Silver Surfer remember how the former history of the universe.
They would appear one more time in the 8th scripted episode Down To Earth, Part 3. During the three parter, The Surfer tries to enforce peace to the citizens of Earth. Part 3 has Galactus returning to devour Earth (Led there by his new herald, Terrax). Only when the Silver Surfer repents, does Eternity and Infinity aid him (and The Fantastic Four) in ending Galactus' threat over the planet.
