Magus
The Magus was
once the evil future version of Adam Warlock. Warlock and Thanos
thought they had gotten rid of the Magus, but when Adam Warlock
gained posession of the Infinity Gauntlet he decided to expel the
good and evil side of himself. That evil side is now the Magus.
Warlock #9- flashback- Magus reveals his origin as he explains that he is going to turn Warlock into a beacon so that the In-Betweener can find him. The In-Betweener will touch him and teleport him to In-Betweener's land. There Warlock will waste away for centuries being driven mad. He will try to seek refuge inside his cocoon, but to no avail. When Warlock finally returns to reality he will be transformed into the Magus. Magus is attacked by the denizens of Homeworld. Those who are not killed fall to worshipping Magus. Magus is installed as Ruler of Homeworld and as its god. Magus creates the Universal Church of Truth. With the government and religion mixed every action of the government had the approval of god. Magus declares a holy war on the neighboring planets. The Word of Magus spreads. Magus now rules a thousand worlds. Magus then set about creating his origin. He hires the Matriarch to mold Warlock.
Strange Tales #178- A woman who had been searching universe wide for Warlock collapses at his feet. Three soldiers of the Universal Church of Truth are chasing her. Warlock first hears of Magus. When they see that Warlock can defeat the three of them they decide to shoot the girl and teleport out. Warlock re-animates her temporarily using the Soul Gem. She tells Warlock about the iron fist of the Church. How non-believers are tortured into conversion and that worlds that oppose the Magus are destroyed and no non-believer is left alive. The Magus interrupts her and appears as giant power glowing face. Magus pulls Warlock within himself, makes him fight his own inner demons, and then shows him his secret. Magus is Latin for wise man, magician, or warlock. Magus and Warlock are the same person.
Strange Tales #179- behind the scenes- Warlock is captured and imprisoned on Magus' ship "The Great Divide". Warlock meets Pip and the other prisoners in the ship. Magus' matriarch of the church wants Warlock killed so that she can rule the church since Magus will never come to be without a Warlock. Warlock defeats the entire ship by himself and engulfs its captain, Autolycus, into his Soul Gem. Warlock and Pip head to Homeworld to confront Magus.
Strange Tales #180- behind the scenes- The Matriarch learns Warlock is on Homeworld. She decides to make him her slave since killing him might undo what Magus has constructed. Warlock tries to take his Soul Gem off only to find that the gem now has part of his soul. The Matriarch calls Warlock to her. She reveals that Magus is not a part of Warlock, but Warlock himself of the future. She then sends Warlock down a trap door to face Grand Inquisitor Kray-tor. Warlock is found guilty in a mockery trial. Gamorra seeks to ally herself with Warlock in an attempt to kill the Magus. Warlock breaks out of the trial and captures Kray-tor in the Soul Gem on purpose. Matriarch grabs the overwhelmed Warlock for brainwashing.
Strange Tales #181- Gamorra holds an off duty guard at knife point until he tells her where Warlock is being held and that they are trying to "recondition" him. Within the helmet meant to brainwash him Warlock confronts the part of himself that creates the Magus. Pip and Gamorra break in to rescue him, but Warlock manages to free himself just as they go to free him. Warlock now understands the Magus, but also his own views. Magus drops the giant head "Wizard of Oz" effect and sits before Warlock on his throne.
Warlock #9- Warlock tries to hit Magus, but Magus simply teleports backwards out of his reach. Magus laughs at Warlock that he still thinks he can change the inevitable. Magus says he remembers all these events transpiring. Warlock shouts his disbelief, but Magus says Warlock's exact words as he says them. Magus says he engineered all Warlock's recent events in order to prepare Warlock's mind. Pip runs at Magus, and as Pip gets close Magus knocks him out saying he has been waiting 5,000 years to do this. Magus does not sense Gamorra's presence and prepares to tell his origin to Warlock because it is best reserved for their ears. Thanos listens to Magus through Gamorra. After Magus explains his origin Magus toys with Warlock before the In-Betweener arrives. Gamorra prepares to kill Magus as he calls the In-Betweener. Magus' astral senses detect Gamorra at the last second. He hits her as he blasts Warlock calling the In-Betweener. Magus leaves and tells warlock there is no escape. He tells Gamorra to warn her master of his vengeance. He warns Pip. Magus walks away. He finds the Matriarch and sentences her to die. He tells his general to see that the story be relayed as Matriarch gives life to protect church from infidel Warlock. Magus then orders him to gather the Black Knights to go kill Warlock, Gamorra, and Pip. Magus figures that will occupy Warlock long enough for In-Betweener to find him. Thanos comes to Warlock's side.
