Infinity Watch
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The Infinity Watch is a group of fictional characters in Marvel Comics' universe. The Watch was gathered in Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1, and starred in that series until it ended with issue #42. The six members were the self-appointed guardians of everything.
[edit] History
When Adam Warlock obtained possession of the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet (that contained the six Infinity Gems) from Thanos, he was ordered by the Living Tribunal to separate the Gems so that they might never be used in conjunction again. Warlock formed the Infinity Watch, entrusting each member with an Infinity Gem to protect (keeping the identity of the sixth member a secret even from his fellow Infinity Watch-members). It must be noted that, under the Gauntlet's influence, Warlock was not in his right mind, and even he wondered if he had made the right choices later on.
Initially, Warlock did not intend for the Watch to become a team; he believed the gems would be safer if they were all kept separately, but Warlock's old enemy, the Man-Beast abducted four Infinity Watch members and manipulated their gems in an attempt to destroy Warlock. After the Man-Beast was defeated, the Infinity Watch chose to stay together as a heroic team, except for Thanos. However, Thanos, having undergone a period of humility after the Infinity Gauntlet affair, did not abuse his gem, but kept it safe.
Warlock negotiated a deal with the Mole Man to use a castle on Monster Island as the Watch's base. With help from The Avengers and Warlock, the United Nations recognized the Mole Man's sovereignty of Monster Island. Infinity Watch dealt with many foes, most of them interested in the power the Gems could confer on their owner, and others had personal interests in the Infinity Watch members.
An amnesiac man appeared on Monster Island and was taken in by the Watch despite Gamora's warnings. Gamora, holding the Time Gem, had had visions of this man killing Adam Warlock. The Watch named the man Maxam after a symbol found on his belt and he joined the Watch, despite a violent outburst against Warlock.
A while later Gamora would leave the team after an argument with Adam Warlock. Maxam became the new Guardian of the Time Gem. Donning the Time Gem his memories returned and he battled Adam Warlock, who would turn into the Magus and nearly exterminate mankind on Maxam's world. Under Moondragon's telepathic influence, Maxam believed that he had broken Warlock's neck and returned to his own world.
Meanwhile the being known as Rune stole all the Infinity Gems and took them to the Ultraverse. With Gamora, Maxam and the gems gone, the Watch disbanded. Although the gems were eventually returned to the Marvel Universe, the Watch has not been fully reestablished yet; however, Adam Warlock, Gamora, and Pip were shown attempting to overthrow the Champion of the Universe's rule of the planet Skardon in the 2004–2005 She-Hulk series, and at one point recruited Drax to aid in their efforts.
[edit] Members
- Adam Warlock (Soul Gem)
- Drax the Destroyer (Power Gem)
- Gamora (Time Gem)
- Moondragon (Mind Gem)
- Pip the Troll (Space Gem)
- Thanos (Reality Gem) (ally)
- Maxam
[edit] Notes
- Many members of the Infinity Watch were chosen for their inability to use their assigned Gem's full potential:
- Pip was a coward and would keep his Space Gem safe because he would teleport to safety at the first sign of trouble.
- Drax had brain damage and was only able to tap into the Power Gem to increase his own already formidable strength and ability to project energy.
- Gamora was unable to use her Time Gem consciously, but her skills as one of the universe's greatest assassins would keep the gem safe.
- Moondragon had no trouble using the Mind Gem but could not read the minds of her fellow Watchmen. This was a failsafe Warlock put on her gem when he had the Infinity Gauntlet. However Warlock could telepathically communicate to anyone holding an Infinity Gem.
- While Thanos' possession of the Reality Gem could grant him anything that he desired, Captain Marvel stated that perhaps Thanos was chosen because he was the only being in the universe wise enough not to use it.
- Most wielders of an Infinity Gem attached the gem to their forehead, but Pip kept his gem hidden between his toes and Drax swallowed his gem, thinking it was a piece of candy. Drax's unique digestive tract kept the gem safely within his stomach.
