Limbo (Marvel Comics)
Encyclopedia
Limbo, may refer to several fictional locations in titles published by Marvel Comics
. The concept debuted in The Avengers
#2, (November 1963), and was created by Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby
.
. Each is a sort of "pocket universe
", whose physical and temporal scope are extremely limited compared to the universe
that ordinary human beings inhabit. To those within each, it appears roughly analogous to a planet, with a solid surface at one earth gravity and a sky devoid of stars. The first Limbo, also known as "Otherplace
" is a magical dimension of demons which were historically ruled by Belasco
and was primarily featured in X-Men
comics. The second Limbo, also known as "True Limbo" is a place outside of time historically ruled by Immortus
and the location to which Rom the Spaceknight
banished the Dire Wraiths.
from his castle Tenebrae, which is the primary point of interest there. Its primary occupants are the giant Tempus
, the Space Phantom
s, and Immortus. Temporal Limbo has primarily been visited by the Avengers
and their allies, such as Thor
. Thor once tried saving the planet Phantus, home of the Space Phantoms, from Limbo by expending all of Mjolnir's time travel abilities. It was later revealed in Avengers Forever that Phantus had just been a hoax. Kang the Conqueror
's city-base of Chronopolis was depicted as existing outside of time, and therefore could have been in temporal Limbo. Kang was once thrown into this Limbo when Thor destroyed his time-travel ship, where he found the castle of Immortus, from which he could view numerous time peroids. He saved Ravonna
from the moment before death and from Limbo destroyed nearly every version of himself. He was driven insane when Immortus tricked him into absorbing the memories of the Kangs that were destroyed in Limbo and ran out of the castle of Immortus.
banished Dire Wraiths to a zone called Limbo. At first blush, this seemed as if it might have been a third limbo, but a canon reference to the Dire Wraiths as denizens of temporal Limbo was made in Avengers volume 1 #268.
, and should not be confused with "Other-Earth", homeworld of Kang the Conqueror.) Limbo's physical law
s are primarily magical, though laws of the ordinary universe (such as electromagnetism
and gravity) normally apply within its bounds.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The concept debuted in The Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
#2, (November 1963), and was created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
History
Limbo is the name for two separate dimensions in the Marvel Universe. Each Limbo shares some characteristics though neither are explicitly intended to be the Catholic LimboLimbo
In the theology of the Catholic Church, Limbo is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other...
. Each is a sort of "pocket universe
Pocket universe
-In science:A pocket universe is a concept in inflationary theory, proposed by Alan Guth. It defines a realm like the one that contains the observable universe as only one of many inflationary zones.-In fiction:...
", whose physical and temporal scope are extremely limited compared to the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
that ordinary human beings inhabit. To those within each, it appears roughly analogous to a planet, with a solid surface at one earth gravity and a sky devoid of stars. The first Limbo, also known as "Otherplace
Otherplace
Otherplace, is a fictional location in titles published by Marvel Comics. The concept debuted in Uncanny X-Men #160, and was created by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson.-History:...
" is a magical dimension of demons which were historically ruled by Belasco
Belasco
Belasco is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character's first appearance was in Ka-Zar the Savage #11; he was created by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson.-Fictional character biography:...
and was primarily featured in X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
comics. The second Limbo, also known as "True Limbo" is a place outside of time historically ruled by Immortus
Immortus
Immortus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is the future self of Kang the Conqueror, and first appeared in Avengers #10, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
and the location to which Rom the Spaceknight
Rom the Spaceknight
Rom is a fictional character, a cosmic superhero in the . He first appears in Rom, Spaceknight #1 and was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema.-Toy:...
banished the Dire Wraiths.
Immortus' Limbo
Temporal Limbo, also called "true Limbo," exists outside of time and is ruled by ImmortusImmortus
Immortus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is the future self of Kang the Conqueror, and first appeared in Avengers #10, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
from his castle Tenebrae, which is the primary point of interest there. Its primary occupants are the giant Tempus
Tempus (comics)
Tempus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Tempus is an enormous humanoid who dwells in Limbo and serves Immortus. An immortal creature created from the stuff of Limbo, he views his undying nature as a curse, and often remarks that he would consider execution a suitable reward for his...
, the Space Phantom
Space Phantom
Space Phantom is a name given to a number of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe. The first appearance of such a being was in Avengers vol. 1 #2 , they were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
s, and Immortus. Temporal Limbo has primarily been visited by the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
and their allies, such as Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
. Thor once tried saving the planet Phantus, home of the Space Phantoms, from Limbo by expending all of Mjolnir's time travel abilities. It was later revealed in Avengers Forever that Phantus had just been a hoax. Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #8 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
's city-base of Chronopolis was depicted as existing outside of time, and therefore could have been in temporal Limbo. Kang was once thrown into this Limbo when Thor destroyed his time-travel ship, where he found the castle of Immortus, from which he could view numerous time peroids. He saved Ravonna
Ravonna
Ravonna Lexus Renslayer, also known as Terminatrix, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...
from the moment before death and from Limbo destroyed nearly every version of himself. He was driven insane when Immortus tricked him into absorbing the memories of the Kangs that were destroyed in Limbo and ran out of the castle of Immortus.
Rom's Limbo
Instead of killing his foes, Rom the SpaceknightRom the Spaceknight
Rom is a fictional character, a cosmic superhero in the . He first appears in Rom, Spaceknight #1 and was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema.-Toy:...
banished Dire Wraiths to a zone called Limbo. At first blush, this seemed as if it might have been a third limbo, but a canon reference to the Dire Wraiths as denizens of temporal Limbo was made in Avengers volume 1 #268.
Otherplace
This Limbo is also referred to as Otherplace. It first appeared in X-Men #160. (It has sometimes been erroneously called "Otherworld"; however, in the Marvel Universe, Otherworld is actually the home dimension of the beings who empower and oversee the Captain Britain CorpsCaptain Britain Corps
In Marvel Comics, the Captain Britain Corps is a league of super-heroes all known as, or appear as an alternative version of, Captain Britain. They are all essentially the same hero except they each come from an alternative reality.-Fictional team history:...
, and should not be confused with "Other-Earth", homeworld of Kang the Conqueror.) Limbo's physical law
Physical law
A physical law or scientific law is "a theoretical principle deduced from particular facts, applicable to a defined group or class of phenomena, and expressible by the statement that a particular phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions be present." Physical laws are typically conclusions...
s are primarily magical, though laws of the ordinary universe (such as electromagnetism
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
and gravity) normally apply within its bounds.
Other versions
- Dire Wraiths were also depicted roaming the temporal Limbo in What IfWhat If (comics)What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
I #39, although this series by definition is not canon.