Adam Warlock is making his screen debut this weekend. Who is this magnificently quaffed man-god, and where did he come from?
We first saw his cocoon in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but this hero has been a part of the Marvel universe for a while now. Adam Warlock is built on the creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby which debuted in Fantastic Four in 1967. At that point, his name was simply Him. The character was reintroduced and significantly revamped, which included a new name and updated origin that may or may not have been inspired by Jesus Christ Superstar.
via Marvel
Adam Warlock’s Comic Book Origins
First appearance: Marvel Premiere #1 (April 1972)
Creators: Roy Thomas (writer) and Gil Kane (artist)
The Enclave, a group of scientists from Earth, created him. Their goal was to create an army of perfect, invincible humans that would follow their every order. The super being discovered that they planned to use this force to take over the world while he was still forming, and rebelled the instant he left his cocoon. Realizing that Earth wasn’t ready for his presence, he destroyed the Enclave and left the planet.
Fantastic Four #66 (June 1967) via Marvel
Him Reborn
After a brutal fight, Him encased himself in another cocoon to recover. Eventually, the High Evolutionary, a human geneticist with questionable intentions, found the cocoon. The High Evolutionary had created a planet he hoped would be Earthlike and free from evil, but one of his creations introduced the concept to the planet. The entire thing would have to be scrapped. Him emerged from his rest and convinced the High Evolutionary to let him try to save the planet’s inhabitants. This earned him a new name and the Soul Gem, which was affixed to his forehead.
He initially failed in this endeavor, was killed, and once again encased himself in a cocoon. Warlock was reborn several days later with more cosmic awareness and power than before. In his new form, he was able to save the planet and its inhabitants. With this win under his belt, Adam Warlock and his collection of cocoons set out to be a force for good across the cosmos.
His mission as a self-appointed savior of worlds has gained him several adversaries–including Thanos–and allies like Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer, and the Avengers. He’s also had an arc that focuses on the Infinity Gauntlet.
Avengers Annual Vol. 1 #7 (August 1977) via Marvel
Adam Warlock’s Powers & Abilities
Along with the standard super-human strength, speed, durability, and ability to fly through the cold depths of space, Adam Warlock has capabilities that make him nearly a god. They stem from his unique biology and symbiotic connection with the Soul Stone. His ability to cocoon gives him regenerative powers and makes him quasi-immortal. Every time he emerges from a cocoon, he has slightly different powers that end up being beneficial for the mission at hand. His bond with the Soul Gem allows him to locate it across the cosmos and makes him immune to its powers if wielded by an enemy.
He has powerful cosmic senses that grant him clairvoyance, telepathy, and the ability to resist reality warping. They also give him the ability to manipulate space and energy. If all of that wasn’t enough, he can also withstand the effects of the Time Stone and time manipulation.
The way Adam Warlock’s powers can shift every time he regenerates makes what he’s capable of nearly endless.
via Marvel
Adam Warlock in the MCU
The MCU makes some tweaks to his origin story. He’s a creation of the Sovereign– a race of golden, genetically engineered perfectionists explicitly created for the screen. Ayesha, Golden High Priestess of the Sovereign, shows Adam’s cocoon to her servant in a mid-credits scene after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Will Poulter was cast in the role in 2021 and will make his debut this weekend in Guardians Vol. 3.
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Pop culture staff writer that has been on the BoLS team since 2010. Contributor on the One of Us podcast. Marvel, Vertigo, Batman, and dystopian sci-fi fan. Enjoys bad movies, amazing stunt performances, and the internet. Hates rom-coms. (she/they)
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