ORB OF ETERNITY
Classification: Scrying and communications device
Creator: Eternity
User/Possessors: Eternity, Adam Warlock
First Appearance: Warlock and the Infinity Watch
I#15 (April, 1993)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Orb of Eternity had
a myriad of functions that were never fully explored. Among its
confirmed uses was the ability to request a direct audience with
Eternity itself. The Orb allowed its owner to review the entirety of the
past. It could respond to specific requests for information, narrating
the images it offered up to create cohesive reconstructions. The Orb
could alert its owner to current crises and even show events in
different dimensions and realities. The Orb came with a built-in
mystical defense, blasting unauthorized users with mystical energy. The
source of the Orb's omniscience is unknown, but it is most likely
directed connected with Eternity himself.
History:
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#15 - BTS) - Eternity sought out Adam
Warlock who remained catatonic after absorbing the Magus, a physical
manifestation of his own evil that he expelled after he obtained the
Infinity Gauntlet. Sensing he had a pivotal role to play in coming
cosmic occurrences, Eternity entered Warlock's mind to coax him out of
his coma. Eternity forced him to come to terms with his past selves and
confronted him with the hapless man-child, the naive savior, the
world-weary cynic and the despotic Magus. Ultimately, all four became
part of him again.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#15) - Returned to a sense of normalcy,
Warlock listened to Eternity explain that he had earned his respect and
limited aid, which he provided in the form of a mysterious giant crystal
orb. Warlock thought it all part of a dream but when he woke up, the
Infinity Watch beside him, they were surprised to find the orb was now
sitting in his quarters.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#16) - When Count Abyss' forces
attacked Monster Island, Pip rushed to Adam Warlock's quarters. The
Troll found his friend contemplating the Orb of Eternity which had
somehow removed the entire interior of the room. As soon as Warlock
shifted his focus to deal with the invasion, the room returned to
normal.
(Silver Surfer & Warlock: Resurrection I#1 - (fb) - BTS) - During
his studies of the Orb of Eternity, Adam Warlock learned there was a way
to return Shalla-Bal to life.
(Silver Surfer & Warlock: Ressurection I#1) - Warlock was standing
near the Orb when he explained to the newly arrived Silver Surfer that
it was possible to restore his love using the might of the soul and mind
gems. The only price Warlock demanded for the aid of the Watch was the
Surfer's friendship.
(Infinity Crusade I#1) - Sensing the coming
of the Goddess, but unaware of her true identity, Warlock decided to
use the Orb of Eternity to consult with Eternity. Retreating to his
quarters, the leader of the Infinity Watch entered a meditative trance
that transported him to a dimensional void. There he was soon met by
Eternity who confirmed his suspicions, but declared that the coming
upheaval was of no consequence to him. As soon as he left, Warlock was
attacked by the Goddess who banished him to another dimension. On
Earth, the members of the Watch learned of Warlock's disappearance
when they discovered his entire room was now a white void save for the
Orb still floating in nothingness.
(Warlock and the Infinity
Watch I#18) - Figuring they needed outside expertise, Pip teleported
Mr. Fantastic to Monster Island who was then politely strong-armed
into helping the Watch investigate the disappearance of both Warlock
and their members Gamora and Moondragon (both had fallen under
the Goddess' religious sway). Mr. Fantastic tried to figure
out how to operate the Orb of Eternity, having a hard time believing
Eternity had given it to Warlock in a dream. Somehow triggering the
Orb's defenses, Reed and Pip were blasted with mystical energy. The
Orb then offered an image of the Goddess and her collection of
cosmic cubes, giving the heroes their first inkling of who they were
facing.
(Warlock
Chronicles I#2 (fb) ) - While traveling across dimensions hoping
to reach Thanos, Warlock thought back on how the Goddess managed
to get the drop on him while he was conferring with Eternity
through the Orb.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#19) - After meeting up with
Thanos and deciding on a course of action, Warlock was teleported
home to Monster Isle where he was soon accosted by Mole Man who
was none too pleased with the Watch: not only do they regularly
cause massive property damage, he'd also received word his bitter
enemy Mr. Fantastic had been spotted on the premises. Warlock had
no time for his landlord's complaints, quickly retiring to his
quarters to consult the Orb of Eternity. Mole Man went ballistic
when he saw an entire room in his castle was now a blank void, but
Warlock brusquely told him off.
