The era of the Infinity Gauntlet is over, and Infinity Gauntlet has been at the core of some of Marvel’s best, most epic stories–both in the pages of the comics and on-screen. All good things must end, however, and in a first look at Infinity Watch #5, the Gauntlet’s replacement is revealed.

The Infinity Watch scribe Derek Landy is also writing Doctor Strange of Asgard, as part of the One World Under Doom event.

League of Comic Geeks reported on The Infinity Watch #5, which will be written by Derek Landy and drawn by Ruairi Coleman. Marvel shared more information on the book, including its solicitation, which reads as follows:

The Infinity Watch have been restored to their full potential, but even that may not be enough to save their reality while Zavala has THE INFINITY BLADE and all of the INFINITY STONES! And if they succeed, is the universe any safer with these loose cannons in possession of the Infinity Stones?!

The title follows the adventures of a new incarnation of the Infinity Watch, guardians of the Infinity Stones.

None of the two covers for The Infinity Watch #5 shared with League of Comic Geeks featured the Infinity Blade, leaving fans guessing at what this awesome weapon may look like.

The Infinity Gauntlet Was a Grand, Genre-Defining Epic

Decades in the Making, The Infinity Gauntlet Continues to Find New Fans, Even 30 Years After Its First Publication

The saga of the Infinity Stones is so grand in scope that it inspired both an epic comic book series and a decade-plus worth of movies. The story also took years to tell in both mediums as well. The brainchild of Thanos creator Jim Starlin, the Infinity Saga began in the comics in earnest with the introduction of the Mad Titan in 1973’s The Invincible Iron Man #55. Thanos quickly became one of Marvel’s most popular villains, and one of their most complex and layered. His quest for the affections of Death made Thanos stand out from other villains.

Roughly a year prior to Thanos’ first appearance, the first of the Infinity Stones debuted. Originally called “Soul Gems,” the first appeared in 1972’s Marvel Premiere #1. That issue also saw the return of Adam Warlock, a character previously introduced in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four. Later, more “Soul Gems” were revealed, each with its own powers, as noted in the table below. These Gems at the time were held by the Elders of the Universe, and in 1990’s Thanos Quest miniseries, the Mad Titan challenged them for control, and won.

This led to 1991’s The Infinity Gauntlet crossover event. Now called the “Infinity Stones,” the Gems were placed onto a special gauntlet that Thanos wore. He then used their combined powers to wipe out half the universe’s population, as a final bid to impress Death. Over the course of its six issues, heroes and gods alike fought Thanos, and he beat them all–but in the end his hubris was his downfall. This story was later adapted, with some changes, as the MCU’s Infinity Saga, told over the course of its first three phases.

Even after 30 years, The Infinity Gauntlet still holds sway over comic fans, and the MCU introduced it to a mainstream audience. And just as the story itself resonated with fans, so do the Infinity Stones throughout the Marvel Universe. Later generations of creators have tweaked the Infinity Stones’ mythos, revealing that every universe has its own set, which carried over into the MCU. Creators have also dived deep into the origins of the Infinity Stones, and they are currently sentient on Earth-616, which allowed them a host of their choosing.

The Infinity Blade: Marvel's Powerful New Sword, Explained

The Infinity Blade Could Sur the Infinity Gauntlet

A sword radiating with Infinity Stone energy would make for a fearsome weapon.

And now a new chapter in the ongoing saga of the Infinity Stones has arrived, in the form of the Infinity Blade. While none of the covers shared so far show the Infinity Blade, it can be assumed to be a sword-like object with slots for each of the Stones, much like the ones found on the Gauntlet. Marvel has not revealed any advanced designs for the Infinity Blade, but it can be inferred to be an awesome sight. A sword radiating with Infinity Stone energy would make for a fearsome weapon.

For all of its power, the Infinity Gauntlet was good for one purpose: to wield the Stones, but the Infinity Blade can be used for more. The Blade would have all the Stones’ abilities, making its the most powerful entity in the universe–but with the added advantage of being able to slice their opponents up. While some may view a sword containing the Infinity Stones as a bit of overkill, there is no denial it will become the most powerful weapon in the Marvel Universe, even more so than the Gauntlet.

Sorry Infinity Gauntlet, Your Day is Done--For Now

Even If the Infinity Watch Stopped the Blade, It Could Always Return

And with the arrival of the awesome new Infinity Blade, the days of the Infinity Gauntlet are over. While Marvel’s solicitation opens up the possibility that the Blade will not be permanent, it is nevertheless an intriguing idea. Melding an already useful weapon, like a sword, with the power of the Infinity Stones, could be gold in the hands of the proper creators. If the Infinity Blade does stick around post The Infinity Watch #5, then the Watch’s mission becomes even more imperative, as the Marvel Universe has a terrifying new weapon.

Source: League of Comic Geeks

The Infinity Watch #5 is on sale May 28 from Marvel Comics!