Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock is a comic book character that first appeared in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #66
Adam Warlock is a synthetic being created by human scientists to become their ideal template for a new race of humans who would one day rule the Earth. However, their superhuman creation rebelled...
Origin & History
On his trials through Earth; Him discovers the Asgardian goddess Sif and wants her to be his mate, which awakens the wrath of Thor, of the God of Thunder, who he passively escapes by creating a cocoon around himself. Him later met the person that changed his life, The High Evolutionary, who gave him his now known name: Adam – for being the first of his kind, Warlock – because men would fear his power, and gave him the Soul gem that would apparently change his life.
Counter Earth
After clearing Adam up on what’s happened on Counter-Earth, the High Evolutionary’s creation, Adam departs to go there and stop the Man-Beast, a wolf that the High Evolutionary had genetically modified into a humanoid form. After fighting the Man-Beast several times, he was ultimately defeated, crucified and left to die by the Man-Beast and his minions, in turn dying for the sins of the residents of Counter Earth. However, death is not final for Adam and he once again created his cocoon to shelter himself from outer harm, and finally managed to defeat the Man-Beast with the Hulk taking care of his minions.
The Magus
After several months, Adam found himself on a desolate planet and figured that he failed to accomplish what the High Evolutionary begged him for. It was then, that he learned about his evil future counterpart, an intergalactic menace known as the Magus, a being who rules a religious empire called “ The Universal Church of Truth”, whose goal is to conquer worlds and offer only two options; convert, or die. Warlock ends up battling the Church with his companions; Pip the Troll and Gamora the deadliest woman in the Universe (and adopted daughter of Thanos of Titan). The Magus manipulated Warlock into a series of actions that would make him become the Magus. Thanos, however, thought otherwise; and helped Warlock regain his former self's consciousness. Adam travels to the future to find himself right before he is taken by the In-Betweener and changed into the Magus. He essentially kills himself. The Magus is thwarted and suddenly just ceases to exist along with the Church. After their victory Adam took off to ponder his existence. While traveling through space he noticed hundreds of stars going out. After realizing that this was not a random doing and that a being called the Star Thief was behind this, Warlock began to enter battle with someone that threatened to undo reality.Thanos
Before dying; Gamora warned Warlock about Thanos’s intentions. Adam traveled to Earth to gather the help of heroes such as Captain Mar-vell, Moondragon, and others. The Avengers and Moondragon attacked Thanos’s fleet so they could enter Sanctuary I, Thanos’s vessel. Mar-Vell and Adam engaged in battle with Thanos after discovering Pip the Troll's mindless body on the ship. Warlock took Pip's soul into his gem before engaging Thanos in battle, followed by Thor and Iron Man. Mar-Vell was able to destroy the weapons launcher but Warlock eventually died at Thanos’s hands. Thor was able to hold off Thanos long enough for Iron Man to destroy the main weaponry itself. Thanos, now aggravated about the miserable circumstances, defeats the remaining heroes. The Scenery is being intervened by Lord Chaos and Master Order, who telepathically send a message to Spider-Man and Ben Grimm to draw them to them. After Spider-Man and Ben Grimm arrived, Spider-Man accidentally made contact with the Soul Gem, which released the spirit of Adam Warlock, who turned Thanos into stone with his powers before returning to the soul gem.
Infinity Gauntlet
Several years pass, and the Silver Surfer was witness to the resurrection of Thanos by Mistress Death, who felt she needed a champion once again. Thanos then made it to duty to collect the Infinity Gems, which have been taken by the Elders of the Universe and the In-Betweener. With the Infinity Gems collected, Thanos forged them into a glove, and bestowed it with the name, The Infinity Gauntlet. This Gauntlet allows Thanos to exceed the power he once wielded with the Cosmic Cube.Through Thanos’s resurrection, Adam felt an anomaly and had to return to the physical plane we call Earth with Pip and Gamora at his side; each of them inhabiting the body of a recently deceased human that they then reshaped and revived themselves within. Thanos, now wielder of the Cosmos’ mightiest weapon, erases half the population of the Universe. Simply to honor Death. Thanos goes on a crusade battling the Cosmos’ mightiest ( Galactus, Living Tribunal, Eternity, etc.) with Mistress Death as his witness. Adam led a group of Earth’s Superheroes who were almost able to defeat the overconfident Thanos, but stay at par as the Infinity Gauntlet switches its owners to a space pirate known as Nebula who claims to be Thanos’s granddaughter. After reversing the mistake Thanos had made, Nebula lost the wondrous Gauntlet to Adam Warlock who, with the Infinity Gauntlets power, became God. However, his Godhood isn’t for long, the entity known as the Living Tribunal declared Adam as unworthy for he is only artificial. (Though, during the following events, it was shown that he is not) In his misguided fortune, he divided the gems between his closest companions (Pip, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Moondragon and Thanos), who together with Adam built the line-up of the Infinity Watch (though Thanos is never an active member).
