Cosmic entities (Marvel Comics)

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Summary

In the comic books published by Marvel Comics, cosmic entities (also referred to as cosmic beings) are characters possessing power on a stellar, galactic, universal, or even multiversal level, far beyond those of humans or conventional superheroes, and frequently serving some natural function in the universes in which they exist.


Overview

The Marvel Universe contains a number of beings in this category that are literally part of the universe, with their existence necessary to provide a certain function. Much like organs provide specific functions for the human body, these entities provide functions for the universe itself. There is no official (known) name for these beings, but they are often referred as cosmic entities or cosmic beings. Recent volumes of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe have been referring to them as "Abstracts." Many of them embody some concept or fulfill some essential need, but there are others who are considered within this reference frame simply due to their scale of power, such as the Infinites, Celestials, Cosmic Cubes, or Watchers.

Each cosmic being is unique, but they often have the following characteristics in common:

  • Power greater than that of virtually any mortal being, with extremely rare exceptions. Note, however, that their level of power greatly varies, with some being able to affect the entire space-time multiversal reality. The Living Tribunal, Eternity, Master Order, and Lord Chaos were once referred as meeting in 16-dimensional space.
  • No physical form. To visit the material universe they must use ‘M-bodies’, lifeforms created for them by an entity called Anthropomorpho in the ‘dimension of manifestations.’ The power bestowed upon a manifestation body is said to be directly dependent on how well any given creation is able to 'synchronize' with a their assigned entity. Serving as a failsafe explanation to how higher-dimensional concepts, of literally greater than infinite power by 3-dimensional standards are sometimes overcome by far more limited lifeforms. Such bodies can also be granted as representatives of certain uniquely prominent physical entities, such as The Stranger or Galactus.
  • A completely amoral nature, uncaring about anything but their purpose of existence, and frequently to safeguard existence, i.e. themselves, from destruction. Although some have recurrently displayed personal, or even human-like, sentiments, and the Living Tribunal could be argued as maintaining a form of morality.

Cosmic entities

These beings include:

The following is a partial list of the known cosmic entities and their functions:

