In-Betweener
The In-Betweener is a comic cosmic being who features in Marvel Comics.
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Biography
The In-Betweener
The In-Betweener first came to human attention when it abducted the artificial humanoid Adam Warlock to its quasi-realm, and attempted to transform him into a champion of life to help restore the balance upset by Thanos of Titan. The experience drove Warlock insane, creating the entity known as Magus. (Warlock v1 #9) Acting on orders from Lord Chaos and Master Order, the In-Betweener confronted Warlock and revealed that he was destined to undergo transformation. Warlock resisted, unleashing his Soul Gem in an effort to fight back, but the In-Betweener absorbed his attacks without strain. With overwhelming control, the entity ensnared Warlock in a field of cosmic energy, pulling him into a chrysalis state despite his desperate struggles. The In-Betweener’s actions were direct and decisive, fulfilling his role as a cosmic enforcer of balance. (Warlock v1 #10) Warlock, however, was able to escape this fate with help from the Titan Thanos. (Warlock v1 #11)
The In-Betweener later attempts to supplant Galactus' role in the universe and allies with the Elders of the Universe in their plan against Galactus. However, the In-Betweener betrays the Elders during a confrontation with the entity Death and compels Death to wipe three of the Elders from existence. (Silver Surfer v3 #17) Soon after this, the In-Betweener also battles Galactus and his robotic servant the Punisher, but the stalemated battle is interrupted by his masters, who subsequently imprison him. (Silver Surfer v3 #18)
He was later freed by Thanos, who secretly desired the Soul Gem the In-Betweener wore, as it was one of the six Infinity Gems. Thanos then stole the gem and abandons the In-Betweener to face the wrath of Master Order and Lord Chaos, who discover he has escaped his prison. (Thanos Quest v1 #1)
The In-Betweener escaped once more and set his sights on cosmic artifacts. He attacked Quasar in pursuit of the powerful Starbrand, using his ability to warp reality to destabilize Quasar’s quantum constructs. At one point, he trapped Quasar within a shifting void where up became down and order dissolved into chaos, forcing the hero to rely on instinct rather than his usual logic. Despite his power, the In-Betweener was ultimately defeated when Quasar exploited his overconfidence, binding him with the quantum bands long enough for the Living Tribunal to intervene and contain him again. (Quasar v1 #25)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, the In-Betweener was a humanoid cosmic being, often depicted as a tall figure whose body was split evenly down the center into two halves—one completely black, the other completely white. This stark division symbolized his embodiment of opposites: chaos and order, good and evil, life and death. His face mirrored this division, one side dark and the other light. (Warlock v1 #10) Due to his role, he was known by one of his titles which was the Cosmic Balancer. (Doctor Strange v2 #28) He was also called the Barrier between Dichotomies, He Who Stands in Shadow, and as the Separator of Actualities. (Doctor Strange v2 #26)
The In-Betweener was aloof, cryptic, and mercilessly devoted to his function. He did not act out of malice or compassion, but instead as an executor of inevitability, enforcing transformations and cosmic laws beyond mortal comprehension. However, his sense of superiority often caused him to manipulate others as pawns, speaking in grandiose terms about destiny and balance. This arrogance frequently led to his downfall, as he underestimated mortals’ willpower and the interference of higher entities. (Quasar v1 #25)
By the In-Betweener's own admission, he represents duality itself, specifically in respect to concepts such as good and evil, reason and emotion, truth and illusion, and life and death. (Warlock v1 #9)
Powers and abilities
In powers, the In-Betweener wielded vast cosmic energy manipulation, capable of warping reality, reshaping environments, and projecting devastating blasts of force. He could create illusions, bind opponents in energy fields, and alter the perceptions of time and space. His strength came not from combat but from overwhelming inevitability. (Warlock v1 #10)
Despite his might, his power was ultimately limited by the control of his masters, Lord Chaos and Master Order, who could imprison or recall him at will. (Warlock v1 #10)
The In-Betweener wore a mask while manifesting in the physical plane to personally hunt targets causing imbalance. It rendered him invisible to all but except his prey with this being done so in the interest of fairness and balance. (Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe v1 #2)
An object that was used by the In-Betweener were Skinner Boxes that were large crates that a person could fit into and were also known as Operant Conditioning Chambers. They were tools used to observe, program, and re-educate higher order magicians and scientists. (G.O.D.S. v1 #2) Users see the box as 'the Real World'; whilst the world outside was a 'dream' that they tend to forget when they 'wake up'. (G.O.D.S. v1 #4)
Among the mortal servants of the In-Betweener was a person who came to be known as Cubisk Core. He was a Proto-Mage who had been reprogrammed and born-again as a vessel of the In-Betweener. (G.O.D.S. v1 #3)
Notes
- The In-Betweener was created by Jim Starlin where he made his first appearance in Warlock v1 #9 (October, 1975).
Alternate Versions
Appearances
- Warlock v1: (1975)
- Ultimates 2 v2:
- Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe v1:
External Links
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