Even if you’re overwhelmed by the amount of Marvel movies and television shows coming out, you have to admit: it’s fun seeing new characters on screen. Even if you don’t know the new superhero or villain at first, there’s joy in learning about a Marvel deep cut character (or just one you’ve never heard of before). Aside from our glowing review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, there’s another reason you should see the movie: one of Marvel’s greatest comic book characters finally makes his MCU debut.
Although by now you’re likely familiar with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 introduces a new character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Adam Warlock. Played by Will Poulter, Warlock isn’t just a sidekick to the Guardians and their superhero adventures.
He’s a powerful being with a super soldier backstory that arguably beats Captain America’s if epic origin stories were a competition. Although it may be the last we see the Guardians in their current iteration, Warlock is too big of a character for a one-and-done appearance. It’s safe to say we’ll see him again, considering the MCU’s newest major villain is an intergalactic conqueror who, unlike Thanos, has no mercy. It’ll take serious out-of-this-world power to take down a guy like Kang the Conqueror.
So whether you’re a major Warlock fan, or are just hearing about him for the first time, here’s a breakdown of Adam Warlock, including his powers and his backstory.
Adam Warlock is an epic science experiment turned superhero.
In the Marvel Comics, a group of scientists on Earth called the Enclave embarked on a mission to create an army of invincible humans. While still in development, Adam Warlock (then known as Him) caught wind of his creators’ nefarious purposes and broke out of his cocoon to destroy them before they caused more harm. Freed from his creators, Warlock decided to become a force for good wherever he went.
He first appeared in Fantastic Four #66 in 1967. Warlock often wields the Soul Gem, one of the Infinity Stones, which gives him the power to read people’s souls. His various adventures include tangling with Thanos, fighting the evil version of himself named Magus, and becoming a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
In the MCU, you’ll remember that Adam Warlock was also born from a cocoon, albeit a much more cosmic one; we first saw him being created by Ayesha in a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 credits scene, and learn in Vol. 3 that he was an idea of the High Evolutionary.
What are Adam Warlock’s powers?
He’s not an insect, but Warlock has the ability to cocoon at will, which gives him regenerative abilities and can even bring him back from the dead. So basically, he’s immortal.
Warlock also has superhuman strength, speed, agility, and stamina. He can fly, perform telepathy, manipulate matter and energy, and is even clairvoyant. If something is disrupting the flow of space and time, Warlock will know about it. Over the course of his comic book history, Warlock has only become more powerful. That said, what would a superhero be without their weaknesses?
Magical weaponry, like Thor: Love and Thunder‘s Godslayer, can harm Warlock. The other major weakness Warlock constantly battles is himself, or if we’re being technical, his evil self, Magus. Warlock often worries he’ll become Magus or (when Magus exists as a separate being) he fears he’ll be unable to defeat Magus.
Adam Warlock is played by Will Poulter in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The MCU version of Adam Warlock is played by Will Poulter. Marvel picked Poulter at the right time, as the actor has been poised for a major breakout for a while.
The 30-year-old English actor got his start in 2007, and has had notable roles in We’re the Millers, The Maze Runner, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Midsommar, and The Revenant. He also had a starring role in Dopesick, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
We’re not sure how long he’ll be playing Adam Warlock for, but with the character’s impressive backstory, there’s no doubt we’ll see Poulter in the MCU again.
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.
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