Warlock #10- Thanos remains to face Magus' followers allowing Warlock, Gamorra, and Pip to escape. Thanos rejoins them later. Magus learns that Thanos is his secret foe's identity. Magus says he should have known because his intelligence services warned him that Thanos might become a threat. Magus finds In-Betweener's current location and warlock's location aboard Thanos' ship. Magus sees that Thanos has no screens up as if inviting Magus to examine his ship. Magus sees a time probe. Magus decides he must lead his black knights against the group.
Warlock #11- Magus arrives on Thanos' ship with his followers. Magus decrees that Warlock is to be taken alive. Magus commands his followers as Thanos convinces Warlock that he must drain the soldiers with his Soul Gem. Magus says that Warlock is proving himself to be as cruel as he is. Thanos blasts Magus back allowing Warlock into his time machine. Magus asks why Thanos has been orchestrating this divergence from his origin. Thanos says that Magus is a threat to his plans so he wants to eliminate him from existence. Magus says he will send Thanos to his Mistress Death. Magus begins to dominate Thanos and says that in five minutes In-Betweener will take Warlock no matter where he is in time. Warlock teleports into the future and captures his own soul in the Soul Gem so that it can never be transformed into the Magus. As he does this Magus fades from existence.
Infinity War #2- flashback- The Magus is recreated when in order to be a logical god Warlock expels both good and evil sides of his persona.
Quasar #38- flashback- Magus is seen talking with Body-Maker. Magus says he needs a shade for every hero on Earth. Body-Maker says he has to fulfill the needs of those with greater power levels than Magus. Magus says that that will soon change and that Body-Maker better hope he is not feeling vindictive when it does.
Infinity War #1- Thanos keeps catching Magus' shade of Thanos in the corner of his eye. Thanos investigates and finds a base in space similar to his shrine to Death from Gauntlet. Magus and ShadeThanos greet Thanos while he admires magus' power construct. Thanos asks Magus how he can be here when Thanos and warlock destroyed the timeline that leads to him. Magus tells Thanos that there are many paths leading to grandeur. Magus gets annoyed when Thanos suggests he is a shade. Magus' shades of Iron Man and Reed Richards succeed in replacing their originals. Thanos wants to know what Magus' plans for his large power field will be used for as he doesn't want his reality altered. Thanos sees that Magus strives for ultimate power and warns him against it. Magus says he overestimated Thanos. Thanos goes to fight but is confronted with ShadeThanos. Magus then pushes a button and Thanos is surrounded by a shade for every hero in the universe. Magus says to be sure and let Adam know he is coming. Thanos pushes another button and transports Thanos outside his base. ShadeThanos tells Magus that Thanos is headed right for Warlock.
Fantastic Four #366- Magus knocks over the chess piece heroes as he watches his "shade" versions of the heroes battle their counterparts. The "shade" Thanos warns Magus that these heroes are known for their tenacity. Magus says he has foreseen every eventuality. Shade Thanos says he doesn't understand why Magus has the shades fight. Magus insults his sidekick Thanos and sends out the Reed Richards' shade. The shade defeats the original and takes his place.
Silver Surfer vol. 3 #67- Magus is seen grinning in front of a console.
Infinity War #2- Magus and ShadeThanos watch Thanos with Warlock. He sees them plan to go to the Infinity Well in Death's palace. ShadeThanos says he can find no fault with Magus' plan, but wonders if it will ensnare Magus' "other self". Magus freaks and grabs ShadeThanos' neck saying Warlock is his shade. ShadeThanos agrees. Magus asks about the Galactus Contingent. When they find they are ahead of schedule Magus decides he better find a way to slow them up. When Magus feels they have learned enough he informs Death indirectly that they are in her palace. Magus watches as his Reed Richards' shade detonates a gamma bomb while the heroes are all gathered within the Fantastic Four's headquarters.