Infinity War
The first of his counterparts to forge a plan is the evil Magus. He travels throughout several dimensions and collects five Cosmic Cubes. With this power he begins his preparations to create a new universe in his image - evil. He creates evil doppelgangers of all of Earth's heroes and sets an elaborate plan into motion, turning the good against the good. It is Thanos who approaches Adam and the Infinity Watch for assistance in stopping the Magus.Through the manipulation of all involved, the Magus is able to obtain the Infinity Gaunlet, recently repowered by the Living Tribunal and Eternity. He know has the godhood that Thanos and Warlock have once known. But Thanos and Warlock knew all along they were being watched and manipulated and tricked the Magus. He did not actually obtain the full power of the Infinity Gauntlet, for the Reality Gem was a fake. Adam's experience with the Gauntlet allowed him to overpower the Magus, and with the help of Eternity and Infinity, the Magus was cast into the Soul Gem and defeated.
Infinity Crusade
After the evil Magus came the plans from Adam's good side - the Goddess. She had taken the Magus' Cosmic Cubes and found even more herself. In total, she now had 30 Cosmic Cubes which she forged into one powerful object, the Cosmic Egg. She used telepathy to control many of Earth's heroes and form the Holy Guard, her plan was to create a group consciousness throughout the universe and eliminate evil once and for all.Warlock this time sought out Thanos to form a plan. Warlock put much trust in Thanos, allowing him to wear the Soul Gem when he learned the Goddess' true intentions, leaving Warlock unprotected. Warlock traveled to the Soul World to speak with the Magus in an attempt to get him to help by merging with Warlock. Magus refused and instead tried to leave and take Adam's body. Warlock was able to soundly defeat the Magus, leaving him behind knowing that he can face this threat on his own and has no true use for so much hate.
He then had Thanos transport him to the Goddess, where he merged with her subconscious. Inside, he realized Thanos' plan was to fail so he created the illusion of her plans unfolding for all to see. This was far from a peaceful universe as she planned to destroy all life. This also tricked her so well that she did not follow through with her plan, because she believed it to be completed. This caused all her followers to abandon her control and she lost much power.
Adam then battled her on the spiritual plane with the help of Thanos and Professor X. She attempted to return to the Cosmic Egg for defense but Adam beat her to it. He merged with the Egg, weakening her long enough for Thanos to trap her inside the Soul World as well. Much to Adam's surprise, Thanos destroyed the Cosmic Egg as he said he would, and did not try to keep it for himself.
After the Infinity Watch
Not long after the third 'Infinity' conflict, the Infinity Gems vanished into the Malibu comics universe / Ultraverse and the Infinity Watch disbanded. Warlock went in search of the soul gem, appearing for a brief time as a supporting character in Malibu's 'Rune' volume 2, as the cosmic vampire Rune did possess the soul gem for a time. This volume of Rune didn't last long and when a true disaster of reality altering/destroying proportions involving the infinity gems did later arise in the Malibu comics universe (this conflict hinging on the creation/discovery of a 7th Infinity Gem), Warlock was nowhere to be found; the conflict being handled instead by the Avengers and Ultraforce.
