The Marvel Universe versus EVIL DOPPELGANGERS! | The Infinity War

After Adam Warlock's return in 'Infinity Gauntlet', his worse half Magus wasn't far behind. The struggle for ultimate power over the universe continues when a stockpile of evil twins overwhelms the Fantastic Four, Avengers, X-Men and more. Will the universe be saved, destroyed, or both? Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #avengers
ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe right now!
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[@comicpop]

Pick up Infinity War here: amzn.to/2unr5Sh

[@ramonorozco2670]

I love how Ethan and Ben used to know nothing about comics and now they recognize obscure characters, writers, and artists. I have a lot of love for this show.

[@TMF979Resurge]

Sal's a exceptional teacher

[@comixproviderftw_02]

"That doesn't make any goddamn sense!" Favorite quote from Ethan

[@123plowry]

Infinity War: Doom & Kang's Excellent Adventure

[@candlesbytasha]

Payton Lowry lol pretty much

[@spider-nerd0555]

You sir, are hilarious

[@123plowry]

@@spider-nerd0555 Why thank you sir.

[@nubworthycigars6682]

The bill and Ted sequel we all deserved..

[@widdlewanwon]

Lmao

[@bergerchicken]

I want a shirt that says "Comic Pop - A Ridiculously Circuitous Scheme"

[@SamSphinx]

Or just "Ridiculously Circuitous Scheme"

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

A story and its era that can be summarized with the phrase: _"...and then it got worse."_

[@gotrac8121]

Just Some Guy with a Mustache I've seen you here for awhile

[@dennisssmith430]

Just Some Guy with a Mustache is pretty much a senpai of the Comic POP!/Weekly Pull fanbase at this point lol :P

[@Ohmargod]

Dennis S Smith isn't he Ben in disguise??

[@dennisssmith430]

That'd be a hell of a twist lol :P

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

Infinity Crusade is definitely the least good of Starlin's Infinity Somethings. I still enjoyed it. After Infinity Gauntlet, Starlin had Thanos stop being a genocidal villain who goes after mystical macguffins to become a anti-hero and Adam Warlock's buddy. But quite a few Writers, including Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens, Hickman and Bendis, regressed Thanos into that type villain while also making him less smart and more thuggish, which is the reason Starlin did the clones thing in Infinity Abyss.

[@Evyscreations]

3:52 "That doesn't make any goddamm sense." Everybody, take a shot. 🍻

[@roshi3063]

Still, easily one of the most underrated series/channel on KZbin.

[@Farmeryeti]

My favourite character is Pip the Troll. Just kidding, it's Spider-Man.

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

Thanos and Adam Warlock.

[@SamSphinx]

@@Avocado11 Well... you were right for one of them.

[@cisnerd_2093]

"Then he calls Kang the Conquerer...from time." This line killed me, great episode. At this point I'd like to see you complete the Infinity trilogy, not because of how great the stories are but because of how great you tell it.

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

After Infinity Gauntlet, Starlin had Thanos stop being a genocidal villain who goes after mystical macguffins to become a anti-hero and Adam Warlock's buddy. But quite a few Writers, including Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens, Hickman and Bendis, regressed Thanos into that type villain while also making him less smart and more thuggish, which is the reason Starlin did the clones thing in Infinity Abyss.

[@ItsMichaelReid]

Be hilarious if the Next Marvel film in Phase 4 is Infinity Watch

[@jcastrowhite08]

ItsMichaelReid phase 5-infinity union

[@SifuChrisChilds]

the ultimate nullifier makes it so the target never existed and undoes their effects on the cosmos. It got explained by Korvac in the korvac quest circa guardians of the galaxy annual '91

[@seanberrodin801]

I hate when they name the movies after comics that have nothing to do with that comic as in Age of Ultron.

[@ilhamitangor2622]

Yeah but is that a bad thing Do you wanted age of ultron to do anything with that comic

[@seanberrodin801]

İlhami Tangör that's a valid point, but you can't use a name just because it sounds cool. If for some odd reason you like the abomination on paper that is Age of Ultron you would be disappointed in the movie with the same name.

[@josephl.2398]

When you think about it, Civil War also has almost nothing to do with the comic.

[@seanberrodin801]

Joseph L. I see where you're coming from, but at least the essence of the comic remains. Cap and Tony are at odds over a document that restricts their super heroing.

