Living Tribunal
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| Living Tribunal | |
 Art by Jim Starlin. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (Cameo) Strange Tales vol. 1, #157 (June, 1967) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Marie Severin Herb Trimpe |
| In story information | |
| Abilities | Virtual Omnipotence, prescience, Omnipresent |
The Living Tribunal is a cosmic entity that appears in the fictional Marvel Universe. The character first appeared in Strange Tales vol. 1, #157 June 1967 (cameo - first full appearance next issue). The Tribunal was created by Stan Lee, Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe.
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
The Living Tribunal is a virtually omnipotent entity empowered by the One-Above-All to oversee and maintain balance in the realities that constitute the Multiverse, from the mainstream universe (616) to all the alternate realities (e.g., What If) and pocket universes (e.g., Earth X).
The Living Tribunal only appears when needed, such as when passing judgment on Earth; [1] monitoring the actions of other cosmic beings; [2] or acting as a referee on matters affecting an entire universe. [3]
The Living Tribunal's power is apparently limitless, as the entity is capable of nullifying the combined power of the Infinity Gems. [4] The entity has only been surpassed once - when Thanos of Titan becomes one with the entire universe through the use of an artifact called the Heart of the Universe and even the Living Tribunal is apparently powerless to stop him. [5]
It has been revealed that the Living Tribunal has representatives that he calls The Magistrati who dispense judgments by request in various alien worlds. [6]
[edit] Appearance
The Living Tribunal has three faces, although only one is fully visible, with the other two being partially and completely covered. The three faces represent Equity, Vengeance, and Necessity, respectively, and correspond to the different prime cosmic beings in all universes. [7]
In the Earth-616 universe these beings are:
In the mystical realm of the Vishanti, these beings are represented by the In-Betweener (Equity); Master Order (Necessity) and Lord Chaos (Vengeance), although all are still governed by the Living Tribunal.
The fourth side of the Living Tribunal's head is a void. The Tribunal once stated that it could have represented the cosmic entity the Stranger, but the latter refused. [8]
The Tribunal revealed the previously completely covered face of Necessity to She-Hulk as a reflection of her own face, stating that the face is a "Cosmic Mirror which reminds us to always judge others as we would have ourselves judged." [9]
[edit] Powers and abilities
The Living Tribunal possessed infinite power and near-absolute control over the Marvel Omniverse, second only to the One-Above-All in omnipotence. Only Thanos, when in possession of the Heart of the Universe, had ever successfully surpassed its strength. As an abstract entity, the Living Tribunal is the embodiment of balance, order and transparency to all realities and universes.
[edit] References
- ^ Strange Tales #157 - 163 (vol. 1, Jun. - Dec. 1967)
- ^ Rom #46 (Apr. 1983); Secret Wars II #6 (Dec. 1985); Silver Surfer #31 (vol. 3, Dec. 1989); Quasar #26 (Sep. 1991)
- ^ Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 (Feb. 1992)
- ^ Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1
- ^ Marvel Universe: The End #1 - 6 (2004)
- ^ She-Hulk #7 (vol. 4)
- ^ Silver Surfer #31 (vol. 3, Dec. 1989)
- ^ Silver Surfer #31 (vol. 3, Dec. 1989)
- ^ She-Hulk #12 (vol. 4)