(Infinity Crusade I#3) - Warlock was quietly consulting the Orb
when he was teleported away by Thanos who had arrived in a massive
spacecraft to help fight the Goddess.
(Warlock Chronicles I#3) - Thanos and Warlock were considering
Mephisto's offer to help fight the Goddess, but before accepting
the demon's aid they figured they needed to know the Goddess'
motives. Thanos teleported Warlock to the Watch's castle on
Monster Isle where Adam used the Orb to seek Eternity's council.
He found himself in an abstract dimension where he discovered
Eternity and Infinity existing as a melded being. Both astral
aspects were in no mood to grant him an extended audience because
the Goddess' plans for reality were of no interest to them.
However, they were willing to share what they knew before
banishing him away.
(Warlock
Chronicles I#6) - The Orb revealed to Warlock that Thor had
succumbed to Warrior's Madness. As he was contemplating an
intervention, he was contacted through the Orb by Eternity who
subtly pushed him to take action, claiming that the unhinged
thundergod proved a huge peril to a good portion of reality
itself. Warlock balked at being manipulated, but Eternity reminded
him that curing Thor would put the Asgardian in his debt forever,
in much the same way as the Silver Surfer. Sensing he might soon
have need of this army of the indebted, Warlock agreed to take
action.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#31) - Warlock was surprised to
find he could now directly communicate with the Orb of Eternity.
After asking the Orb to show him the past of his enemy Count
Abyss, it offered a full account of the other-dimensional foe's
rise to power as well as his goal: to reclaim his lost soul by
obtaining the Soul Gem. The Orb's briefing allowed Warlock to tell
Pip the location of Abyss' power base.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#34) - Still struggling with his
artificially created love for Maya, Warlock had the Orb of
Eternity show him how the love of his life was getting married to
their ally Darklore. Warlock felt like a shameful voyeur.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#37) - Warlock was fighting the
urge to once again use the Orb to check in on his unrequited love
Maya. Before he could succumb to temptation, he was confronted by
the disembodied spirit of Firelord who needed his help.
Comments: Created by Jim Starlin, Angel Medina,
Bob Almond.
When Eternity went before the Living Tribunal to make sure the
Infinity Gems could no longer be used in unison, he effectively
ended Warlock's omniscience. That's where the Orb came in: a
wonderful plot device ever ready to provide exposition that was as
opaque and cryptic as the story required.
In essence, it's basically a version of Mistress Death's scrying
pool, only with a beeper to contact the almighty. A pretty useful
tool, even when you don't use it to chat with Eternity. You wonder
why the Watch never used this all-seeing, all-knowing crystal ball
to help them solve the many mysteries facing them... Like, say,
Maxam's past?
Profile by Norvo.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Orb of Eternity should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#15, p21, pan4 (main)
Infinity Crusade I#1, p5, pans3,4,5,6 (calling Eternity)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#18, p16, pans1,2,3 (blasting Pip
and Reed)
Warlock Chronicles I#6, p11, pan6 (studying Thor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#37, p5, pan1 (temptation)
Appearances:
Silver Surfer & Warlock: Resurrection I#1 (March, 1993) - Jim
Starlin (writer, pencils, inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#15 (April, 1993) - Jim Starlin
(writer), Angel Medina (pencils), Bob Almond (inks), Craig Anderson
(editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#16 (May, 1993)
- Jim Starlin (writer), Tom Grindberg (pencils), Keith Williams
(inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#1 (June, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim
(pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#18 (July, 1993) - Jim Starlin
(writer), Angel Medina (pencils), Bob Almond (inks), Craig Anderson
(editor)
Warlock Chronicles I#2 (August, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Tom
Raney (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#19 (August, 1993) - Jim Starlin
(writer), Tom Grindberg (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Craig
Anderson (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#3 (August, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim
(pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock Chronicles I#3 (September, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Tom
Raney (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock Chronicles I#6 (December, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Kris
Renkewitz (pencils), Pat Redding (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#31 (August, 1994) - Jim Starlin
(writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Bob Almond & Art Nichols (inks),
Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#34 (November, 1994) - John Arcudi
(writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Bob Almond (inks), Craig Anderson
(editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch I#37 (February, 1995) - John Arcudi
(writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Craig Anderson
(editor)
First Posted: 07/23/2025
Last updated: 07/23/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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