Warlock went dormant for a while but eventually resurfaced in his own self-titled miniseries wherein Warlock again allows himself to experience emotions, as, when he first encounters Gamora she pounces on him with a passionate kiss to which he responds. In this story, Warlock's ally Drax the Destroyer has been framed for multiple murders, including that of Elysius, the wife of Captain Mar-Vell, and Warlock, along with Pip and Gamora, attempt to clear Drax's name. In the midst of this, they are drawn into a larger conflict emanating from the Negative Zone where Warlock and company battle Annihilus and Blastaar, who are mere pawns to a new villain never seen before or since, Syphonn. Warlock and company are triumphant in defeating Syphonn, and the cast goes dormant once more for a few years. When Warlock next resurfaced, he was, for the most part, as emotionally distant as before.
Warlock next surfaced in 'The Infinity Abyss', a new cosmic conflict featuring Thanos, Gamora, Moondragon and most of Warlock's old gang wherein Warlock was reawakened from his regenerative cocoon phase too soon and emerged somewhat insane. The deranged Warlock and company (including a self-admittedly out of place and outclassed Spider-Man) battle an army of genetically modified Thanos clones bent on destroying the universe. In the midst of this story, Warlock and Gamora finally begin acting upon their long-brewing attraction to one another and in the end adopt a young godlike being named Atleza; the three of them going to live in their own pocket dimension for a time as a family to raise Atleza in peace and quiet.
Warlock next appears briefly towards the end of 'Marvel Universe: The End' to see Thanos into the next life as Thanos, now the universe's one true god, has found the universe is dying no matter what he does and the only way he can save it is to sacrifice himself. Whether this series is meant to be in-canon continuity is unclear. It is worth noting that this series, by the same creative team as Infinity Abyss, at least makes reference to Warlock's commitments to Gamora and Atleza where no future appearances of the character ever have.
Warlock next appears in a 4-issue self-titled miniseries that was initially solicited as a new ongoing title. In this title, which is more of a reinvention of the character than a new tale, the Enclave are at it again, recreating Warlock to battle more modern threats, though in a surprise twist, the ending shows that rather than there being a new Adam Warlock with a human programmer serving as his conscience, Warlock is in fact working as the conscience for a newly created female version. This new Warlock hasn't appeared since and it is unclear if the story will ever be considered in-canon.
Warlock next appeared, certainly in-canon, in a two-parter in ' She-Hulk' wherein he has gathered some of the universe's mightiest heroes to battle the Champion of the Universe, who has set himself up as ruler of a secluded planet. Warlock's champions include Drax the Destroyer, Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer and Gladiator, and all of them fail to best Champion in the ring. With no other resort open to him to overthrow Champion, Warlock enters the ring himself and is beaten so badly that he has to reenter his regenerative cocoon, but not before briefing his last resort at a champion recruited by Pip and Gamora on his behalf, She-Hulk.. She-Hulk, under Gamora's tutelage, manages to defeat Champion and free this world. While Warlock and Gamora are present together in this story, little mention is made to their romantic relationship and no mention is made of Atleza.
Annihilation
Warlock is mystifyingly absent during the first Annihilation War.In the second Annihilation Wave, Warlock's cocoon is discovered by Moondragon and her lover Phylla-Vell. The Super-Adaptoid, now one of the Phalanx Select, attempted to assimilate the cocoon and the regenerating Adam. Quasar and Moondragon destroy the Super-Adaptoid and then destroy the techno-organic shell around the cocoon. Moondragon strangely does not recognize the cocoon for a little while. But after the Supreme Intelligence encourages Moondragon and Quasar, they awaken Adam from the cocoon. It was unclear what put Warlock in the cocoon, though it was possible he is still regenerating from his pummeling by Champion as he did go into a cocoon last time he was seen. He then explained his absence during the Annihilation Wave: the souls of billions upon billions of dead creatures contacted Adam and drove him insane. He needed to spin the cocoon in order to adapt to the trauma and try to aid the souls. Unfortunately, Adam’s awakening was too early (again) and he is followed by seizures if he uses his powers to often. He also learns that he is the prophesied Savior of the Kree. His costume somewhat resembles Magus’ (and DC's ' Black Adam'; perhaps a bit of a joke at the competition).