[@gibguitar7568]

Yeah man this movie is called infinity war but its gonna be nothing like infinity war, its not even like infinity gauntlet, its thanos quest

[@Xtra_Medium]

I love watching these older episodes and hearing Sal lambasting "obscure" characters like Gamora and Drax the Destroyer

[@ultimatewall-crawler5292]

Oh shit, it's going to be a great episode.

[@kylorenford9089]

Ultimate Wall-Crawler I love Pip

[@haris06]

I love this channel, easily my favourite channel on KZbin!

[@HollowGolem]

Better not let Rob see this episode. He loves Starlin's cosmic stuff. A lot.

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

I'm a bit of a Starlin fanboy.

[@nolawiegetu902]

The living tribunal- SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!!

[@JoshMunroe]

Isolating the bad side of yourself has worked out so well in comics, like with Professor X (Onslaught and/or Cassandra Nova), the Sentry (the Void), and Multiple Man (one of his dupes).

[@FatSnorlax]

OMG Sal Moondragon is the shit. #BestInfinityWatchCharacter XD

[@wilagaton9627]

Got notified of new Back Issues Back Issues: The Infinity War 0_0 Oh shit

[@movieguy2459]

You guys really need to do justice by Alex Ross

[@cisnerd_2093]

Hey Ethan I have that same shirt! Make sure to turn it inside out when you wash it, mine faded and peeled real quick.

[@lukang3374]

9:05 Turns out Ben was predicting how the soul gem would work in the MCU😁

[@supaflycomix]

"It's bad, Cap!" For some reason that always makes me laugh😂

[@IvanTheTurrible]

Pimp The Troll is my favorite character

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

PIP not PIMP.

[@IvanTheTurrible]

CapMar-Vell92 Returns I'm aware

[@jmeprime]

'Cosmic busybody.' Is the best thing I've heard all day.

[@CarlosRodriguez-sv4wd]

I have seen every back issues at least twice and just now re watched infinity gauntlet one just because you mentioned it before watching this entire one. Addicted.

[@Sicod79]

If I remember correctly, the doppelgangers when they win their fight assume their true alien internal tentacle forms, and send the originals to Magus, and then take their form. This explains why doppelgangers who defeat the original can pass as them.

[@lukang8671]

I remember reading this from my dad's collection as a kid and asking exactly what Ethan asks at 47:41 😄. The whole story I kept thinking ”will they just get to the part where Adam Warlock shows up and fixes this?”.

[@jaystov6739]