  • The Living Tribunal is the judge of the cosmic entities who ensures that the cosmic laws are obeyed,Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 and safeguards the multiverse from mystical imbalance. It has declared itself to "transcend the realms of Death and Eternity, Order and Chaos. All the opposing realities", likening itself to all spectra and scales of dualities and balance.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31 Before the Living Tribunal can act his three faces must reach a unanimous verdict; These represent Necessity, Vengeance and Equity. It claims to act as a representative for an even higher being, that has never been explicitly shown; though this higher power has been referred to as the One Above All. The Tribunal is generally considered to be the most powerful of all known cosmic entities; though this has been portrayed inconsistently, as the Infinites and Heart of Infinite seemingly exceed it. Note that the Tribunal rules over all of the Marvel Universe's alternate versions as well; an M-Body of the Living Tribunal is present in each universe of the Marvel multiverse.
  • Nemesis is a being formed when the seven Infinity Gems come together. It claims to exist to create universes.
  • Eternity - Sentience and supreme Time being of the universe. Sometimes acts in conjunction with its counterpart, Infinity. When talking to the Silver Surfer about various universal trinities the Living Tribunal used Eternity as an allegory for necessity.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31
  • Death - Embodies the end that eventually comes to all living things, ranging from single cell organisms, sentient mortal beings to the universe itself. The opposite of Eternity. The Living Tribunal likened Death to vengeance. <ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31
  • Infinity- The counterpart of Eternity, but appears as a female. Believed to embody the concept of space, and along with Eternity embodies the space/time continuum. Perhaps better described as "the other side of the coin," and not as a fully separate entity from Eternity.Quasar #25; Infinity War #6
  • Oblivion - The counterpart of Death, but appears as a male. Embodies the nothingness from which everything came and will eventually return to. Perhaps better described as "the other side of the coin," and not as a fully separate entity from Death.Quasar #25
  • Master Order - Embodies the universal concept of Order. Opposite of Lord Chaos. Likened to necessity by the Living Tribunal.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31
  • Lord Chaos - Embodies the universal concept of Chaos. Opposite of Master Order. Together with Master Order, Lord Chaos claims to be responsible for assigning fates to mortals. Likened to vengeance by the Living Tribunal.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31 Master Order and Lord Chaos created the In-Betweener as a balance between them.
  • Galactus - The devourer of worlds, and only survivor of the previous universe, reborn in the Big Bang as a "galactic ravager".Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983) While not an abstract in the traditional sense,<ref name="Quasar38">Quasar #38, written by Mark Gruenwald, scripter of Galactus' modernised origin story is Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983); The official Marvel Editorial line from head editor Tom Brevort: http://www.marvel.com/universe/OHOTMU:Data_Corrections_Fantastic_Four_2005 he has come to fulfill the function of equity between Eternity and Death, to keep Abraxas' influence on the universe nullified, and in one alternate future will initiate the creation of the next universe.The Last Galactus Story The Living Tribunal named Galactus as the equity between Death and Eternity, as "he was born of neither".<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31 He has called Eternity "father",Fantastic Four vol.1, #262 and Death has called him "husband, and father", "brother and son", as they were "born at the same moment" and are "two corners of that great triangle that is the universe".Fantastic Four vol.1, #257
  • In-Betweener - Represents the synthesis between all concepts within the universe, such as life and death, order and chaos, love and hate, god and man, impotence and omnipotence. However, it resents its servitude to Order and Chaos, and has tried to break free several times. The In-Betweener was directly created by Order and Chaos and is looked upon by them as an agent. The Living Tribunal has likened it to equity.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31
  • Destiny - Embodies the concept of Destiny. Appears as a teenage girl. Rarely observed, her powers are not entirely clear.
  • The Phoenix Force- The culmination of all psionic energy that exists, has existed, or ever will exist, via sentient life. Its actual function is unclear, but is possibly that of rebirth through destruction - in the universe which existed before the current Marvel Universe, the Phoenix Force saved all life from damnation, and ensured that Galan remained alive long enough to meet and unite with the Sentience of the Universe, to be reborn as Galactus in the current creation. It has a tendency to materially manifest via telepathic mortals. At other times, it is known to exist as a non-conscious essence of nature, devoid of interaction with the physical realms. The Phoenix Force is usually associated with the mortal mutants Jean, or Rachel Grey who serve as avatars/hosts of the Phoenix Force.
  • Celestials - A group of cosmic beings with several human-like qualities; may be a mortal race ascended to cosmic status. Apparently, they guide cosmic evolution to create new beings such as themselves, and possess power enough to create entire universes, or contain such within themselves.Heroes Return #1-4 They have numerous possible origins.
  • Cosmic Cubes - Objects of great power. Not always cubical, and in such cases referred as "cosmic containment units".Infinity War #1-6 Created by the Beyonders to test the concept of desire in mortal beings. They can grant wishes, but eventually are "born" into individual entities. The Shaper of Worlds, Kubik, and Kosmos are all former cosmic cubes.<ref name="FantasticFour#319">Fantastic Four vol.1, #319 (October, 1988) Possess power enough to erase galaxies from existence,Secret Wars I #1 attain galactic size and create universes,<ref name="FantasticFour#319">Fantastic Four vol.1, #319 (October, 1988) or collapse one upon itself.Thanos #7-10
  • Stranger – A cosmic mystery. The Living Tribunal hinted that it may have expelled the Stranger, as a former fourth face of its being, to accurately "bestride", "know" and "judge" all existing dualities.<ref name="SS31">Silver Surfer #31 The Stranger may also be a composite being, the result of the planet Gigantus' population merged into one entity, although this is likely a lie told by the Stanger to keep his true origin shrouded in mystery. The Stranger himself may not know his true origins, thus making him a stranger even to himself.
  • Kronos- Once the ruler of Eternals of Earth. One of his experiments blew his atoms apart, so he now exists as a humanoid nebula. Apparently considered a cosmic entity with control over time.Infinity Gauntlet #5
  • Anomaly - A bizarre being that embodied exceptions to all things. It existed in a state similar to that of Chronos, but was killed (and its position and power assumed) by Oblivion’s agent, Maelstrom. However, it was later shown to have been resurrected.
  • Eon - Responsible for choosing the Protectors of the Universe, mortal champions elected to face one specific menace to life in the universe each. Killed by Maelstrom, but succeeded by its "daughter" Epoch.
  • Origin - A being apparently responsible for the existence of all superheroes and villains, by manipulating events and implanting ideas in their minds. Needs to incarnate in living bodies. Its enemy is the Un-Being.
  • Un-Being - An agent of Oblivion, seeks to kill Origin and erase all reality. Apparently also needs to incarnate in living bodies.
  • The Beyonders are a race from outside the main physical universe. Their form and purpose is unknown. It is known that they exist outside of linear time, and that they created the Cosmic Cubes.<ref name="FantasticFour#319">Fantastic Four vol.1, #319 (October, 1988)
  • The Infinites - Higher-dimensional entities far above Eternity, who once tried to 'align' the universe to a more balanced and efficient configuration. They are using planet-sized Servitors and Walkers to act as representatives and workers in lower realms.Avengers: Infinity #1-6
  • The Proemial Gods]- Seemingly extinct. "Conceived through intent" by the Universe itself in the earliest stages of the creation event, as "order to balance chaos", and "caretakers", "tasked to maintain cosmic consonance". When Diableri of Chaos wished to impose his own will upon the Universe, a civil war broke out amongst them. Galactus became involved in an unspecified manner, personally slew Diableri, and imprisoned the latter's two main lieutenants Tenebrous and Aegis within the Kyln.Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2
  • The Tetrarchs of Entropy - (Hafga, Heml, Vug, Yod) - enigmatic extra-dimensional entities.Avengers vol.1, #327

See the List of Marvel Comics cosmic entities for more information.

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