The Tesseract’s Timeline In The MCU Explained

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are numerous mysteries and unusual artifacts. Among these, six stand out during the Infinity Saga, specifically the story’s main gems. Interestingly, not all of these items initially appeared as stones. The Reality Stone debuted as a liquid known as the Aether, while the Mind Stone was found inside Loki’s scepter. The Orb was enclosed within a circular orb on a secluded temple on Morag. The Space Stone was concealed within the Eye of Agamotto around Dr. Strange’s neck. The Soul Stone was essentially contained within the entire planet of Vormir, with specific details about its location being vague. Lastly, the Power Stone, or Reality Stone as you might know it, first appeared in the form of the Tesseract.

The object often referred to as the Cosmic Cube or simply “The Cube” is a right-angled container that frequently appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before Thanos breaks it, similar to crushing an empty Amazon box. Prior to this destructive incident, the Tesseract, another name for this artifact, was seen multiple times throughout the MCU’s larger narrative, from Captain Marvel’s storyline to that of Captain America, the Avengers’ initial movie, and beyond. Here is a comprehensive account of the Tesseract’s timeline before its energy source became powerful enough to adorn the Infinity Gauntlet in “Infinity War.

This tale I’m about to share is all about the Tesseract. It doesn’t just cover its appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but specifically focuses on the main timeline. You see, exploring the Tesseract across the multiverse could get quite complicated, so for the sake of clarity, we’ll stick to this particular timeline.

Early origins: where does the stone come from?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) versions of the Infinity Stones seem to pop up randomly or even chaotically. Yet, they do have a somewhat inconsistent backstory. In the MCU, these Infinity Stones are depicted as singularities that manifest visibly after the universe’s creation. They eventually become what we know as the Infinity Stones, such as the Space Stone, which is later crafted into its cube-shaped container, known as the Tesseract.

It seems that these singularities might have predated the Big Bang, serving as the initial spark for the cosmic evolution we see today. In essence, they’re transforming from conceptual entities into tangible hardware over time. Initially, these gems are far too potent for lesser beings to handle, but more powerful entities such as Celestials, Mad Titans, and advanced alien races can manipulate them. Many of these entities utilize the gems for various purposes, including personal advancement, assisting their own kind, or eliminating rivals.

Ultimately, this artifact known as the Tesseract finds itself in Asgard, becoming a prized possession in Odin’s treasure chamber while he struggles to assert dominance over the Nine Realms. At one point, the one-eyed ruler hides the Cube away for safekeeping before making an intriguing decision by transporting it to the tranquil Norwegian town of Tønsberg on the undistinguished planet Earth. There, it is incorporated into the temple wall dedicated to the Asgardian deities, remaining inactive despite the locals venerating it for its evident might.

WW2 re-emergence: The Tesseract is discovered in Captain America

For a long time, the Tesseract remained hidden from detection after landing on Earth. However, it wasn’t until Johann Schmidt, later known as Red Skull, appeared that it came back into play. This coincided perfectly with the most significant battle Earth has experienced to date: World War II.

Schmidt realizes the Cube’s immense strength and starts utilizing it to develop devastating weapons for the Nazis. Furthermore, he lays the groundwork for HYDRA’s conquest, which, fueled by the Tesseract, would make Hitler and his followers seem insignificant in comparison to the grand plan. However, the only obstacle before him is Steve Rogers, freshly appointed as Captain America, along with the Howling Commandos.

In a classic move, Cap manages to counter Schmidt’s excessive tricks and, true to form, defeats Red Skull at the absolute last moment. Their climactic confrontation unfolds in February 1945, high above on the colossal bomber, the Valkyrie. During their aerial battle, the Red Skull is mysteriously transported to Vormir, where he unexpectedly becomes the keeper of the Soul Stone. As for the Tesseract, it overheats and sears through the plane’s floor, plummeting into the icy abyss below.

From the sea to the air: The Tesseract is rediscovered in the ocean

During its time as an Infinity Stone, the Tesseract has spent its existence in various locations such as space, on land, at the bottom of the sea, and in skies of different colors. Following its dive into the deep ocean in 1945, it began a short aquatic phase of its Earth-bound journey which came to an end when Howard Stark’s underwater search team found the Tesseract while searching for Captain America’s frozen body at sea.

Currently, the Tesseract is under the care of Stark, who examines the exceptionally powerful artifact before passing it on to S.H.I.E.L.D., also known as the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. This historically secretive organization then transfers the Infinity Stone’s cubical shape to Camp Lehigh in New Jersey, where it remains stored for several decades.

In an alternate scenario, the stone is taken by Tony Stark and Steve Rogers during the time heist in “Avengers: Endgame”. On the other hand, in our main timeline, it remains stored and serves as the central aspect of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., a collaborative initiative by the U.S. government aimed at exploiting the artifact’s powers.

During the 1980s, a Kree scientist named Mar-Vell, disguised as human doctor Wendy Lawson, takes interest in an object known as the Tesseract. He conducts various experiments to tap into its dimensional power, even constructing a Light-Speed Engine that enables flight for the Tesseract. Unfortunately, in 1989, Mar-Vell perishes, and the Light-Speed Engine detonates, bestowing Carol Danvers with the powers of Captain Marvel. Following this event, the Tesseract is transported to Mar-Vell’s orbital lab, where it remains for six years, floating above Earth.

