The Infinity Gauntlet is one of the most powerful items in the entire Marvel Universe. It’s comprised of six stones with specific powers over each element of the Universe: Soul, Time, Space, Mind, Reality and Power. Combining all of the stones together onto a single Gauntlet creates a weapon so powerful it can rewrite reality into whatever form the user wants. And given that the most notorious character to wield the Gauntlet is Thanos, it can be quite bleak for the rest of existence if he rewrites it how he sees fit.

We’re getting so close to Avengers: Infinity War, it’s fascinating to wonder just what Kevin Feige, the Russo Brothers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have in store for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It’s likely not going to be good, with many fans predicting the deaths of many core members of the team. If Thanos manages to assemble the Gauntlet, it really wouldn’t be surprising to see our heroes fall. The Gauntlet has many incredible powers thanks to the combines might of the Stones. But since the weapon has a long history, we’ve compiled some of the best stories and facts about it. Here are 20 things only true fans know about the Infinity Gauntlet.

20 THE COUNCIL OF REEDS

Reed Richards is arguable the smartest man on the planet. But what does he do when a problem so big or complex bests even him? Well, they say if you want something done right, do it yourself. Although we’re not sure that phrase meant form an inter-dimensional group of alternate versions of yourself to solve universal issues. Because that’s exactly what Reed did.

He formed the Council of Reeds so that they could safeguard the universe and “solve everything” using the strongest minds across multiple dimensions. But interestingly, three members of the Council of Reeds wear Infinity Gauntlets themselves. They can’t be used outside of their own dimension, but it’s intriguing to think how they assembled the Gauntlets and how they’re allowed to continue to wear them.

19 THE GLOVE

Whilst we’ve all seen the Gauntlet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an object clearly designed to hold all of the Stones, its origins are a lot simpler. During The Thanos Quest, the villain systematically defeated all the Elders of the Universe taking the Stones by force. And once he’d gathered them all together, he adorned his glove with the six Stones, creating the Infinity Gauntlet as we know it.

But he wasn’t wearing the glove with the sole intent of creating an object of power with the stones, it just happened to be part of Thanos’ original outfit. He wore two gold gloves that fit into the blue and gold color-scheme of his warlord attire. But once the Stones were fixed in place, the Gauntlet became an item of immense power that shaped the outcome of the universe.

18 SCATTERED

Let’s face it, we’re all a little bit disappointed that Adam Warlock won’t appear during Infinity War (James Gunn has other plans for him), mainly because seeing him wield the Infinity Gauntlet would be fantastic, but even he was deemed unworthy to wear it by the Living Tribunal, one of the most powerful beings in the universe. During the end of The Infinity Gauntlet, Eternity brought Adam against the Living Tribunal to dispute his ownership of the Gauntlet.

And although Adam Warlock was deemed unworthy, he and the Living Tribunal decided on separating all of the Infinity Stones across the universe so that it would be extremely difficult to assemble the Gauntlet once again. Eternity wasn’t satisfied with this decision, but it’s quite difficult to argue against the Living Tribunal.

17 POWER

Once it’s assembled, the Infinity Gauntlet grants the user mastery over the various elements that make up the universe. We’ve seen the devastating effects it had when Thanos wielded the weapon, but what’s more surprising is that it’s so much more powerful than many fans and inhabitants of the Marvel Universe think.

Some of the most intimidating cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe can’t match up to the incredible powers that the Gauntlet grants. Uatu, Galactus, Kronos, Eternity and even the Celestials don’t match up against the power levels inside it. What that means is the Universe will forever be in danger from the Stones, since they’re difficult to destroy and there’ll always be some evil alien/cosmic being looking to wield it and rebuild everything in their own image.

16 MATCHING PAIR

Because what’s better than having one Infinity Gauntlet? Wearing two of them, of course and in the Ultimate Universe, that’s exactly what happens. Since in that reality there are eight Stones, there are four attached to each glove. And although that would make it easier to separate that level of power, it also makes things a lot more dangerous.

Especially like in Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #25 by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Carmine Di Giandomenico. This timeline sees the Hulk unleashed by Kang the Conqueror on S.H.I.E.L.D. and allowing him to wear the pair of gauntlets. Luckily, not all of the stones had been assembled by that point so Hulk/Banner wasn’t able to devastate the Ultimate Universe with its raw power. But just imagine what might’ve happened if he had…

15 GALACTUS

One of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe, Galactus, has always lusted after the Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones, but he’s never been able to wear it. But since the Gauntlet combines all the aspects that make up the Marvel Universe, he’s in tune with it. Like when Captain America assembled it, Galactus sensed the Gauntlet’s recreation.

Although he’s never worn the Gauntlet, he’s possessed all of the stones at one point. During “Thanos”, Galactus managed to assemble all of the Stones together. Whilst his original plan was to permanently fix his constant hunger, his actions actually brought a parasite called Hunger into the mainstream Marvel Universe. That’s what happens when you get greedy, Galactus, you bring an interdimensional parasite into our universe and threaten all life. Brilliant.

