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Mighty Avengers Vol 2 3 Textless
Blue Marvel
Quote1 And what creates creation? Above everything--even your creators--is there a final guiding hand? Can there be? Do you know, One Above All? Quote2
One Above All (Multiverse) from Thanos The Infinity Finale Vol 1 1 001
One
Above All
Quote1 The mystery intrigues me, Adam. Quote2

Appearing in "Kether: The House of Ideas"

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Synopsis for "Kether: The House of Ideas"

Loki of the past Seventh Cosmos glances through a window of time and sees the Loki of the present Eighth Cosmos staring back at her in his quest to see the past, attempting to see the origin of reality. Finding humor in that Loki's laugh through the "pane", the Defenders venture through the crown of creation and hopes he doesn't remember events that are about to unfold. Events she had planned since joining the team, as that will indicate her plan went beautifully-- if they don't get killed. Blue Marvel reaches the top of the stairs to the door to the House of Ideas, advising everyone to tread carefully as they meet One Above All, who introduces themselves and what they are. Blue Marvel ponders over their words for a moment and exclaims that he doesn't find that entirely true. One Above All asks where he was when he laid the foundations, presenting a myriad of constructed monsters for them to fight. Ms. America Chavez notes her role as the team's impulsive hardass as Blue Marvel's comment has caused their predicament, and Tigra notes Beyonder is not present. Loki's inquiry if she doesn't like monsters is answered by Taaia enjoying the fight as it takes her mind off what she knows to be her son's fate.

When America Chavez calls out Blue Marvel for calling God a liar to their face, he clarifies that he never said they were lying. Still, the evidence of his cosmic sense stretched to the limits tells him that One Above All is the primal creative force-- the greatest power that they could ever reach. Blue Marvel also points out that if One Above All were angry, they'd have been erased with a word, not fighting monsters. When Loki asks if the fight is a test, Blue Marvel refutes any "god" who'd test their creations as both he and all humanity have been tested enough. However, he does believe in a god who questions them and asks that they question them in turn. Blue Marvel is proven right when the monsters pop away, and One Above All invites him to speak if he has understanding. As there is nothing they can reach that's above One Above All, the highest they can reach, Blue Marvel questions if they are truly "above all" and asks if this was only the beginning of the journey, the beginning of what One Above All represents. One Above All answers that they are where the world of action ends and the world of creation begins, to which Blue Marvel asks what creates creation, asking if there is a final guiding hand. One Above All answers that the mystery intrigues them and answers their inquiries as well.

One Above All tells Taaia that Galan's fate is his design, and she cannot return knowing that; America will find her sister Catalina Chavez and more, as nothing that was made is ever lost; Tigra wants to return home, but One Above All says she will when the storyteller chooses. Blue Marvel returns to the mission and asks One Above All who is Eternity's enemy from beyond all understanding? One Above All provides a glimpse of The Enigma to come, showing five merged images to create a crown's silhouette. Blue Marvel elaborates to Tigra that that is how their minds can translate something so vast as a crown above all things but it is up to them to decode the cosmic symbolism as the team stares down Loki. As a master at riddles, Loki recalls the last time they saw a crown symbol was on Doctor Strange's magic tarot cards, but phrases it so as to not "spoil" the ending as she is still a story god. With that settled, Loki helped the Defenders and asks for what she wanted: to go. As they stand in the "crown of creation", Loki can step outside the multiverse entirely and leave the story for good to make her own way, hence why she forced them on the trip in the first place. America orders Loki cannot just leave, but she notes how the Eight Cosmos Loki is doing just fine, he can be the primary, and she can just be a variant to go her own path freely. Cloud states she could be, as it would be a fair choice after everything that happened, but still a choice.

The Beyonder arrives after all the fighting ends, claiming he left them to it because superheroes like fighting and blasting stuff. Loki goes back to Cloud's statement and asks for clarity, and Cloud resumes that Loki could leave or resume her place as the God of Stories, continuing as Eternity's Defender to fight to save everything. Loki notes that doing so would lose her chance at true freedom and asks Cloud if he understands what he's asking, and Blue Marvel answers that it is a Bodhisattva vow. Blue Marvel tells Loki that Kṣitigarbha vowed not to take Buddhahood until all hells were emptied-- because there IS no enlightenment until ALL are enlightened. There is no freedom until all are free. Loki finds it too much since reality wants her to return to the status quo, and she concludes that she'd need to forget and only remember when the time was right-- playing the ultimate trick on herself. Beyonder questions Loki's choice, and although she accepts returning to her place, he does not and rips his way out of the story. Beyonder's voice fades as he ventures out of reality tearing asunder, and the team tumbles back into Eternity.