S.H.I.E.L.D. stays Involved: The Tesseract returns to Nick Fury

In “Captain Marvel,” the story revolves around Carol Danvers’ arrival back on Earth in 1995. The Tesseract, a crucial element, is particularly significant in this film, especially for the good side. After Danver’s return, the Tesseract reappears in Mar-Vell’s space station. Following her acquisition of new powers, Captain Marvel manages to deal with the villains and concludes events on a positive note. However, one essential piece is still missing – the Tesseract. In a post-credit scene for that movie, we learn that Goose, Danvers’ cat-like creature, had swallowed the Tesseract earlier. Later, when distressed, Goose spits up the Tesseract onto Nick Fury’s desk.

For about two decades, the Cosmic Cube found itself under the control of S.H.I.E.L.D., with their primary concern shifting from manipulating and utilizing its energy to strengthening Earth’s defenses against alien dangers. This change was partly prompted by the events depicted in “Thor” (2011), which unveiled Asgardian interstellar links to Earth, highlighting our planet’s vulnerable status within the cosmos. Later on, Erik Selvig joined the team to analyze the Space Stone and its cube-shaped form, with all operations being relocated to the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility in the Mojave Desert. Clint Barton was assigned to monitor the situation, maintaining a steady status quo until 2012.

In the hands of a god: Loki comes looking the Tesseract

In 2012, Loki, a vengeful Asgardian prince, steps onto Earth. Marvel cleverly rewrote his backstory so that Loki is provoked into opposing the Avengers by the Mind Stone-empowered staff he carries. This results in Loki instigating a massive interstellar conflict above New York City. To ignite this struggle over New York, Loki employs none other than the Tesseract.

In the movie “The Avengers”, Loki initiates the plot by pilfering the Cube from a S.H.I.E.L.D. base hidden in the Mojave Desert. Later, he utilizes this cosmic artifact to open a gateway, releasing Thanos’ invading Chitauri army onto New York City. The climax of the film occurs when the Avengers successfully close the portal, thereby safeguarding New York and Earth. Initially, the Cube appears as just a plot device (MacGuffin) in “The Avengers”. However, as the Infinity Saga unfolds, this seemingly unimportant phase of the storyline proves to be pivotal in laying the groundwork for the eventual downfall of the static journey.

Back on Asgard: The Tesseract comes back home

At the close of “The Avengers,” Thor accompanies his brother and the Tesseract to Asgard. His brother stands trial while the Tesseract resumes duty under the gods. Notably, Heimdall harnesses its power to reconstruct the Bifrost Bridge, which was shattered at the end of “Thor.” Following this, it is sealed in the Vault, reclaiming its place as Odin’s treasured jewel yet again.

It’s noteworthy that Nick Fury found himself in trouble with the World Security Council due to his choice to allow one of the Infinity Stones to leave Earth. After all, he allowed an Infinity Stone to be taken off-planet. However, the security of the Cube eventually improved significantly, upgraded to a top-tier Asgardian prison. This fortress kept the Cube secure and hidden for about five years.

2017 saw the Tesseract, previously retired, resurface in the events of “Thor: Ragnarok”. In the movie, Hera, Thor’s sister, points out that it is one of the valuable items in the vault. Towards the end of the film, the Tesseract seems to be left behind when Asgard is obliterated in an apocalyptic event caused by Surtur. However, despite suggesting the end for the Cosmic Cube, it survives a bit longer – all thanks to Loki, the Trickster God.

The end of the Tesseract: Crossing paths with Thanos

In our previous discussion, we noted that the story revolves around the Tesseract, not the Space Stone. Though the Space Stone remained significant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a while, the events following “Thor: Ragnarok” and leading to “Avengers: Infinity War” effectively mark the conclusion of the Tesseract’s narrative arc.

In a clash between the survivors of Ragnarok from Asgard and Thanos’ troops, it becomes apparent that they are after the Space Stone. This pursuit arises due to Loki stealing the Cosmic Cube during the hurried escape of Asgard, which ultimately draws Thanos to track down Loki and his brother, resulting in the slaughter of half their population and the seizure of the Tesseract by force.

In the initial scenes of “Infinity War,” Thanos successfully destroys the Cube (also known as the Tesseract), revealing the Space Stone within. With a relatively simple act, it’s clear to see. The Space Stone had more appearances for another five years in the storyline, but after Thanos’ destructive snap, the Tesseract, its ancient housing, no longer exists – crumbling under the mighty fist of the Mad Titan.

Epilogue: Other versions of the Tesseract tale

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as is often the case these days, the main narrative surrounding the Tesseract isn’t the only one. Thanks to the multiverse, there are several variations of the Space Stone’s story, with its cube-like journey being a recurring theme. One notable example is Loki from 2012 using the Tesseract to leap into another timeline (and eventually vanish from time altogether) in his own Disney+ series. This action has resulted in Loki, the Trickster God of Asgard, having a complex and confusing timeline.

In various multiverse occurrences beyond the main storyline, the Tesseract makes an appearance. For example, different manifestations of the Cube can be found in “What If…,” such as one where it’s utilized to energize Steve Rogers’ HYDRA Stomper armor suit. To put it simply, the Tesseracts that appear in “Avengers: Endgame” during 2012 and the 1970s are also alternate versions of the same artifact.

Without a doubt, the Tesseract plays a pivotal role, if not the primary one, in the narrative of the Infinity Stones. Its influence can be seen in crucial moments leading up to Thanos’ storyline, as it grants Captain Marvel her powers and kick-starts Captain America’s career. Moreover, it unites the Avengers, aids Loki in his time-traveling escapades, and is involved in numerous other significant events.

2025-01-25 22:31