In-Betweener

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caption=The In-Betweener battles Galactus in "Silver Surfer" vol. 3, #18. Art by Ron Lim.
character_name=In-Betweener
real_name=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Warlock" #10 (Dec. 1975)
creators=Jim Starlin
alliances=
partners=Lord Chaos Master Order
aliases=
powers=Immortality
Reality alteration and manipulation
Incalculable energy manipulation
Psionic abilities
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The In-Betweener is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in "Warlock" #10 (Dec. 1974) and was created by Jim Starlin.

Fictional character biography

By the In-Betweener's own admission, he represents the dualities of concepts such as good and evil; logic and emotion; reality and illusion and life and death. ["Warlock" #10 (Dec. 1974)] The In-Betweener is also an agent of the concepts Lord Chaos and Master Order, although his loyalty is usually to himself rather than to them. ["Thanos Quest" #1 (1990)] In addition to being an incarnation of balance and duality, the In-Betweener is possibly a metaphysical counterpart of Galactus. ["Silver Surfer" #18 (vol. 3, Dec. 1988)]

The In-Betweener's appearances in the Marvel Universe have been sporadic. The hero Adam Warlock is the first Terran meta-human to encounter the In-Betweener, and the entity reveals that it is destined to force Warlock to transform into his villainous future self the Magus. ["Warlock" #10 (1975)] Warlock, however, was able to escape this fate with help from the Titan Thanos. ["Warlock" #11 (Feb. 1975)]

The In-Betweener then claims to be the power behind the plan to alter the fabric of reality orchestrated by the group of sorcerers known as the Creators, but secretly seeks to impose his own concept of balance upon the universe. After an encounter with the sorcerer Doctor Strange, the In-Betweener is imprisoned as punishment for rebelling against his masters. ["Doctor Strange" #26-28 (vol. 2, Dec. - Apr 1974 - 1975 (bi-monthly)]

The In-Betweener later attempts to supplant Galactus's role in the universe and allies with the Elders of the Universe in their plan against Galactus. However, the In-Betweener betrays the Elders during a confrontation with the entity Death and compels Death to wipe three of the Elders from existence. ["Silver Surfer" #17 (vol. 3, Nov. 1988)] Soon after this the In-Betweener also battles Galactus and his robotic servant the Punisher, and is subsequently imprisoned by his masters once more. ["Silver Surfer" #18 (vol. 3, Dec. 1988)]

He is later freed by Thanos, who secretly desires the Soul Gem the In-Betweener wears, as it is one of the six Infinity Gems. Thanos then steals the gem and abandons the In-Betweener to face the wrath of Lord Order and Master Chaos, who discover he has escaped his prison. ["Thanos Quest" #1 (1990)]

The In-Betweener most recently appeared as a pawn of the villain Scorpio, who is a member of the criminal organization Zodiac. Scorpio, however, was stopped by the superhero team the Avengers and the In-Betweener was subsequently freed. ["Avengers" #58 - 60 (vol. 3, Jun. - Aug. 2002)]

The In-Betweener also appeared in a story set in the alternate dimension of Earth-957. ["What If?" vol. 2, #75 (vol. 2, Jul. 1995)]

Powers and abilities

As the physical embodiment of the cosmic balance between Chaos and Order, the In-Betweener is able to manipulate cosmic energy to alter reality to achieve nearly any effect or ability, and to tap overwhelming powers within his influence as the synthesis of duality. ["Silver Surfer" #18 (vol. 3, Dec. 1988)] He is, however, under the absolute control of Lord Chaos and Master Order as his creators. The In-Betweener's other major (and unique) ability is to analyze a target and then direct energy in a "polar opposite" form at the target, which is instantly fatal.

References

External links

*http://marvel.com/universe/In-Betweener