|
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Avengers - Infinity War!A great many characters died during the course of Avengers: Infinity War. Them's the breaks when an all-powerful villain is obsessed with eliminating half of all life in the universe. But arguably none of these deaths hit quite as hard as Gamora's. This fan-favorite character found herself sacrificed by her adoptive father in order for him to claim the Soul Stone. This surprise twist has sparked a newfound interest in Gamora's comic book adventures. Yes, Gamora did indeed die in the comics, though that was hardly the end of her journey. Those comics also offer some crucial hints as to what's next for the character. Read on to find out how Infinity War drew from the source material.Comparing Gamora's Origin StoriesGamora's comic book origin is fairly similar to the one established in the MCU. There, too, she was adopted by Thanos and trained from childhood to become "the deadliest woman in the galaxy." The main difference being that Gamora's people weren't wiped out by Thanos himself, but rather a fanatical cult called the Church of Universal Truth. Thanos trained Gamora and bestowed various cybernetic enhancements upon her, all to prepare for the day she could take revenge on the church and its leader, Magus.
Art by Jim Starlin. (Marvel Comics)Speaking of which, we have some ideas on how Magus and his other half, Adam Warlock, might factor into the plot of The Avengers 4.
The comic book Gamora eventually turned against her adoptive father and helped Warlock and the Avengers defeat him, but it would be much later before she actually joined the Guardians of the Galaxy. In fact, prior to the 2008 Guardians comic, that team only existed in the far future of the Marvel Universe.7 Best Comics to Read for Avengers: Infinity War ![With Avengers: Infinity War hitting theaters, here are all the comics you should read to know more about Thanos, the Infinity Stones, that battle in Wakanda, and more.]()
![<b>Infinity Gauntlet.</b> The definitive Thanos story and one of the most eye-popping stories in Marvel Comics’ history, Infinity Gauntlet unfolds the Mad Titan’s quest for power like a horror story, culminating in a desperate all-out assault by earth’s heroes. Based on what we know about Infinity War, this is the source material it will draw from most heavily, and small wonder. There is an actual comic series called Infinity War that followed this one, but the less said about it the better.]()
View 9 Images ![]()
![<b>Avengers, Vol. 2 (2010-2011).</b> This arc has the Avengers facing off against the Hood — a generally containable threat who becomes considerably more dangerous when he starts collecting the Infinity Gems. Yes, the Infinity Gems (or “Stones” if you’re going by the movie’s lingo), those mysterious, all-purpose MacGuffins of immense power take center stage here. In past stories, the Infinity Gems have suffered from being a little vague in their exact capabilities, but this story shows off their individual capabilities.]()
![<b>Infinity.</b> Captain America and the Avengers are waging a massive intergalactic war for the fate of the universe, which leaves earth unprotected from the likes of Thanos, who heads for earth with his Black Order in tow on an ambiguous but very bad-sounding mission. This is a good way to get to know the Black Order, Thanos’ team of five henchmen who are each, on their own, powerful enough to hold off any number of superheroes. This story also features the assault of Thanos’ army on Wakanda, a pivotal event seen in the trailer for Avengers: Infinity War.]()
![<b>Captain America and the Falcon: Secret Empire.</b> The original Secret Empire, released in 1974 by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema during their Captain America and the Falcon run, is a stone cold classic. The story follows Cap investigating a government conspiracy that, he discovers, goes up much, much higher than he could have dreamed. What followed was a period in which Cap was disillusioned with U.S. politics. He ditched the flag costume and started calling himself Nomad. It was a dark time, and it’s got a lot in common with where Steve Rogers found himself at the end of Captain America: Civil War… and where we’re likely going to pick up with Cap once Infinity War begins.]()
Gamora's DeathAs in Infinity War, Gamora's death came during a massive battle between the Avengers and Thanos. However, the circumstances were somewhat different. In 1977's Avengers Annual #7, Thanos harnessed the power of the six Soul Gems (as the Infinity Stones were known at the time) to create one massive gem capable of wiping out the stars. Both Gamora and Pip the Troll were mortally wounded by Thanos, forcing Warlock to transfer their souls into his Soul Gem.
Gamora's death in Avengers Annual #7. Art by Jim Starlin. (Marvel Comics)Essentially, Gamora's body died, but her soul remained contained within Soul World rather than transitioning to the afterlife. For a time, she, Pip and the others souls Warlock collected were able to exist in peaceful bliss inside Soul World, at least until fate called them back to the realm of the living.
Gamora, Warlock and Pip enter Soul World. Art by Jim Starlin. (Marvel Comics)It's likely that Gamora has experienced a similar fate in Infinity War. One of the final scenes in the movie features Thanos traveling to Soul World and conversing with a young Gamora. That's most likely Gamora's soul taking the form she had when Thanos first met her.Joining the Infinity WatchInfinity War is largely based on the 1991 comic crossover Infinity Gauntlet. But where Gamora died in Infinity War, Infinity Gauntlet marked the point where she returned to life in the comics. Desperate to stop Thanos from harnessing the gauntlet, Warlock brought himself, Gamora and Pip out of Soul World limbo and took possession of three human bodies. Gamora was briefly killed again when Thanos used the gauntlet to wipe out half of all life in the universe, but she was restored when Nebula took control of the gauntlet and undid Thanos' actions.
From there, Gamora gained a new mission when she joined a cosmic team called the Infinity Watch. Realizing that even he couldn't be trusted to safeguard the Infinity Gauntlet, Warlock recruited five allies - Gamora, Pip, Drax the Destroyer, Moondragon and even Thanos himself - to safeguard the individual gems. Gamora was charged with protecting the Time Gem.
Assuming Gamora's death in the MCU isn't permanent, it's very possible that her role as an Infinity Watch member will come into play in Phase 4.The After-effects of Soul WorldSince the Infinity Watch was disbanded, Gamora has gone on to play a major role in various cosmic Marvel comics. She joined the present-day incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the aftermath of the Annihilation: Conquest crossover, and she's been a more or less consistent presence on the team ever since.
Art by Mike Deodato, Jr. (Marvel Comics)However, in many ways, she's still haunted by her time spent in Soul World and the paradise she lost by returning to life. The most recent volume of Guardians of the Galaxy even revealed that a trace of Gamora's soul remained inside Soul World, taking the form of an elderly woman much as Gamora's soul appears as a young child in Infinity War. This has left Gamora desperate to reclaim this missing piece and make herself whole again. That's another potential plot point that could come into play in Phase 4.
Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN. (责任编辑：)
|
