Emma Frost Becomes Marvel Comics' Cosmic Lifebringer Entity

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Marvel 2-In-One #6 by Chip Zdarsky and Jim Cheung, in stores now.

For the past three issues, Marvel 2-In-One has plunged readers into the heart of an alternate universe that resembles the regular Marvel Universe in many ways, though there are some major differences. For one thing, all active heroes in that world are under the employ of S.H.I.E.L.D. For another, virtually every planet in the cosmos is now gone, with Earth the only one still standing in an infinite sea of black.

This is the result of Doctor Doom, rather than Reed Richards, saving the world from the all-consuming threat of Galactus once upon a time. Unlike Reed's non-destructive solution, Doom used a a transference device to take over the body of Galactus, and though he saved Earth, in the end his hunger drove him to consume the rest of the universe.

Now, his hunger too great to deny, the Doom/Galactus hybrid has come for the last planet in existence. But this planet is protected by heroes who are more than willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world from his threat. But while many characters prove instrumental in defeating the celestial Doom, it's actually Emma Frost, the former X-Men villain turned hero, who unleashes her full heroic potential to save not only Earth, but the universe itself.

As the stars of the series, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm and the Doctor Doom from the regular Marvel Universe obviously join forces with the heroes of this alternate universe. Each has a role to play in the events (the Thing's participation is particularly impressive), but the telepathic X-Man is the one who ultimately turns the tide of battle. Thanks to another transference device made by Doom, the former White Queen shoots her own psyche into the body of Galactus, pushing Doctor Doom out and taking his place.

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Unlike her predecessor, however, Emma doesn't just replace Doom in a vessel of ultimate destruction. Instead, with a bit of help from this universe's Mr. Fantastic, she rewrites the very core of Galactus and as a result is transformed into the opposite of the Devourer of Worlds: the Lifebringer.

The regular Marvel Universe's version of Galactus was transformed last year into the Lifebringer in the pages of The Ultimates, a force for good, life and creation as opposed to the harbinger of destruction and death he always used to represent. Here, we witness the birth of a second Lifebringer, in an alternate reality. Because the entire energy of the cosmos was locked inside this body, the very history of all that was is at her disposal, and she can now roam the great emptiness and return life to planets once more. Much like Galactus, Emma Frost has often toed the line between good and evil, and now she finds herself a celestial being of pure good and creation.

This may not be the Marvel Prime version of Emma Frost, but it doesn't matter. We have now seen her ultimate potential, and we know that she has it within herself to be one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe.

Of course, this shift in cosmic balance is a bit ironic, considering that Emma has long been a rival to Jean Grey, the host of the Phoenix Force. In the Marvel Universe, the Phoenix is a fiery force of destruction capable of wiping out entire star systems. Jean, the heroic X-Man, was once turned into the Dark Phoenix, and became the greatest and most dangerous force in the cosmos. Now, in another reality, a version of Emma Frost, once a villain and always the yin to Jean's yang, has become the very opposite of this celestial spectrum.

As the Lifebringer, Emma becomes a force for good, a power to counter that of the Phoenix. While it may never happen, it would definitely be interesting to see these two forces clash on a cosmic scale. The Phoenix, out to destroy life, and the Lifebringer, looking to restore it. Together, these two could become the new equivalent of the balance-keeping Celestial duo of Chaos and Order, only with two fan-favorite and widely-known characters instead.

Since such a drastic turn of events may never happen in the regular Marvel Universe, then perhaps a one-shot or miniseries detailing the cosmic adventures of this Lifebringer and her herald (and love of her life) the Silver Surfer could be something to look forward to. If anything, here's hoping we see more of them in Marvel 2-In-One, or perhaps even the upcoming Fantastic Four #1.

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