In the events of Annihilation: Conquest, Adam confronted Ultron who was forged with the mighty Phalanx, but with Quasar’s, Starlord’s, Nova’s and Warlock’s help, was able to unlock his full potential and defeat the massive Ultron. After these events, he and his fellow companions became The Guardians Of the Galaxy.
Adam knew the importance of the team, he supported the formation of the team as a necessity in the Universe. After the team first gathered he attempted to explain it to them as he had to Peter. The Universe had been damaged, and that was why he had been given his new abilities. The Annihilation wave had weakened the very fabric of Space-Time and left it opened to invasion. If another event of that magnitude occurred it could tear the Universe apart. They needed not only to prevent such a thing from occurring, but also to plug the fissures and help heal the universe.
On the teams very first mission, Adam had them intercept one of the Universal Church of Truth's faith-ships, as it was headed for a soon to open fissure and certain disaster. He and the team teleported aboard the vessel, but found the believers on board to be incredibly hostile. A fight ensued, though the irony of fighting a group that once worshiped him was not lost on Adam. Realizing that they were running out of time, Adam took his former allies Drax and Gamora with him to advance forward and stop the ship.
Fighting his way through the ship with Drax and Gamora at his side, Adam reached the front of the ship just as his worst fear was realized and a sub-fissure was opened. Though disheartened by the acolytes abandonment of their fellows, Adam launched into action to contain the fissure. When a creature began to emerge, he used his new found powers to begin forcing it back through. Not being able to do the job himself, he accepted help from Phyla-Vell in finishing the job. Together they used the expended energy to pilot the ship to a nearby planet, and drop it off. The team then returned to their base of operations at Knowhere.
While in the control room, Adam noticed the beginnings of another anomaly and led the team out to deal with it.
Return of the Magus (*Spoilers*)
With the universe in a fragile and weakened state, Adam and the rest of the team sought a way to save their universe. When the Inhumans detonate a device known as the T-Bomb, it creates a massive, expanding fissure in the universe known as the Fault. If not stopped, the Fault will consume all of reality.
Adam uses all of his power to stop the Fault from spreading and succeeds. But there is a cost. In order to stop the fissure from expanding, Adam overlaps the timestreams. When he does this, it leaves him weakened and his own inner darkness consumes him, transforming him into what he has always tried to prevent, the Magus.
Enlisted by Kang the Conqueror, some members of the Guardians of the Galaxy are transported back in time to moments before the transformation. Kang gives Starlord a Cosmic Cube to assist him. Starlord attempts to talk Adam into fighting his darker side, but Adam cannot. He transforms into the evil Magus once again. After a battle and the deaths of some of the teams members, Starlord is able to use the Cube to temporarily transform the Magus back into Adam. Adam tells him to finish him off before the Magus can return. Doing what must be done for the safety of the universe, Starlord kills Adam.
Powers & Abilities
Adams powers are a summary of his events in his past history, the Soul gem for example, acted on its own sometimes, in manners Adam was to hesitate. It was capable of stripping enemies of their souls and passing judgment upon them. Passively Adam was able to enhance his own powers and astral projection.
As a result of the deaths of billions of living beings during the Annihilation Wave, billions of souls contacted Adam. This emotional/metaphysical trauma nearly drove Adam completely insane. Warlock spun a cocoon in order recover from the trauma. Warlock's early awakening from his most recent cocoon has meant a loss of control of his abilities; he now appears to have seizures when over-exerting himself. His powers have also essentially changed as well. He now calls himself a "Quantum Mage" and is able to control massive amounts of mystical/metaphysical energies as opposed to cosmic energies. It was explicitly asserted that he developed these abilities to counter-act the billions of souls contacting Adam. Adam Warlock can now cast spells with a variety of effects, including traveling faster than light and detecting wormholes and other special anomalies.
| Super Name: | Adam Warlock |
| Real Name: | Him |
| Aliases: |
Him Himself God Slayer Golden Surfer Warlock Goldie Locks Adam The Perfect Human The Avatar of Life |
| Publisher: | Marvel Publishing |
| Gender: | Male |
| Character Type: | Other |
| 1st Appearance: | Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #66 |
| Appears in: | 276 issues |
| Birthday: | |
| Died: |
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