Marvel: What Does The Soul Stone Do?

Initially, the Marvel Cinematic Universe laid the groundwork for “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”. The pivotal point was reached in 2014 with “Guardians of the Galaxy”, where The Collector (Benicio Del Toro) disclosed that before creation, there were six singularities. After the universe’s expansion from these points, the remaining fragments of these systems were transformed into powerful Infinity Stones. This revelation signified the start of the MCU’s path towards an epic battle.

In conversation, The Collector discussed the Power Stone, granting immense power to its user. Each of the other Infinity Stones possess distinct abilities, but when combined, they can achieve almost anything conceived. This makes them extremely perilous, and throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, each Infinity Stone is uncovered as characters like heroes, villains, and Thanos (Josh Brolin), search for them.

Absolutely, it’s important to note that the Infinity Stones, as depicted in the movies, aren’t exclusively movie creations. They have a rich and extensive history in Marvel Comics too. In this narrative, we’ll refer to them as Infinity Gems for clarity. Despite sharing names and powers, their uses in comics differ significantly from the films, and they don’t harm those who possess them. Among all, the Soul Stone stands out with unique characteristics unlike any other stone seen in both the movies and comic books.

The Infinity Gems

In 1972, the concept of the Infinity Gems made its debut in “Marvel Premiere” #1, a comic that showcased the story of Adam Warlock written by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. These gems were then referred to as Soul Gems, with only one presented in the issue. However, they are considered the most formidable artifacts within the Marvel Universe. Although each gem doesn’t seem powerful on its own, any individual who recognizes their potential can wield them and essentially attain divine power.

The Infinity Gems originated from a powerful being called Nemesis who once ruled the universe alone. Her creations had flaws, leading her to end her existence. Over time, the fragments of Nemesis gained consciousness and were eventually known as “Infinity Stones” in the Marvel Universe. These stones are named Soul, Power, Time, Space, Mind, and Reality, each possessing the power to control their respective aspects.

Each of these gems possesses unique abilities. The Space Gem instantly transports individuals to any location, the Mind Gem uncovers all thoughts and aspirations of any being, the Time Gem enables movement through time or manipulation of its flow, the Power Gem unlocks all power and energy that has ever existed or will exist, and the Reality Gem defies all scientific principles and sensory understanding. However, beware the Soul Gem, for it craves souls – both living and deceased – trapping them in a never-ending reality called Soulworld, which poses great danger.

The Infinity Stones

The Infinity Stones were unveiled throughout various movies, with the Collector providing an explanation for them later on. Wong (played by Benedict Wong) and Doctor Strange (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) expanded upon their nature, explaining that they originated from the Big Bang as “six fundamental crystals… Each governs a crucial aspect of existence.” In line with the comics, they are known as the Space, Time, Power, Soul, Mind, and most potent of all – the Reality Stones. Their functions generally remain consistent across different storytelling platforms.

In this narrative, the Sorcerer Supreme was assigned the duty of guarding the Time Stone, whereas the Space Stone resided at the center of the Tesseract. The Mind Stone initially rested within Loki’s scepter, eventually being moved onto Vision’s forehead. The Reality Stone took form as the Aether pursued by the Dark Elves in “Thor: The Dark World,” and the Power Stone was obtained by Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) on Morag, as depicted in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Lastly, the Soul Stone proved the most elusive, demanding a considerable cost for its acquisition.

On the planet Vormir, the Soul Stone was concealed, with the ghostly Red Skull serving as its guardian. To claim the stone, a heart-wrenching sacrifice was required: someone deeply cherished by the seeker must be sacrificed and hurled off a towering cliff to their demise. In “Avengers: Endgame,” Thanos cast Gamora aside to obtain the stone, while Natasha Romanoff selflessly gave up her life so that Clint Barton could retrieve it during their quest to reverse Thanos’ cataclysmic snap, which had wiped out half of all existence in the universe.