14 ILLUMINATI

The Illuminati are a secret group originally made up of Doctor Strange, Reed Richards, Namor, Black Bolt, Professor X and Iron Man. Typically, the group tackle the larger problems that plague the Marvel Universe, one of those being the assembling of the Infinity Gauntlet since it can change the very shape of time, space and reality. Especially when the Hood attempted to steal all of the Stones.

During Avengers #12, Iron Man actually stops the Hood from using the weapon, and decides to wear the Infinity Gauntlet himself. He and the Illuminati decide to hide the stones with more secrecy whilst Tony tricks everyone into thinking the Gauntlet has been written out of reality. We have to say though, Tony wearing the Gauntlet is quite impressive… Infinity War anyone?

13 ALMOST INDESTRUCTIBLE

For a weapon of such power, it certainly can hold its own against the very components that make it up. Since it allows the user to reshape reality, time and space as they see fit, it would make sense that it could also be used to destroy itself. But thanks to a handy explainer from Uatu the Watcher, we now know that it isn’t possible -- because Mr. Fantastic attempts to do just that.

The New Avengers: Illuminati, vol. 2, issue 2 revealed to fans that destroying the Infinity Gauntlet would actually set the universe off-balance as the Stones are vital components in the grand scheme of things. So it’s back to square one of hiding them away and hoping that a certain intergalactic despot doesn’t attempt to assemble them all…yes, we’re looking at you, Thanos.

12 GODLIKE GENIUS

The Infinity Gauntlet is easily the biggest plot device in the Marvel Universe. It pushes villains to pursue its power, whilst forcing heroes to put up a resistance against those villains. It challenges characters with the temptation of power whilst also intimidating others and forcing them into new planes of existence. But it’s hard to deny that it’s a great motivational tool in various storylines.

After all, the chance to be completely omnipotent, seeing everything there is to see in the Universe and having complete control over it -- would be fantastic. Combine that with omniscience, knowing everything in the universe, and it’s a winning combination. Let alone the physical powers the Gauntlet grants, there’s no wonder that it attracts countless villains to try and claim it for themselves.

11 DOCTOR DOOM

What If? stories give us some of the most imaginative storylines possible because they’re so crazy. Take What If Doctor Doom Kept the Beyonder’s Power? for example. In the Battleworld, Doctor Doom managed to take a portion of the Beyonder’s power but in this storyline, he managed to keep it afterwards. And in doing so, he set his sights a little higher. He used his newfound abilities to take the Infinity Gauntlet for himself.

But he wasn’t content on just ruling Earth, no. He actually mounted a war with the cosmic beings known as Celestials. But since the Celestials are equally quite powerful, the war between the two lasted 407 years. Eventually, Doom grew weary of the fighting and actually gave up his powers. It’s quite a turn for the resilient villain, but it’s a fascinating tale that shows just how grand Doctor Doom’s plans can be.

10 THE SANTA CLAUS THREAT

No, we’re not joking. We’re not sure where Brian Reed and Val Semeiks conjured the idea of bringing Santa Claus into the Marvel Universe during Marvel Holiday Spectacular 2009 but things got very weird, very quickly. And that’s even without bringing up that his Reindeer are actually Skrulls. Yeah, it’s that level of bizarre, but the Illuminati were fooled by Santa’s family-friendly appearance and allowed him to borrow the Infinity Gauntlet.

He only needs it to deliver all the toys at Christmas, but it corrupts the jolly fat man and he goes insane. Why did the Illuminati even let someone else borrow an artifact of immense power knowing what it would do to that person? Namor eventually stops him with a snowball (obviously) and that’s the end of that. Wow.

9 NEBULA

Now we all know that Thanos is arguable most famous because of the Infinity Gauntlet and his quest to erase half the life in the universe to please Death. But one of the most captivating parts of The Infinity Gauntlet is actually who wields the Gauntlet after Thanos: his daughter, Nebula. She’s a robotic corpse in a state of living death, but she steals the Gauntlet from Thanos whilst he’s in the Astral Plane.

She restores herself to life and also throws Thanos and Terraxia into space. Thanos is saved by Doctor Strange and actually works with the heroes to get Nebula to change everything back to how it was before the Gauntlet was assembled. Poor Nebula, she has a rough life; being tortured by Thanos as a child, living as a villainous pirate and she barely gets comfortable in the Gauntlet before it’s snatched back from her.

8 HUMORVERSE

Earth-9047 is a particularly weird place in the Marvel Universe, because it takes place in the ‘Humorverse’. This is a universe full of self-aware parodies of popular heroes and villains that live in the mainstream 616 continuity. The Humorverse also exists in a place called the ‘Marble’ Universe, and many of the characters that live there have slightly different, but comedic, names than the ones we’re used to such as Black and Blue Panther, Chaplain America, Nick Furious and so on.

In this continuity, ‘Thermos’ is after the ‘Infinity Mitten’. It’s not actually clear how many Infinity Stones are needed for it to function, but the Mitten gives the wearer infinite power much like the Gauntlet does in the usual continuity. Thermos killed the Marble Universe only to find out Death already had a new boyfriend, ouch.