In the present, Loki resumes as his present self, now ruling in Jotunheim. Loki of the Eight Cosmos now remembers what Loki of the Seventh remembered of their adventures, even that his horned helmet carried the Eternity Mask the whole time. He finds the mission to continue saving everything in Eternity from everything threatening to be real fun. At Kadesh Base, Blue Marvel accounts for everyone: Tigra is in New York City helping Moon Knight,[1] while Monica relayed that America was with the Thunderbolts,[2] and Loki is presumably the same one now ruling in Jotunheim. However, Taaia remains as One Above All had stated she couldn't return with knowledge of the Eight Cosmos. Still, she insists on keeping the knowledge, not wishing to forget her son, and wishes to work as a Defender of the Eighth Cosmos until she meets the devourer he became. Blue Marvel assumes, until further notice, that the spell that united them is still active and will reactivate come the next cosmic emergency. All they can do is be ready so as not to be surprised when this "Enigma" comes. And if Eternity needs Defenders, then thankfully, they're not a team; they're a universe.

Solicit Synopsis

THE FINAL TRIAL OF LOKI!

The final trial of Loki, America Chavez and the rest of the Defenders sees them entering…the one and only House of Ideas!

Notes

Continuity Notes[]

Loki Laufeyson (Ikol) (Earth-616) from Infinity Wars Vol 1 6 001

Loki laughing at his "future" from Infinity Wars #6

One Above All (Multiverse) from Ultimates 2 Vol 1 100 001

From Ultimates 2 #100

Uatu (Earth-616) and Susan Storm (Earth-616) from Fantastic Four Vol 1 72 001

From Fantastic Four #72

One Above All (Multiverse) and Fantastic Four (Earth-616) from Fantastic Four Vol 1 511 002

"The mystery intrigues me," from Fantastic Four #511

  • The One Above All's introduction is mostly a repeat from Ultimates 2 #100 and also an inversion of what the One Below All says in Immortal Hulk #1213 and Immortal Hulk #25.
    • "I see through many eyes. I build with many hands. They are themselves but they are also me," which is originally from Ultimates 2 #100, has been explained by the writer Al Ewing in an interview: "Because The One Above All is all of the writers, artists, editors, and readers, but also this sort of gestalt entity. No one person could direct the Marvel Universe, so it’s this…"[4]
    • "I am all-powerful. My only weapon is love," is a reference to Uatu the Watcher from Fantastic Four #72: "All-powerful? There is only one who deserves that name! And his only weapon...is love!"
    • "The mystery intrigues me," is a direct quote from Fantastic Four #511. Also, the back of this issue confirms that Fantastic Four #511 is the first appearance of the One Above All and the House of Ideas.
  • "Tell me. Where were you--when I laid these foundations?!" and "Speak then. If you have understanding..." is a reference to the Bible (Job 38:4).
    • The One Above All says more or less the same thing to the Hulk in Immortal Hulk #50: "Where were you when I laid these foundations? Declare, if you have understanding."
  • Most of the monsters that the One Above All summons are from before Fantastic Four #1, the issue that starts the Marvel Universe, hence they are referred to as "creatures of the pre-creation." Interestingly, not all of them are from before F.F. #1 but are nevertheless from around that time period.
  • Something above the One Above All is also speculated by the Living Tribunal in Thanos: The Infinity Conflict #1.
One Above All (Multiverse) and Defenders (Earth-616) from Defenders Beyond Vol 1 5 001

The One Above All referencing the Four Worlds (Action, Formation, Creation, and Emanation)

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. Moon Knight (Vol. 9) #4
  2. Thunderbolts (Vol. 4) #1
  3. Morse, Ben (16 June 2022) 'Defenders: Beyond' Kicks Off a New Lineup of the Super-Team This July Marvel. Retrieved on 1 October 2022.
  4. Rabiroff, Zach (14 October 2021) Cosmic Is A State Of Being: An Interview With Al Ewing ComicsXF. Retrieved on 1 October 2022.
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