The Soul Gem in Marvel Comics

Among all the Infinity Gems in Marvel Comics, the Soul Gem stands out as the most intricate and consciously aware. Originally held by the High Evolutionary during Adam Warlock’s rebirth, this gem was later passed on to him to help save Counter-Earth, a planet engineered by the super-scientist as an uncontaminated counterpart of our Earth. Over time, Adam struggled to manage the Soul Gem due to its persistent attempts to seize souls it encountered. However, he eventually discovered a method to converse with it, which revealed its identity as one of six powerful relics.

Amidst a battle against Thanos, Adam finds himself transported to the tranquil realm of the Soul Gem, inhabited by Pip, Gamora, and others. The Soul Gem was exchanged among powerful entities before Thanos opted to claim it, along with its five counterparts. To achieve this, Thanos embarked on a journey, as depicted in the 1990 three-issue series titled “Thanos Quest,” traversing the cosmos and amassing the Infinity Gems.

At first, Thanos journeys to the Realm of All Existence, where the entity called the In-Betweener is confined by Lord Chaos and Mistress Order. Thanos liberates the In-Betweener and snatches the Soul Stone from him, since the In-Betweener was incapable in this realm of his usual infinite power. This action triggers a chain of incidents that eventually culminates in three Marvel Comics’ miniseries: “The Infinity Gauntlet,” “The Infinity War,” and “Infinity Crusade.

The Soul Stone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Thanos doesn’t find out where the Soul Stone is hidden until Gamora reveals its location. Later, he forces Nebula to disclose this information through torture. They then journey to Vormir, where they encounter the spectral form of the Red Skull. He explains that the Soul Stone has a condition for possession: “To make sure the holder comprehends its potency, the stone demands a sacrifice.

The Skull clarifies, “To get the stone, you must give up something precious – a life for a life.” Thanos acquires the Soul Stone by giving up Gamora, an action that irreversibly affects her spirit. As stated by writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely in “Avengers: Endgame,” the Soul Stone demands a soul as payment, and it cannot be restored. This implies that Gamora’s and Natasha Romanoff’s spirits are now trapped within the stone. After Thanos obtains the Soul Stone, he collects the others and utilizes the Infinity Gauntlet to eliminate half of all life across the universe.

In the passage of time, the heroes unite once more to seize the Infinity Stones scattered throughout different eras. It is during this quest that Natasha makes the ultimate sacrifice to get the Soul Stone. Once they’ve gathered them all, Hulk (portrayed by Mark Ruffalo) undoes Thanos’ destructive snap. The climax of “Endgame” sees Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) snapping away Thanos and his entire army. In the end, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is left to return the Stones back to their correct locations and eras.

How the Soul Gem has been used in Marvel Comics

Due to being the first among six artifacts introduced over 50 years ago and appearing frequently in comic books, the Soul Gem has been featured more often in stories within the comic book series compared to its appearances in movies. One of the most notable tales featuring the Soul Gem is the one that served as the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. In this narrative, Thanos collects the Gems and wields them with the Infinity Gauntlet, ultimately using his power to eliminate half of all life in a desperate attempt to win over Death, who is depicted as a woman embodying death in the comics.

Thanos has feelings for Death and thinks offering her the destruction of half the universe will win her affections, but she remains unaffected by his actions. However, Thanos’ plan is thwarted, and various Marvel characters such as Adam Warlock come to possess the Infinity Gauntlet, serving as part of the Infinity Watch. This results in a conflict known as Infinity War, during which a being called Magus seizes control of the Soul Gem and other Infinity Stones with the intention of becoming a deity. Eventually, even Magus is defeated.

The Soul Gem is placed back on Adam’s brow, yet since Adam’s spirit is unyielding and the Soul Gem yearns for a soul to devour, it searches for a new vessel in a transient figure named Darklore. Following some time, the Infinity Gems are taken by the Illuminati, with Doctor Strange commandeering the Soul Gem. More recently, Adam endowed all six Infinity Gems with the capacity to determine their own fates – they possess consciousness, indeed. The Soul Gem elected Multitude, an artificial entity yearning for a soul, as its host.