I love how all of their laughs are super high pitched

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

Also regarding the ''hurr durr Thanos iz Darkseid ripoff lulz'' thing, i will always respond to that by posting Tim O'Neil's article on Thanos. ''This comic is a fantastic example of "getting it wrong." Thanos isn't a character who gains anything from high-concept streamlining. Thanos is complicated. On paper it's easy to dismiss him based on the fact that he was specifically designed to ape the look of Kirby's Darkseid. He's another giant cosmic demigod with a gravel face who wants to conquer the universe. Except . . . he's not, not really. Similarities stop at the superficial level. I will posit - and this is not an uncontroversial assertion, I recognize - that Thanos is a far more interesting "character" than Darkseid. By which I mean, Darkseid really isn't much of a character. When he created the New Gods Kirby was working on a level of elevated and stylized iconography: Darkseid was his name, he was the "dark side," the forces of war and ignorance and fascism incarnated in the body of a shrewd, calculating, and even occasionally droll tyrant. He's a fantastic villain, but not a particularly deep character. I don't believe he was really meant to be. Thanos, on the other hand, is a far more ambiguous symbol. If Darkseid stands in as a metaphor for a locus of multiple dangerous and terrifying grand historical concepts, Thanos embodies something far more intimate. Thanos is a surly adolescent, forever constrained by the limitations of his Oedipal obsessions, fixated on the concept of death and defined therefore by a strange mixture of curiosity and lust. Darkseid is a fantastic villain precisely because he is so resolutely petty - he rules an entire world with ironclad discipline, embodying everything fearful in political and ideological repression. Other people matter to him on a profound level because domination matters as a goal for Darkseid in and of itself. Conversely, Thanos could not care less about domination, although he is often styled as a "conqueror." He has shown little interest in ruling the universe. He is not a tyrant, he is - or at least, he envisions himself to be, a capital-R Romantic in the vein of a Shelley or a Keats. Even when he wielded the Infinity Gauntlet and was, for all intents and purposes, the literal ruler of the universe, he didn't give one iota's thought to ruling or dominating the untold trillions of lives under his control. Rather, he was concerned with his own private passions, a slave to his emotions, unable to transcend the limitations of his self-obsession. He cared about being able to assert his own will with impunity, to live without restrictions, and to gain recognition from the object of his erotic fixation. Jim Starlin's run on Warlock in the mid-70s are some of my all-time favorite comics. I've bought those stories a few times over the years, most recently in a handsome Marvel Masterworks hardcover. I know them by heart. And I love Thanos for the way he intrudes himself into Adam Warlock's story. Warlock, facing his evil twin, is placed in a hopeless situation, with the knowledge that his eventual turn to evil is completely inevitable, and that there is no way he can possibly defeat his older, wiser, and far more powerful doppelgänger. Thanos inserts himself into the story to disrupt the Magus' plans, not from any benevolent impulse, but out of a practical desire to stymie the Magus - he would prefer not to live in a universe ruled by the Magus, as simple as that. He is the consummate egoist. Literally nothing that exists outside his own life is legitimate or even legible to him. He is obsessed with death because death is the sensation of transcendent absence. If Darkseid is Foucault - motivated by domination and carceral reasoning, surrounded by literal Sadists in a world where every act of violence has been sexualized and ritualized - Thanos is Derrida, transfixed by unseen and unrevealed lacunae, motivated by a curiosity to see between and to dismantle the binaries of life and death and discover that which lies hidden between. Nothing is real to him except for himself and his own negation - death - so is it any wonder that his motivations themselves are shrouded in shades of grey? That's the only conceptual realm in which he can reside, even as he sets out to create a universe in which his inescapable solipsism is the only law, and his spirit will become indistinguishable from the spirit of death. These are the kinds of ideas which can really only exist in the fragile pages of an almost-canceled comic book starring a completely obscure character. If Marvel had known just how much money they were going to (eventually) make off Adam Warlock and Thanos, there's no way that they would have let Starlin write such densely weird stories with the characters. But then, if Starlin hadn't been given more or less free reign to produce his stories, no one would care, and Thanos - if there had been a Thanos at all - would have been yet another cosmic potentate, a Kanjar Ro, a Mongul. This is comics' paradox in the era of big money: at the heart of every successful character there lies a unique and idiosyncratic vision (sometimes multiple visions), and these visions must be effaced if the characters are to achieve their potential as lucrative entertainment properties - even if it is inescapable that these idiosyncratic visions will always remain the source of the characters' appeal. Spider-Man had already been so thoroughly pasteurized by generations of talented creators that he was an apotheosis of his own iconic potential long before he set foot on movie screens. Same with Batman, and Superman as well. Thanos, however, is a far more fragile proposition. There is a reason why every attempt at using Thanos by anyone besides Starlin has always seemed slightly off. Thanos is the product of the distinctive worldview of a highly idiosyncratic creator. You can try to synthesize what makes him unique by listing Starlin's own ingredients - a little bit of the 60s counterculture, replete with a dash of Eastern mysticism and New Age Carlos Castaneda-isms; a strict Catholic upbringing seasoned by sexual conflict and morbid fascinations; the heavy influence of military service in Vietnam and subsequent disillusionment. Kirby served in World War II so it should come as no surprise that his cosmology was essentially Manichean: he didn't glamorize war, but he presented a world where the inevitability of war was the greatest tragedy, and one in which the unbending strength of evil remains the greatest threat. Starlin fought in Vietnam, and therefore his signature villain is a nihilist, someone who will go far to avoid a fight he judges to be unproductive, but who will turn and fight to the death for no reason greater than his own personal edification and self-regard. (There's a great bit in the otherwise forgettable "Blood and Thunder" crossover where Thanos goes to Asgard and ends up in a fight with Odin not because he needs to fight Odin - rather, he needs Odin's help - but because he wants to prove he can kick Odin's ass.)

[@nick.19]

Have you bought The Thanos Wars Omnibus? It has every Thanos early appearances in chronological order. Except for the Super Spidey Stories from the electric company featuring the Thanos-copter.

[@GitShiddy]

Wow...shades of Final Crisis with how convoluted this story is.

[@Grievousish]

So Marvel has Wars and DC has Crises, what's Image have? Confrontations? Skirmishes?

[@gettingartsywithalobster1949]

WHAT! Ben was okay with skipping all that Black Cat!?!?

