Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is setting itself up to be a major event in the MCU. It will bring the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise to an end. Much of the film's marketing has been focused on how it will explore the origins of Rocket Raccoon and his connection to the villain the High Evolutionary. Yet the film is also set to mark the big-screen debut of the character Adam Warlock.
Adam Warlock is a name that mainstream audiences might not be familiar with, but he is one that comic book fans know pretty well and have been anticipating for years. Eagle eye viewers might have noticed Marvel laying hints at Adam Warlock's eventual arrival in the MCU since the very first Guardians of the Galaxy film. The trailers have hidden the character from the marketing aside from a few brief shots. His arrival in the MCU indicates some big plans for the future of the franchise. Here is everything to know about Adam Warlock.
Adam Warlock's Comic Book History
Adam Warlock originally appeared in Fantastic Four #66-67 in 1967 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In the original comic, he was only referred to as Him and created by a group of scientists to be the perfect human. He eventually rebelled against his creators and was not heard from for years. In 1972, writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane took the character and expanded him into Adam Warlock in Marvel Premiere #1.
Adam Warlock has been part of teams like the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Infinity Watch. The Infinity Watch is responsible for guarding over the Infinity Stones, and Adam Warlock himself has the Soul Stone, which resides on his forehead. Adam Warlock's stories tended to have a religious undertone to them, with the character being a cosmic messiah figure. This was further explored when it was revealed that Warlock's arch-enemy Magus was an evil version of Adam Warlock from the future. This version founded the cosmic religion of the Universal Church of Truth, tying into the religious themes the character is known for. This has put Adam Warlock at the center of many cosmic Marvel events.
Important Character in Marvel History
Adam Warlock is one of the most important characters in the Marvel comic universe that mainstream audiences likely are not aware of. He is deeply connected to many corners of the Marvel cosmic universe, including characters like Thanos and the High Evolutionary. He was a star player in storylines like Infinity Gauntlet and its various sequels as well as Annihilation: Conquest. Adam Warlock is one of the founding members of the 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy team, which served as the inspiration for the MCU films.
Due to all of these links and his complicated, and at times very convoluted backstory, the character seemed very important despite never being as popular as other Marvel heroes. Yet Marvel has tried their best to make him known to a wider audience. The character was part of the Guardians of the Galaxy lineup seen in the animated series Avengers: Earth Mightiest Heroes and appeared in the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series. Adam Warlock and Magus also appeared in the 2021 video game Guardians of the Galaxy. Now he is set to be a major character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Role in the MCU
Disney
Ever since Marvel Studios announced Guardians of the Galaxy, fans have been anticipating the arrival of Adam Warlock into the MCU. A cocoon in Guardians of the Galaxy in the Collector's Museum was originally intended to be Adam Warlock's cocoon, but this was later retconned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. That film introduces an alien race known as the Sovereign who genetically engineers every citizen. The film's mid-credit scene reveals that Ayshea (Elizabeth Debicki) created the perfect warrior to hunt down and destroy the Guardians of the Galaxy. She dubbed him Adam, who will appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, played by Will Poulter.
Adam Warlock is an important character in Marvel Comics, but the MCU has had to work around him due to his not appearing until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In many ways, Vision takes his role in the MCU, as he is also an artificially created human with an infinity stone on his forehead. Adam Warlock's main companion Pip the Troll now works with Starfox, as seen in Eternals. He is the main love interest of Gamora, who for the most part has been paired with Star-Lord, but that could change in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
There is a good chance that just like the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters, Adam Warlock will be less a direct adaptation of the comics and more in line with how James Gunn has imagined the universe. This might be what it takes to make Adam Warlock a breakout hero to mainstream audiences.
Adam Warlock's Future in the MCU
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is being marketed as the end of this chapter for the Guardians of the Galaxy team. With James Gunn now head of DC Studios, this will serve as the end of an era for this particular incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Yet, just like how the Avengers roster has changed over the years, so too can the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Adam Warlock might be the future of the franchise.
It would be odd for Marvel Studios to introduce a high-profile character late into the franchise and then not do anything with him. While he may start the film as an antagonist, by the end of the film, he might be a full fledge member of the team. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 might end with many of the original team walking away (and possibly dying), but a new roster appears to keep the Galaxy safe.
With the threat of the Kang Dynasty and the multiverse in danger, the Guardians might be needed now more than ever. Adam Warlock might be the new leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy and open the door to have him unite with other cosmic heroes like members of the Eternals and Monica Rambeau, as well as introduce new heroes like Nova into the MCU.