Fantastic Four #368- Magus and ShadeThanos teleport in and take back his shades of Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man.
Wonder Man #13- Magus and ShadeThanos teleport in and take back his shades of Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man.
Moon Knight #41- Magus and ShadeThanos teleport in and take back his shades of Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man.
Infinity War #3- Magus and ShadeThanos teleport into the Fantastic Four's base and takes back his shades of Iron Man and Richards. Magus watches as the heroes find the coordinates he left for them because he wants them to be there. Magus says the gamma bomb was never meant to destroy the heroes, only to get them involved so that they can "muddy the waters". The heroes are just pawns. Thanos and Warlock are the main pieces, and Pip, Gamorra, Galactus, and Eternity are useful secondary pieces. Magus plans to manipulate them all into getting what he wants. Galactus is still running to far ahead of schedule. To slow him down Magus blows up his ship. Magus says that despite all his power he aspires to greater heights. Magus sees Thanos, Warlock, and the Infinity Watch arrive at the second destination point on time. Magus says you can't imagine what it's like to have a past that never was. To be denied all his yesterdays and tomorrows. Magus says that when he gains ultimate power Thanos and Warlock will pay the most. ShadeThanos asks about Thanos' warnings against divinity. Magus says Thanos subconsciously felt unworthy of the power and that he has no such fatal flaw. He has already been worshipped as a god. Magus watches as Living Tribunal arrives before the catatonic Eternity. Magus dispatches the other shades to Earth to fight the heroes who remained behind. Magus watches as the pawn heroes teleport right to where he wanted them- facing Thanos and the others. Magus says that nothing can stop him now.
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #8- Magus admires Thanos' ability to bring out the extremes in those around him. ShadeThanos thinks that he, like his counterpart, craves ultimate power. Magus notices Gamorra experiencing a vision where a gauntleted hand reaches for Warlock.
Infinity War #4- Magus watches the heroes on Earth battle their doppelgangers and the heroes at the power station fight the Infinity Watch group. Magus asks ShadeThanos to tell him as soon as Phase III is ready. ShadeThanos tells Magus a second time that he senses something (Kang and Doom), but Magus says to forget it. Magus watches as Galactus comes and teleports all the heroes aboard his ship.
Alpha Flight #111- The Master sees Magus drinking champagne in his base.
Fantastic Four #369- ShadeThanos warns Magus about underestimating Galactus' might. Magus says that Galactus is integral to his plan. Magus says he is about to lay claim to the Earth.
Infinity War #4- Magus watches as Warlock reunites the Infinity Gauntlet. The Gauntlet doesn't work because of the Living Tribunal's verdict. Galactus goes to appeal the Gauntlet working, with Gamorra, to the Living Tribunal. The second Galactus is gone Magus teleports in with ShadeThanos and grabs Warlock, who is wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.
Infinity War #5- Magus snatches the Gauntlet from
Warlock and puts it on. ShadeThanos pushes Warlock to the ground.
Fantastic Four #369- Magus stands above Warlock now wearing the Infinity Gauntlet.
