Crazy MCU Theory No. 37: About Those Infinity Stones
I was looking at a cool Tumblr post earlier when this crazy idea about what the Marvel Cinematic Universe — and the Marvel Comics world as well — might be up to sprang into my mind nearly fully formed: What if there are no “natural” mutations, and that every power, whether a natural mutation, an induced one via Kree manipulation or Terragenesis or even an alleged supernatural one, is simply a variation on one of six original Celestial-induced genetic alterations that connect the wielder with one of the Infinity Stones?
The germ of the concept came when I looked at the Tumblr image, and realized that in the post-credit scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it is clear that in the MCU the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are the result of genetic experimentation by Hydra using Loki’s scepter from the first Avengers movie. But the Tumblr image calls that the Mind stone, and I thought, “Wait, wouldn’t Scarlet Witch be more like the Reality stone? And Quicksilver the as yet unseen Time stone?” Then, bam!, the idea was there.
So how valid could it be?
The MCU evidence
OK, we just mentioned that two characters from the mutant world are going to be products of direct genetic experimentation using one of the stones, not traditional comic book “mutants.” In Guardians of the Galaxy, the assumption is made (by Glenn Close as Nova Prime) that Peter Quill is somehow connected to the Infinity stones via his unnamed Dad when — SPOILER — he touches the Power stone and isn’t immediately destroyed.
On TV, Skye of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was designated as an 084, something exhibiting power of an unknown origin, when she was a child. The current story line, featuring a super-healing elixir made from the body of a blue humanoid alien, and the existence of Skye’s mysterious and powerful father who last saw her in the Chinese mountains near Tibet, strongly indicates an Inhuman tie-in. Oh, and then there is the fact that the Inhumans will get their own movie — before Avengers: Infinity War comes out. That would be a good time to explain the fact that the Infinity stones are the source of all powers in the MCU.
But wait, what about the powers of gods like the Asgardians? Remember in the Guardians of the Galaxy, it was explained that the Infinity stones are as old as the universe, and used by the gigantic and insanely powerful Celestials to help define the early universe. The Celestial could have easily been the ones to power up the Asgardians, long long ago. In fact, that is current canon in the Marvel Comics universe — the Celestials mucked about with proto-human genetics one million years ago and created the Eternals, which are all of the Marvel gods, including the Asgardians.
The Marvel Comics evidence
There is less hard evidence here, aside from the above-mentioned Celestials and their genetic experimenting. However, when the Kree start experimenting on early humans (which become the Inhumans) to create a race of super soldiers in their war with the Skrulls, they choose humans because of the inherent power potential left in them from the Celestials’ experimentation from one million years ago. So in Marvel Comics canon, exposure to the original wielders of the Infinity stones has made all humanity more susceptible to becoming powered.
And then there is the recent move to make the Inhumans as large or larger a source of people with powers than the mutants are in various Marvel comics. I won’t go into details about how this is unfolding, because it involves multiple ancient schisms in the Inhumans community, and would be like explaining the Silmarillion to someone — or the Old Testament — but suffice to say it also involved the bad guy seeking the Infinity stones in the MCU, Thanos.
The Business evidence
It is clear that Marvel Studios had big plans for connecting its movies right out of the gate. Both Iron Man, which was a big enough hit to warrant a sequel and The Hulk, which wasn’t, had scenes after the credits which teased The Avengers. But looking at the timing of press releases about upcoming films after the release of those two, it seems clear that Marvel didn’t realize it needed a long-term plan until The Avengers was well under way. Then Disney bought the whole shebang and basically said “Disney expects every part to support every other. Let’s figure out how to integrate these two business worlds — comics and movies — more closely.”
Since the rights to its most popular franchise, the X-Men specifically and all mutants in general, was in the hands of 20th Century Fox, clearly another source of powered individuals was needed, and the Inhumans stepped up to the plate. It sure looks like Marvel is setting up the Inhumans (which now outnumber mutants in the Marvel Comics universe) to be the replacement for mutants in an MCU in which they can’t even use that term for how someone gets powers.
But what would be the business implications if Marvel Comics basically explained away all “mutants” as actually simply genetic experiments? Would they get the rights back to, say, Wolverine, if in the comics it is explained he isn’t really a mutant, but a long-delayed genetic experiment? (OK, bad example, he’s dead.) Using the Infinity stones in the hands of Celestials one million years ago would be one very simple way to do that.
All mental powers come from a genetically encoded connection to the Mind stone. All flight and energy manipulation powers from the Space stone. All speed and time manipulation from the Time stone. Any reality bending or probability affecting powers from the Reality stone. Strength and invulnerability from the Power stone. Even supernatural abilities could be traced to a connection to the Soul stone.
Sure, I am pulling all of this theory out of my butt. As a theory, however, it could work and work well. And it fits a lot of the evidence out there. What do you think?
