WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star #4 by Kelly Thompson, Javier Pina, Jay Leisten, Filipe Andrade, Jesus Aburtov, Chris O'Halloran and Clayton Cowles, available now.
The Infinity Gems -- or the Infinity Stones -- have always been a sought-after source of power in any version of the Marvel Universe. Although they're powerful on their own when wielded individually, the Gems become exponentially more dangerous when used together. In both comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the gathering of these gems were the basis for huge events that forced both heroes and villains to battle for control over the universe. As Avengers: Infinity War was breaking records at the box office, Marvel Comics assembled the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy for a new conflict over the power of Infinity.
The 2018 crossover Infinity Wars showcased the first true conflict over the power of the now-called Infinity Stones, following the collapse and rebirth of the multiverse in Secret Wars. In this rebuilt reality, the gems reverted to their stone form and began to appear all over the universe with heroes and villains stumbling across them in their new forms. During this conflict, the relationships between the stones were redefined as new elements of their power also emerged. However, this battle over the stones also created a new path for the Infinity Stones in the current Marvel Universe, and a few have already reappeared.
Power, Mind, Soul, and Space Stone
At the center of this battle, Adam Warlock returned to the fold, following his resurrection, in his own quest to better understand the effects of the Soul Stone and its ability to overcome death. Along the way, he came into conflict with the likes of Kang the Conquerer and Ultron, each who wanted the Stone for their own purposes. Realizing that forces would always come for this type of power, Warlock called together a new Infinity Watch to decide the future of the Stones. However, this meeting was cut short by the arrival of Gamora, along with the head of Thanos, who demanded the Stones.
From there, reality was changed as heroes were warped together. This battle only ended with the defeat of both Gamora and Devondra, a Soul-Eater who resided within the Soul Stone. After this battle, Adam Warlock used the Time Stone to freeze everyone and took the Soul Stone to resolve this constant battle over the Stones. Granting each Stone their own soul, the Stones were able to create their own future by chosing their own hosts. To the shock of Warlock, the Soul Stone, along with the Power, Mind, and Space Stone flew off and disappeared in the search of their own potential hosts in Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato's Infinity Wars #6.
Time Stone
The Time Stone was the first Infinity Stone to make itself known after this, and it bonded to Hector Bautista, who first appeared in Gerry Duggan and Mark Bagely's Infinity Wars: Infinity #1. Convicted for a murder that he did not commit, Hector was awaiting his death sentence when he found himself with the power to stop and manipulate time. After escaping prison, the first group to track the newly embodied Time Stone was the odd duo of Wolverine and Loki. With his new protectors, Hector found himself the target of both the Chitauri and the Raptors.
During these attacks for the Time Stone, Hector was eventually pushed into freezing time. Stuck in this state for three days, he learned to control the Time Stone's powers and used his mastered powers to help them escape. Returning home, Wolverine attempted to force Hector to save the X-Men who had been taken into the Age of X-Man. But tired of being a used as a tool, Hector unleashed his powers on Wolverine before disappearing to go on his own journey.
Reality Stone
Like Hector, Ripley Ryan was also a prisoner when she was bonded with the Reality Stone. After debuting in Kelly Thompson and Carmen Carnero's Captain Marvel #1, Ripley was serving sentence on the Raft that very much earned after her brief tenure as the public hero, Star, and her attempts to discredit Captain Marvel. After that confrontation, Ripley only survived thanks to the self-preserving nature of the Reality Stone.
On the run from the heroes she battled in her recently concluded miniseries, Ripley found much difficulty in controlling her powers as she reminisced about her traumatic childhood. She was confronted by Jessica Jones, the Scarlet Witch,= and Captain Marvel herself, and each hero tried to help Ripley with her new powers and to atone for her past actions. But when surrounded by the Black Order, Ripley betrayed the heroes and bartered for her own freedom, choosing to use her powers for herself, seemingly ready to unleash her wrath on the world with the power of an Infinity Stone.