Infinity War #5- Warlock mocks Magus for wanting a powerless gauntlet, but Magus says the power will be restored soon. Magus sends ShadeThanos out to greet Thanos as he teleports to Magus' base. Magus explains that Thanos was used to activate the secondary players. Galactus was used for his might and prestige. Earth's heroes were used to confuse everyone to the true goal. Warlock was used to bring together the Gauntlet for him. Magus admires how even cosmic giants are his unknowing slaves. He tells Warlock of the field that prevents Quasar from using the Ultimate Nullifier. As Magus watches the pending verdict on the Gauntlet Kang and Doom decide to attack. Warlock decides to side with the devil he knows and fights with Magus against them. Kang shoots Magus. Magus hits him and smashes his face into a screen. Magus gets up and realizes that the field that was blocking the Ultimate Nullifier is down. Kang shoots Magus in the back. Now angered, Magus backhands Kang. He hits Kang into the wall, and goes to physically use the Cosmic Cubes to reinstate the shield. Doom defeats Warlock and Kang tells Doom to go after Magus. Doom says he will, but since Kang is no longer any use to him he blasts him. Magus is aghast to find that the Cosmic Cubes have been blown up by Kang's explosives. Doom blasts Magus from behind. Gamorra resuscitates Eternity making it possible for Eternity to overturn Living Tribunal's verdict. Magus struggles to his knees. Doom demands the Gauntlet, but before Magus hands it over Eternity allows the gems to work together. Magus stands triumphant. He dissolves Quasar and holds the Ultimate Nullifier in his hands. Magus sits on his throne with warlock on a cross as in Gamorra's vision. In moments Magus adjusts to godhood though the Reality Gem is a bit much to focus on. Magus says to Warlock, "Whoever fights monsters, Warlock, should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you. Neitzsche knew exactly what he was talking about."
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10- Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10- Magus emerges from one chamber an addresses the two Thanos as they battle. Magus invites the winner to join him within the chamber, and then places a spell on the door to remain locked until one Thanos is dead. Magus watches from within the room and admires Thanos as a unique being- despite the fact that there are currently two of them. Magus believes his Thanos' augmented power will ensure the real Thanos' death. Then Magus will deal with his disloyal thrall. Magus says that two of anything is too much. Magus decides that soon his existence and that of his shades will take the place of the others.
Moon Knight #44- Magus seen standing face to face with Warlock.
Fantastic Four #370- Magus stands victorious with the Infinity Gauntlet now functioning. As Invisible Woman frees the Magus' captives, including her husband, the Magus appears as a giant face. Invisible Woman tries to attack it, but the Magus simply snaps his fingers and lines up all his opposition except Warlock and Thanos.
Infinity War #6- Magus stands victorious with the
Infinity Gauntlet now functioning. Magus snaps his fingers and
lines up all his opposition except Warlock, who remains on his
cross, and Thanos, who emerges from his victory over ShadeThanos.
Thanos stands in Magus' face, but Magus uses hi power to force
Thanos to bow. Thanos tells Magus that reality is not what Magus
perceives. Magus' confidence is shaken and Thanos attacks. Magus
starts pummeling Thanos. Warlock grabs the Infinity Gauntlet from
behind and tries to wrest control of the gauntlet. The heroes are
teleported onto Galactus' ship and taken home.
Fantastic Four #370- Magus forces Thanos to bow before him. Thanos makes a comment on how Magus cannot master reality. Magus' confidence is shaken and as he wails on Thanos Warlock grabs the Infinity Gauntlet from behind. The struggle between the two causes an explosion. The heroes are teleported onto Galactus' ship and taken home.
Infinity War #6- As Magus and Warlock struggle Warlock breaks off and power starts to flow from his body. Warlock says that reality is shifting constantly. Warlock releases a being half-Eternity, half-Infinity. Magus is defeated. Thanos tells everyone that Magus' Infinity Gauntlet contained a phony Reality Gem. He never gained true omnipotence. Warlock lies comatose. Magus sits in Soul World. He says that next time he will hold on tighter to the universe. Magus decides he will raise a psychic army to usurp Warlock's control of the Soul Gem. Magus tries to recruit Judge Kray-tor and Autolycus, but as they walk they pass right through him. Magus realizes that in Soul World Magus is less than an entity because he is only a partial soul.
Infinity Crusade #4- Adam warlock goes inside the Soul Gem and confronts Magus. Magus was expecting him.
Infinity Crusade #6- The Goddess is sent into the Soul Gem and comes face to face with the Magus. Magus informs Goddess that as partial portions of a soul they are only phantoms in Soul World. Goddess charges Magus, but passes through him. Even to each other Goddess and Magus are ghosts.
Warlock vol. 2 #2-behind the scenes
Warlock vol. 2 #3-behind the scenes
Warlock vol. 2 #4-behind the scenes
Captain Marvel vol. 5 #19- flashforward
RETURN TO CAPTAIN MARVEL VILLAINS
