Thanos the Mad Titan is coming to get his hands on these powerful gems in next year’s Avengers: Infinity War. Before that happens, here’s a guide to everything you need to know about the Infinity Stones…
Origins
“Before creation itself, there were six singularities. Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots… Infinity Stones.
These stones, it seems, can only be brandished by beings of extraordinary strength. These carriers can use the stone to mow down entire civilizations like wheat in a field. Once, for a moment, a group was able to share the energy amongst themselves, but even they were quickly destroyed by it.”
The Collector, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The Infinity Stones: What/Where Are They?
Space Stone
Also known as: Tesseract
First Seen: Captain America: The First Avenger (2012)
Last Seen: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
The Space Stone arrived on Earth in ancient times, seeping into Norse mythology. During WW2, HYDRA chief Johann Schmidt AKA Red Skull retrieved the Tesseract and planned to use it for his own evil ends… But was stopped by Captain America.
When Steve Rogers was discovered in the Artic decades later, SHIELD experimented with the Tesseract, with hopes to use it as a renewable energy source and as a fuel for new weaponry. Unfortunately, this caught the attention of Thanos, who sent his agent Loki of Asgard to steal the Tesseract. Loki failed and Thor took the Space Stone back to Asgard for safekeeping.
Years later, when Asgard was destroyed, Loki was momentarily shown eyeing the Stone with greed. It’s likely that the Tesseract is currently in his possession. However, Thanos’ vessel Sanctuary II was last seen approaching the Asgardian refugee ship, so it might not stay that way for long…
Mind Stone
Also Known as: Loki’s Sceptre/Vision’s crystal
First Seen: The Avengers (2012)
Last Seen: Captain America: Civil War (2016)
When he sent Loki to Earth, Thanos armed him with the Mind Stone. Hidden inside his sceptre, the God of Mischief used it to bend others to his will. However, when his plans failed, he misplaced it and it fell into the hands of HYDRA.
Baron Von Strucker used the sceptre to experiment on Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, granting them superhuman powers. They later allied with Ultron, the corrupt A.I. developed by Tony Stark, who removed the Mind Stone from the sceptre and used it to make himself a new body.
Instead, that body became Vision, the next form of JARVIS, who worked with the Avengers to destroy Ultron. The Mind Stone currently resides in Vision’s head. It is unknown how it would affect him if it was to be removed.
Reality Stone
Also Known as: The Aether
First/Last Seen: Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The Reality Stone is unique in that it appears in liquid form and needs to possess a host. Millineia ago, the Aether – as it is known – was used by Malekith the Dark Elf in an attempt to plunge the universe into darkness. He was foiled by Odin’s father, Bor, who hid the Stone in a pocket dimension.
In the 21st century, at the time of Convergence – an event that alligns all Nine Realms every five thousand years – Jane Foster came in contact with the Aether and it began to feed off her life force. Malekith once again attempted to use it but was stopped by Thor.
The Aether was taken to the Collector, who added it to his vast collection of cosmic oddities on Knowhere. Presumably, it is still there.
Fandom Factory 