Magus (comics)
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| Magus | |
 The Magus from Adam Warlock #11. Art by Jim Starlin |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales vol. 2, #178 and in person in Warlock #11 (1976) |
| Created by | Jim Starlin |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Adam Warlock |
| Team affiliations | Universal Church of Truth |
| Notable aliases | Adam Warlock, Him |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, flight, and durability Energy manipulation |
The Magus is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. He is an evil future version of the hero Adam Warlock. The character was created by Jim Starlin, and appears as an image in Strange Tales vol. 2, #178 and in person in Warlock #11 (1975).
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[edit] Fictional character biography
The Magus is the evil, alternate future incarnation of Adam Warlock and rules a religious empire called the Universal Church of Truth. The Magus subtly guides Warlock through a series of actions that will eventually result in him becoming the Magus. The Magus sent demons against Adam Warlock, revealing himself to be Adam Warlock's future self.[1]The Magus revealed his origin to Adam Warlock. He battled Adam Warlock, Gamora, and Pip the Troll, and had the Matriarch killed. [2] With his Death-Squad, he battled Adam Warlock, Gamora, Pip, and the mad Titan Thanos. The Magus' plan is thwarted, however, by Thanos who provides Warlock access to a dimension where he destroys all but the shortest of his future timelines, as well as the efforts of the In-Betweener. The Magus — unable to stop Warlock as he was locked in battle with Thanos — then ceases to exist. [3]
Years later, after Warlock had died [4] and subsequently been resurrected, [5] he acquires the Infinity Gauntlet and subconsciously expels his evil psyche, which recreates the Magus. The Magus then acquires several versions of the artifact the Cosmic Cube and engages Warlock, Thanos and many of Earth's heroes in a long and protracted war, creating various doppelgangers of Earth's heroes to keep them occupied. Alongside his doppelganger of Thanos, he battled the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men, Alpha Flight, X-Factor, the New Warriors, the Infinity Watch, the true Thanos, Galactus, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer. The Magus' final goal was to force his opponents to reassemble the Infinity Gauntlet, thus granting him access to its unlimited power. Although the plan seemingly succeeded, Warlock was able to trick the Magus by replacing the Reality Gem with a powerless replica, thus creating a limit in the Magus' powers that allowed Warlock to take the Magus by surprise while he was once again occupied by Thanos. Having shaken the Magus' control of the Infinity Gauntlet, Warlock releases Infinity and Eternity — two aspects of the same entity, rather than, as the Magus had believed, two distinct entities — who subsequently overpower the Magus, allowing Warlock to use the Soul Gem to reintegrate the Magus back into his person, although Warlock is left in a coma as a result. [6] Adam Warlock later confronts Magus and seeks his aid against the Goddess, the "good" aspect of Warlock's persona. The Magus, however, tries to take over Warlock's form, but is defeated and left trapped in the Soul Gem. [7]
The Magus eventually escapes the Soul Gem in an immaterial form. He absorbs the life energies of others to regain his form and power, and schemes to usurp the cosmic power of Captain Marvel. Genis, however, defeats the Magus and reverts him back to energy form. Unknown to Genis, the Magus later reforms on an unknown planet. [8] The Magus then retaliates against Genis' friends and allies. The Magus wounds Moondragon and then heals as well mentally enslaves her. [9]
[edit] Powers and abilities
The Magus is an artificially-created being whose body has certain cosmic energy receptive cells. As such, he had the ability to manipulate cosmic energy for a variety of effects.
The Magus is a more powerful version of Adam Warlock, capable of matching pre-resurrection Thanos in combat. [10] Like Adam, he controlled the Soul Gem, and possessed high-levels of superhuman strength, stamina, durability, including energy projection, telepathy, intangibility, and cosmic awareness. The Magus was also highly intelligent and a gifted strategist. He was an accomplished self-taught philosopher, and a master planner and schemer.
[edit] Other media
- The Magus appears in the video game Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems.
- An alternate take on The Magus appears in an episode of The Silver Surfer Animated Series.
[edit] References
- ^ Strange Tales vol. 2, #178 – 181
- ^ Warlock #8 - 9 (1976)
- ^ Warlock #10 - 11 (1976)
- ^ Avengers Annual #2 + Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2 (1977)
- ^ Infinity Gauntlet #1 - 6 (1991)
- ^ Infinity War #1 - 6 (1992)
- ^ Infinity Crusade #1 - 6 (2003)
- ^ Captain Marvel #32 - 34 (May - Jul 2002)
- ^ Captain Marvel VI #21-24 (May - Aug 2004)
- ^ Warlock #11 (1976)
