Infinity Countdown

{{Event Template
 * EventImage             = Infinity Countdown Teaser 001.jpg
 * ImageSize              = 250px
 * EventName              = Infinity Countdown
 * Aliases                = The Gathering of the Infinity Stones{{r|Doctor Strange Vol 1 385}}
 * Universe               = Earth-616
 * Locations              =
 * Creators               = Gerry Duggan; Aaron Kuder
 * Protagonists           = Adam Warlock, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Champions, Daredevil, Darkhawk, Doctor Strange, Galactus, Guardians of the Galaxy, Logan, Loki, Nova Corps, Silver Surfer
 * Antagonists            = Chitauri Empire, Fraternity of Raptors, Super Skrull, Turk Barrett, Ultron / Hank Pym, Warbringer
 * Others                 = Contemplator, Hank Pym's Soul Fragment, Gardener, Kang the Conqueror, Magus, Old Woman Gamora


 * FullSynopsis           = Prior to the destruction of the entire Multiverse as a consequence of the incursions, the Infinity Gems of the Marvel Universe were destroyed.{{r|New Avengers Vol 3 3}}{{r|Avengers Vol 5 29}} Once all of reality was restored,{{r|Secret Wars Vol 1 9}} the Infinity Gems started to re-emerge.

Both the Space and Mind Stones manifested on Earth, the former was initially procured by Logan,{{r|Marvel Legacy Vol 1 1}} but he later left it in the hands of Black Widow for safekeeping,{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 1}} while the latter fell in the hands of small-time crook Turk Barrett, who used its power for his own gain.{{r|Infinity Countdown Prime Vol 1 1}} A giant-sized Power Stone resurfaced in the desert planet of Xitaung and became guarded by the Nova Corps and the Guardians of the Galaxy.{{r|Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 150}} The Reality Stone appeared in an adjacent reality,{{r|Captain Marvel Vol 1 126}} from where it was retrieved by Captain Marvel. The Time Stone turned out to be responsible for the return of the destroyed planet Sakaar, and was unearthed by the Super-Skrull from its core with the objective to find the other gems and return the glory of the Skrull Empire. The Soul Gem was obtained by Magus on the surface of Ego the Living Planet, but was taken from his hands by Ultron / Hank Pym, whose intention was to assemble the Infinity Gauntlet and rewrite the universe.{{r|Infinity Countdown Prime Vol 1 1}}

The Nova Corps outpost in Xitaung was eventually besieged concurrently by the Fraternity of Raptors and the Chitauri warlord Warbringer. After freeing the planet Telferina from a Flora colossi invasion led by the maddened Gardener,{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 1}} the Guardians of the Galaxy joined the fight against the invaders in Xitaung.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 2}} After the Nova Corps decided to retreat, Rich Rider figured out thanks to his brother Robbie that a one could impose their cognition over reality to alter the size of the Power Stone. Using this principle, Star-Lord reduced it to the size of a hand. Since the Power Stone acted as an anchor that prevented Xitaung's destruction, the planet started crumbling immediatelly. After using the Power Stone to destroy the Chitauri, the Guardians and Nova escaped from the doomed planet.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 3}}

Possessing knowledge of the calamity that awaited if the Infinity Stones were gathered again, Kang the Conqueror abducted Adam Warlock and convinced him to accept his help in securing the Soul Gem in exchange for the Time Stone. Adam was sent back in time to receive council from Rama-Tut,{{r|Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock Vol 1 1}} and joined the hunt for the Gem a millenia later on present day. When he reached the planet of Saiph, he found that the world had been conquered by Ultron using the Soul Gem, and one of his victims affected by the Ultron Virus was the Silver Surfer.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 2}} After Warlock healed him of Ultron's infection, the Silver Surfer sought out Galactus' help to convince him to destroy Saiph, since Ultron planned to use it as the launching point to spread the Ultron Virus on a cosmic scale.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 3}} Galactus initially refused due to the consequence of destroying the planet, but eventually agreed. Saiph and the rockets transporting the Ultron Virus were destroyed before they could leave the planet. Ultron attempted to escape but was wounded, and the Soul Gem was taken by Warlock. As a result of destroying Saiph, Galactus' hunger returned. In exchange for Galactus' help, Silver Surfer was forced to serve as his herald once again.

In the meantime, the Guardians and the Nova Corps regrouped in Knowhere. Drax the Destroyer took off with the Power Stone while Nova set out to save his brother from the Raptors. Star-Lord was summoned by the Collector and Grandmaster, who had found a Reality Stone. However, it turned out it wasn't the Reality Stone from their universe, but from an adjacent reality. The Captain Marvel from the world that Reality Stone belonged to appeared it to retrieve it, and Star-Lord handed it over since it was useless outside its native universe.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 4}} The Guardians escaped to Oblitus, but they were intercepted by Warlock and Kang. Gamora attempted to take the Soul Stone from Warlock, and a fight broke out. Drax managed to hold onto the stone, but learned that Soulworld was corrupted, so he struck Gamora to prevent her from opening it, and departed with Warlock and Kang. The rest of the Guardians refused to help Gamora pursue Kang, and she went on her own.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 5}}

In the middle of a cosmic journey, Doctor Strange stumbled into the Time Stone and stole it from the Super-Skrull.{{r|Doctor Strange Vol 5 3}} He additionally tracked down the Mind Stone, and tried to convince Turk Barrett to give it up, but he managed to evade him. When Black Widow sought Strange's help to dispose of the Space Stone, he refused take it since he warned against keeping two stones in close proximity. Using magic, Strange communicated with the wielders of each stone and requested a parley to reform the Infinity Watch, arguing it was critical the six stones were properly safeguarded to stave off calamity. With one such threat being Thanos.{{r|Infinity Countdown Vol 1 5}}


 * Part1                  = Infinity Countdown Vol 1 1
 * Part2                  = Infinity Countdown Vol 1 2
 * Part3                  = Infinity Countdown Vol 1 3
 * Part4                  = Infinity Countdown Vol 1 4
 * Part5                  = Infinity Countdown Vol 1 5


 * CustomSection1         = Tie-ins
 * CustomText1            = * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock Vol 1 1}}
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Black Widow Vol 1 1}}
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Captain Marvel Vol 1 1}}
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Champions Vol 1 1}}-2
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Daredevil Vol 1 1}}
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk Vol 1 1}}-4
 * {{c|Infinity Countdown Prime Vol 1 1}}


 * CustomSection2         = Recommended Reading
 * CustomText2            = * {{c|Marvel Legacy Vol 1 1}}
 * Dark Origins
 * Infinity Quest
 * Return to Planet Hulk
 * Ultron's Story:
 * {{c|Avengers: Rage of Ultron Vol 1 1}}
 * {{c|Uncanny Avengers Vol 3 4}}, #9-12
 * {{c|Deadpool Vol 4 30}}
 * {{c|Secret Empire Vol 1 3}}-4
 * {{c|All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 8}}
 * Where Is Wolverine?

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 * Notes                  = * While promoted as a tie-in for Infinity Wars in its cover, the events of  affect directly the story of Infinity Countdown.
 * Trivia                 =
 * Links                  =