7 ADAM WARLOCK + THE MAGUS

Created to be the perfect being in existence, Adam Warlock has a terrific cosmic tale that constantly weaves in and out of the Infinity Stones and the Infinity Gauntlet. His destiny is closely tied with the dark version of himself, The Magus. The villainous leader of the Universal Church of Truth waged a deadly war against the galaxy and took over countless planets.

When he became aware of the Infinity Gauntlet and managed to assemble it. With the combined might of Thanos, Kang the Conqueror and Doctor Doom -- Adam Warlock was able to overpower the Magus. He explained that he’d let the Magus assemble the Gauntlet apart from one piece which happened to be fake -- meaning he didn’t have the full extent of its powers. Warlock worked with Eternity and Infinity to trap the Magus in the Soul Stone.

6 DARKSEID

No, we haven’t mixed up our universes. But during JLA/Avengers, the Gauntlet was put into play when Darkseid went looking for it. The Apokoliptian God actually managed to wield it because obviously he’s so inherently evil that he’d make a grab for a power like that, but funnily enough, it was rendered useless. Darkseid couldn’t wield one of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy, that’s got to hurt.

However, this isn’t actually Darkseid’s fault in any way (for once). The Infinity Gauntlet can’t be used outside of its own universe, and since Darkseid couldn’t use it in his own universe it Thanos gets the better toys to play with…we’re obviously talking about the Thanos-copter.

5 LONELY

The Infinity Gauntlet has an incredibly long history. With countless villains attempting to get their hands on/in it, it’s one of the most sought after items in the Marvel Universe and assembling the Stones seems like a pilgrimage for some villains, like Thanos. We’re going to see them altogether onscreen very soon, but will we see their true origin perhaps?

The Stones actually all come from one true omnipotent being that existed several millennia ago. It was extremely powerful, but was the last of its kind. Drifting alone with no company clearly got to the creature, and it killed itself. And as it did, the Stones were all that remained as the core elements of its powers -- so the Stones themselves actually have quite a tragic backstory. If we’re shown this in the MCU it could fit in well with the Celestial mythology they’re slowly building.

4 KING OF THE DEAD

In 2015, “Secret Wars” combined many different universes together, and all were ruled by Doctor Doom, who had entered a god-like state thanks to his Beyonder power. The Battlworld was broken up into various sections, but when Namor and Black Panther travelled to the Isle of Agamotto they got their hands on an Infinity Gauntlet that would only work in Doom’s palace.

Black Panther convinced the zombies to join him since he’s King of the Dead, and brought the fight to Doom. T’Challa and Doom battle, Infinity Gauntlet v Beyonder power. It’s an incredible battle but ultimately it’s a distraction so that Molecule Man and Reed Richards can stop Doom, transferring the Beyonder’s power away from him, destroying Battleworld. Who knew something incredible as the Infinity Gauntlet could be used as a simple distraction?

3 WOLVERINE V THANOS

During What If? Newer Fantastic Four we saw a whole new way of defeating the Mad Titan. But to begin with, this story sees a world where the original Fantastic Four have been killed, and the team that step up to take their place are the only heroes around to oppose Thanos once he assembles all the Infinity Stones. The ‘newer’ Fantastic Four is made up of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Hulk.

Wolverine acted like Thanos’ new advisor so he could get close to the Mad Titan before jumping in and swiping his arm clean off his body. This meant that Spider-Man could wear the Gauntlet and undo every atrocity that Thanos had committed. It was then given to the Watchers for safe keeping.

2 CAPTAIN AMERICA

When the incursions from other Universes began to truly threaten Earth-616, the Illuminati made a very grave decision. They decided that the Infinity Gauntlet needed to be re-assembled once again so that they could use it to defend the planet and their Universe. It would mean destroying other planets, so it’s an incredibly bold move to take.

Captain America is the one to wield the Gauntlet, who manages to push the other Earth back as it crashes into the 616-Earth. It’s an incredible moment, except that most of the stones are broken in the process because they’re currently not allowed to be used all together. The only Stone left whole was the Time Stone, which soon disappeared. It later reappeared and sent the Avengers tumbling into the future.

1 THE LIVING TRIBUNAL

In the run up to Avengers: Infinity War, let’s be honest -- we’re all waiting for Thanos to monumentally mess up time, space and reality. Even though it may kill off some of our beloved heroes, there’s something strangely entertaining about seeing the bad guy change the odds so dramatically. Especially with the incredible power that the Gauntlet has, it’s fascinating to imagine what might come of it. But what if there was something even more powerful?

Because in the Marvel Universe, there are only two things more powerful than the Infinity Gauntlet: the Living Tribunal and the One-Above-All. The One-Above-All is the overseer of the Living Tribunal and essentially is the highest cosmic being in the universe. But remember Mordo referenced the Living Tribunal in Doctor Strange. Could that be the answer to the Avengers problems during Infinity War?