Soulworld in Marvel Comics

One significant feature of the Soul Gem is the realm it encompasses, which resembles a limbo-like space. This realm, known as Soulworld, is a dimension housed within the Soul Gem and inhabited by every soul the gem devours. The first appearance of this dimension was in 1977’s “Avengers Annual” #7. It took some time for Soulworld to become part of the Soul Gem’s history. Notably, Adam Warlock resided in Soulworld for an extended period without being affected by events happening outside the Marvel Universe.

Adam didn’t just dwell inside Soulworld; he often served as its caretaker, coexisting there with the souls of his companions. However, once a soul is trapped by the Soul Gem, they become irrevocably confined there, spending the remainder of their life in a picturesque realm. In “Strange Tales” #179, it’s noted that “[t]he imprisoned souls live in perfect harmony, collectively experiencing a shared dimensional awareness and prosperity.

Even if someone successfully departs from Soulworld, a piece of their essence lingers behind. Upon discovering this truth, Gamora decides to collect the Infinity Stones with the aim of restoring equilibrium in Soul World and halting its deterioration. Unfortunately, her actions lead to the entrapment of every soul in existence by folding them together and forming a separate universe called Warp World. This is but one tale illustrating the profound influence that Soulworld has had on Marvel Universe’s broader narrative, though numerous others have emerged since its debut over four decades ago.

Soulworld in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Soulworld makes a single appearance. Just like its comic book equivalent, characters who give their lives to obtain the Soul Stone are confined within this realm. However, when Gamora sacrifices herself in the MCU, she transforms back into her childhood self. Subsequently, after Thanos eliminates half of all existence, he is drawn into Soulworld. Here, one of the most impactful scenes in the MCU unfolds as Thanos converses with Gamora. She queries if he accomplished his mission, to which he responds affirmatively. She then enquires about the price he paid, and he answers, “Everything,” implying deep remorse for her death.

In a different timeline from the MCU, Soulworld is revisited, neither during the moment Natasha sacrifices herself nor when Hulk reverses Thanos’ snap. Interestingly, the only other scene taking place in Soulworld was actually cut from “Avengers: Endgame”.

The setting unfolds next, showing Tony Stark appearing in a realm following his disintegration of Thanos and his followers, transporting the original Avenger to Soulworld. Upon arrival, he encounters a mature woman, who is revealed to be his daughter Morgan (portrayed by Katherine Langford). However, due to her advanced age, Tony does not recognize her initially. They exchange a few words, with Morgan informing him that his snap was successful. He expresses remorse and doubts about his action, but Morgan consoles him and tells him she’s content they had the time together and he was there for her until he couldn’t be. She expresses pride in him and sadness, but Tony responds by saying if she’s happy, so is he. The scene is heartwarming, but its inclusion might have caused confusion as Morgan wasn’t a character who made the sacrifice or had an adult role in the film.

The fate of the Soul Gem and Soul Stone

In “Avengers: Endgame,” Thanos informs the pursuing heroes that he employed the Stones to eradicate himself and the heroes, which is how the Avengers traced the Stones’ energy imprint during their frantic pursuit of Thanos, the Mad Titan. This implies that the Soul Stone was destroyed, hinting that Soulworld might have met a similar fate, although this hypothesis remains speculative. However, the Soul Stone reappears at a later time, found in a drawer within the Time Variance Authority, where agents use it as an ornament, since it holds no power there.

In the comic books, the storyline surrounding the Soul Gem is more intricate, as it has been held by various characters during its history. These include Iron Man, the High Evolutionary, Adam Warlock, the Gardener, the In-Betweener, Nebula, Doctor Strange, Magus, Ultron, Hank Pym, Loki, Requiem, and most recently, Multitude. Unlike the movies, it’s difficult to destroy these cosmic artifacts in the comics, making Thanos’ destruction of the MCU version a surprising and unique event.

In a unique event, the Gems were unintentionally broken apart instead of being self-destructive. This happened when Captain America employed the Infinity Gauntlet to move an entire universe far from Earth-616, the main Marvel Comics universe. Consequently, the Time Gem vanished and the rest were shattered, including the Soul Gem. However, this state didn’t persist for long as Doctor Doom sourced substitutes from other dimensions. Later on, each Gem was bonded with an Earth resident, such as the Soul Gem, which is now in the possession of Multitude.

2025-01-30 15:31