[@wesacosta9553]

That was just the main story. All the tie-ins answer all those questions

[@instantbadass]

that Spider-man Infinity War tie in (spiderman #24) was the 2nd comic ive ever read, it was adjectivelessly amazing!

[@sodajerkclassic]

The Ultimate Nullifier sounds so simple yet so complicated. lol

[@kelkora]

a time travelling Thanos........... wait.......

[@s.phillips881]

On a quest: to see all the comic pop's 'back issues'

[@DarkHighlander1993]

I think the Magus knew that he or/and his timeline were erased because Adam Warlock knew about it and I think they share the same knowlegde..am I right? What do you think? 😅

[@vanxanax933]

14:50 Ben sounds like Morty with broken legs.

[@dennisssmith430]

It's bizarre, convoluted stories like these that make me glad I got into early 2000s era Marvel and no earlier (tho I'm sure someone will give me examples of why I'm wrong lol) :P

[@josenieves7514]

Love how Sal gets all hyped and animated as he tells the tale of everything Thanos/ Infinity Gauntlet...

[@comicswatching4851]

8:15 Gonna have to be that comment and say that these are some of my favorite characters, and Infinity Watch is one of my favorite series'!! haha Foreal though, Watch is great, really its all a call back to most of the characters prominent with Starlin back in the 70s. Gotta love the Doom-Kang team up in this story too, one of the best parts of the story.

[@comicswatching4851]

Infinity Watch #9 explains why they chose Gamora, one of the heaviest/best stories

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

I think Magus's cosmic awareness means that he can draw memories from across the multiverse, no matter the timeline or universe.

[@adityap4152]

This is the best episode of back issues since the last one. They just get better and better each time. Keep it up, guys!

[@kordelshorgar122]

nobody expects the living tribunal inquisition...

[@pharmamitch]

Oh man... Did you enjoy this story as a kid Sal? I did.. This story is one of the ones that got me into comics as a like.. 10 year old it was just cool to see all the heroes.. I was a little sad it wasn't a little more positive..

[@comicpop]

+pharmamitch I didn't enjoy it as a kid, but only because my superheroes were street-level.

[@1337snake888]

58:12 like the Christmas fucking spirit lmao

[@EightPageProductions]

The bit involving the multiple Earths and replacing one with another gave me flashbacks to Infinite Crisis

[@MugenNiFukuzatsuna]

I thought Adam Warlock WAS going to be in the Infinity War since he was teased in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.

[@thomaspierce5835]

When Ethan said "what are these balls" and the response was "those are Earths" I had to put my head down for a minute. This reminds me of...numerous other things. God Damn it.

[@AnarchicArachnid]

I kind of want a redux of the "evil doppelganger" part of this story but with Maker doing it while pretending to be 616 Reed.

[@cyrusuchimaru8011]

When ever I see the living tribunal in comics I always read his lines in the voice and tone of the space heads from that episode of Rick and Morty with the music reality show.

[@cyrusuchimaru8011]

"SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOOOOT" 🤣🤣🤣

[@Narutotaku93]

So when evil red eyed reed shows up impersonating the real reed do the others just start bringing him visine

[@thizzman1991]

Man, I love your back issues episodes! Keep it up guys! 👌🏾

[@andiebrown7792]

Please do Annihilation wave on back issues.

[@NeoThanosA5O]

Awww, hating on my favorit book :) I still feel like nothing ever beaten Infinity War. I also learned what Retorical ment from this one. :p

[@IAYTD]

Stellar work as usual! Just chiming in to remind you!

[@anothercleverusername992]

_"I am so fucked!"_ -Darksei- er *Thanos.*

[@tylerjay213]

You guys gotta do Infinity

[@ajm10legacyone]

the tangents on this episode is going to be epic.

[@mutant8111]

I just got infinity war 1-6 for 1 dollar a piece at a comic shop in great condition. I see them selling on eBay for around 50 dollars. I'm not sure what their value is actually but I'm sure that I got a pretty awesome deal. They were in the dollar boxes.

[@777Saviour]

Pip the troll is my favorite character not.

[@Usurper123]

The Ultimate Nulifier nullifies the target and the user. Not the universe.

