WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Infinity Countdown: Daredevil #1 by Gerry Duggan, Chris Sprouse, Phil Noto and Lee Ferguson, in stores now.


Who is Requiem?

That's the question that's been on the mind of Marvel fans as Infinity Countdown has unfolded, a precursor series that is gearing up for the already announced Infinity Wars event. The masked character was first revealed in a teaser announcing Marvel's next big summer event series, and speculation regarding their true identity quickly quickly began, theorizing about who might be hiding under that infinity mask.

While the character has yet to make her official debut in a Marvel title, we did get a mention of her name in this week's Infinity Countdown: Daredevil #1 one-shot -- a mention that leads to more questions than answers. We learn a little bit more about the character's ties to the Infinity Stones but, even more surprisingly, it might have teased a connection between Requiem and someone few fans likely suspected: Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts.

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A few months ago, the primer issue for the event, Infinity Countdown: Prime #1, disclosed the location of all six Infinity Stones. While most of the Stones' whereabouts were to be expected (in the far reaches of space, or in another reality altogether), readers were thrown for a loop when the issue revealed that the Mind Stone is actually in Hell's Kitchen. More intriguing, it's in the possession of small-time Daredevil villain Turk Barrett.

Infinity Countdown Daredevil Turk Requiem tease

Infinity Countdown: Daredevil #1 finally picks up on that story thread, revealing exactly how someone like Turk could come into possession of such a powerful cosmic artifact. As it happens, it was a simple case of being in the right place at the right time. In the issue, he reveals that he found the Mind Stone during an all-out brawl in the streets of New York between the Skrulls and a small army of mystical monks -- monks that appear to be somehow related to Doctor Strange. During the fight, we see a monk tell another that they must secure the Infinity Stone, and get it to the Sorcerer Supreme's lair.

However, Turk gets to the Mind Stone first. As he grabs it, one of these monks, in a weakened state, tells Turk, "Requiem approaches. You must get the Stone to the Avengers of this Earth." Turk being Turk, he doesn't listen. Instead, he shoots the monk, and keeps the Stone for himself.

But here's the thing: We don't know who these monks are. Their mission was to secure the Infinity Stone and deliver it to Doctor Strange, but they never got that chance. And, as far as we know, they are the only ones who know Requiem is coming -- for now.

infinity-wars-requiem-header

Are these monks from Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One lived, or somewhere else? Either way, they know Requiem is approaching, and that she's after the Infinity Stones. Somehow, they believe that our only chance to survive lies in Doctor Strange, which makes us believe there will be a connection between the two. In retrospect, this makes a certain level of sense, considering Strange's new series will send him to space in search of the Time Stone, and his presence on the latest Infinity Wars teaser art. It would appear that what seemed like a simple way to sync the hero with his Marvel Cinematic Universe incarnation will have far greater ramifications on Marvel's comic book Universe than we'd previously suspected.

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