Marvel Unveils Eighth Infinity Stone That Defies All Established Rules

Marvel has made an exciting addition to its Infinity Stones lore by introducing a brand-new seventh item: the Death Stone, now claimed by none other than Phil Coulson. Surprisingly, this isn’t the only twist, as the Marvel universe now encompasses an astonishing eighth Infinity Stone. Unlike its predecessors, this Stone does not define a new fundamental cosmic force; rather, it represents a significant disruption in the established rules governing these powerful artifacts, effectively eliminating their most notable vulnerability.

In the inaugural issue of Infinity Watch #1, crafted by the creative team of Derek Landy, Ruairí Coleman, Scott Hannah, Brian Reber, Erick Arciniega, and Cory Petit, Phil Coulson encounters a new character, Avery Zavala. Currently, Coulson is focused on assembling a robust team from the ranks of existing Infinity Stone bearers, preparing to confront the emerging villainous faction known as the Apeiron. However, the team struggles against their formidable adversaries, and just as defeat seems imminent, Zavala intervenes to save them.

Avery Zavala is unveiled as an overlooked Infinity Stone bearer who harbors a Stone distinct from the traditional seven. The shocking revelation about this Stone is that it originates from a reality separate from Marvel’s own, thereby breaking nearly every established guideline regarding the Infinity Stones and their inherent constraints. Typically, these Stones operate as a circuit, gaining strength from their proximity to one another. The implications of introducing an alternate universe Stone into this system raises intriguing questions regarding its potential to disrupt this established flow of power.

Marvel’s New Rules for Infinity Stone Lore

The Introduction of a New Infinity Stone from Another Realm

In a significant plot twist, Thanos managed to imprison the cosmic force known as Death within a newly conceived Infinity Stone, dubbed the Death Stone. This artifact, akin to its fellow Stones, quickly chose Phil Coulson as its host, resurrecting him and establishing a profound biological bond. Coulson is now on a mission to mold a diverse group of established villains, novice heroes, and mercenary types into a formidable faction [the Infinity Watch], which aims to be one of the most powerful assemblies in Marvel’s history. The current team roster includes:

New Infinity Watch Roster
Infinity Stone	Current Wielder	Current Powers	Affiliation	First Appearance
Reality Stone	Star (Ripley Ryan)	Short-range reality manipulation	Former Thunderbolts member and Captain Marvel foe	Captain Marvel #1 by Kelly Thompson & Carmen Carnero
Space Stone	Quantum	Close-range teleportation and portals	Former henchman for the Assessor and Miles Morales adversary	Miles Morales: Spider-Man #7 by Saladin Ahmed & Javier Garrón
Mind Stone	Colleen Wing	Telepathy, hypnosis, and illusion crafting	Former Heroes for Hire member and Daughters of the Dragon co-founder	Marvel Premiere #19 by Doug Moench and Larry Hama
Soul Stone	Multitude (aka Ward)	Capable of summoning lifelike energy constructs	Solo operator	Avengers Annual #1 by Jed MacKay & Travel Foreman
Time Stone	Overtime (aka Hector Bautista)	Limited time manipulation abilities, including pausing events and very short-range time travel	Solo operator	Infinity Wars: Infinity #1 by Gerry Duggan & Mark Bagley
Power Stone	Apex (aka Otherone)	Enhanced strength and the capability of amplifying others’ powers	Galactic mercenary and ally of the Guardians of the Galaxy	Guardians of the Galaxy #3 by Al Ewing & Juan Cabal
Death Stone	Phil Coulson	Resurrection ability, as well as the capacity to induce extreme pain (living death)	Former S.H.I.E.L.D. operative	Battle Scars #6 by Chris Yost, Matt Fraction, Cullen Bunn, and Scot Eaton

Nevertheless, the Apeiron presents a grave challenge for Coulson’s team right from the outset. These cosmic predators thrive on traversing different realities in search of Infinity Stones to devour, obliterating the worlds in the process. Intriguingly, Zavala reveals that he is the last survivor of the Apeiron’s prior hunting ground and appears to possess an equivalent to the Soul Stone from that dimension.

The Apeiron seem to inherit the powers of the Infinity Stones they consume. Key members of this threat include Star-Slayer, Inflict, and Seeker, with further antagonistic figures yet to be unveiled.

In a shocking revelation, Zavala discloses that he preserved his civilization by absorbing the souls of all his people, encasing them within his own being. This power likely relates to a unique form of Soul Stone, though fans might argue that in alternate universes, Infinity Stones could bear different names and capabilities. Zavala may wield a type of Stone yet to be introduced in Marvel’s canon, thus redefining what it means to be a Stone Bearer.

The Infinity Stones Have Shed Their Major Weakness

New Cosmic Threat: Predators of the Infinity Stones

One of the most monumental insights from Zavala is the revelation that Infinity Stone bearers maintain their powers across different realities. Historically, the unique energies of the Infinity Stones were confined to their origin dimensions, posing a significant limitation. Utilizing these Stones in an alternate reality often led to catastrophic outcomes, including the very destruction of the Stones. However, with the bond to a living host, that limitation seemingly dissipates. Furthermore, Zavala claims that such bearers are exceedingly rare in the multiverse, particularly as they are hunted relentlessly by the Apeiron.

The origin of Infinity Stone bearers traces back to 2018’s Infinity Wars, orchestrated by Adam Warlock, who transformed the Stones to prevent them from falling into malevolent hands again. The most recent addition, the Mind Stone bearer known as Worldmind, faced immediate demise at Thanos’ hands and has been replaced by Colleen Wing, a classic superhero.

Interestingly, it turns out that the only method to defeat the Apeiron involves a specific type of steel, forged through the collective power of all the Infinity Stones. Currently, Zavala’s sword represents the sole known example of this metal in Marvel’s primary reality. He plans to impart this knowledge to the Infinity Watch, but only if they consent to his grand scheme — to harness their powers collectively to create a new world where he can reside alongside the souls he preserved. Should they reject this proposal, Zavala is prepared to eliminate them and seize their Stones for his own.

The Death Stone: A Mystifying New Element for Coulson

Coulson’s New Role: Targeted by the Apeiron

While Zavala’s revelation brings an eighth Infinity Stone into the mainstream Marvel Universe, he admits his ability to tap into its power is compromised due to overloading it while absorbing souls. This limitation implies that the newly unearthed eighth Stone may not overshadow the recently introduced Death Stone. Moreover, the Infinity Watch indicates that Phil Coulson has embraced the mantle of Marvel’s Grim Reaper, now personally managing deaths across the globe.

The Apeiron acknowledge they have yet to encounter a Death Stone, which elevates the uniqueness of Thanos’ creation.

Thus far, the Death Stone’s capabilities remain largely unexplored, yet one of the most anticipated elements of Infinity Watch is the unveiling of Coulson’s newfound powers and how he chooses to utilize them. With the looming threat of the Apeiron and the complexities introduced by an alternate universe Infinity Stone, Phil Coulson’s position as the leader of the Infinity Watch has grown significantly more intricate, even with the formidable abilities he commands.

Infinity Watch #1 is set for release from Marvel Comics on December 11.

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