[@ryebreadreturn1]

Usurper123 it can nullify the universe if the universe is the target. The user can also survive if they are sufficiently powerful to be able to control it probably (according to the internet anyway)

[@TheMegaDudeBroski]

So I've been a big fan of DC for a few years and have read so much of it without problem, but I would really like to get into Marvel, especially X-Men, Deadpool, and Spider-Man. The problem is I don't know a good jumping on point like I had with the New 52. Any suggestions on getting into Marvel right now?

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

Try also the cosmic stories from Annihilation to Thanos Imperative.

[@notjamsy9206]

I have no idea, how you choose which stories you do for back issues, but I would love to see a Back Issues episode of the first volume of the Cyclops series when he's with his dad. I've had the first volume collecting dust, until I was bored enough to read it, and I was amazed at how much I missed out on

[@theicedude395]

Comfy chairs are always the choice of cosmic beings

[@marknutt4398]

Moondragons bald ass head looks good with that gem in it tho ..

[@ParisHughes]

Watch these guys all the time. You get knowledge, laughs and geekdome all in one.

[@Ohmargod]

Waaaiiiiit! My Grandpa gave me old Marvel Comics and Nova was a love interest of Johnny Storm. The girl who became Nova loved her human torch like powers, but then the fire nation... ehm, Galactus attacked. Tjey warded him off, by Nova becoming his herald and Johnny being left heart broken. Get your facts right! Love you guys, see you next week!

[@Ohmargod]

Nothing! XD Was triggered by you brushing off Nova and successfully triggered you into responding. Muhahahaha!!! Btw., the old comics with hercules, black knight, yellowjacket etc. were great for 8 year old me. Do a short one on the comic and animated movie of Hulk vs. The DESTROYER!

[@ScenekidsDIE88]

Pip the troll has been my favorite character Kappa

[@daoust26]

This episode is hilarious you guys are great

[@mustfaaboassd]

in my head at any moment in this video sal will give up trying to make sense of this story

[@jonathanhoward9533]

I hate any story that invovled Eternity and Infinity because they're very existence is confusing. I'm glad to see other people as confused about who they are as I am.

[@darrenfromwales7978]

sal, love your channel. can you please do a comic that you really liked, so that I can see your sarcasm with it at this date

[@noreply3717]

Future end please

[@Nekogal18]

i would love to have a conversation with these gentlemen! There alot ik but alot i dont and want to learn

[@zachcouch8654]

Pip the troll is my favorite.

[@michaelnichols5023]

Love this

[@gianlucazilio9042]

God that was stupid... not you guys, the story. you guys are great!

[@kbowie123]

Everyone's favorite character is old school Drax.

[@FutBoy281]

I'll have you know that -The Grand Galactic Inquisitor- Reed Richards Doppelganger is my favorite character How dare you!

[@sightseeing7993]

Evil Reed Richards should have been wearing red and have some stupid glasses on. Just to stick it to DC.

[@Seton7588]

This is awesome! I just got done reading this last week.

[@scottdunham7902]

Why does Adam Warlock being in Guardians 3 preclude him from being in Infinity War? Not saying I want him in there. I don't give a crap about Adam Warlock in any medium, you just sound so certain and I'm not really sure why.

[@williamgazca6641]

Just recently watched a good vid on the history of kang...."which kang?" Ehhh good luck. (disclaimer....im sure the sal man knows for the sal man knows all...its still confusing af though) first hickman dusts off the ol boy nimrod and now kang rumored in antman 3 lets go.

[@macka9]

Please do a Dark Tower episode.... because yours will be probably be longer than the actual movie!

[@miles1266]

I need to pick this comic book up, the storyline is crazy though.

[@abesplace5079]

Yea, if Thanos needs your help, because he's worried about something coming, you know shit is about to go down, and get fucked up...😂😂😂😂

[@TevyaSmolka]

Yay Infinity war I read that book and I was okay at best

[@jonfrombuckland_3784]

Thats so convoluted I had to watch it twice

[@fixxer3859]

Always enjoy this Chanel

[@kimdanielthorkildsen7659]

Hope you guys do either Infinity Crusade or Thanos Quest

[@kamiabghorbanpour2291]

Moon Dragon is my favorite character!! :))

[@ObamaBluWaffles-]

You guys should do Robert Kirkmans invincible since its gonna be made into a movie.

[@bigrecipe7910]

batman/elmer fudd back issues would be cool

[@gibguitar7568]

The movie is based on thanos quest but is called infinity war, and the imagery and marketing is based off infinity gauntlet

[@gibguitar7568]

I mean what the fuck marvel