Marvel Studios’ movie Eternals is only days away from its large theatrical release, with the film set to expand the MCU’s cosmic wing in a major way, leading up to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 which will introduce Adam Warlock to the MCU where he will be played by Will Poulter.

The addition of Adam Warlock to the MCU raises the question of whether any of his allies in Infinity Watch will resurface, with most of the original programming (Gamora, Drax and, oddly enough Thanos) already introduced in the MCU, or planned. appear. But there are a few notable exceptions such as Moondragon, Drax’s comic book girl, and of course, Pip the Troll, Adam Warlock’s longtime sidekick and a founding member of the Infinity Watch.

With Adam Warlock himself now officially scheduled to make his MCU debut, Pip, the former comedic relief of Warlock’s philosophically-minded straight man, may not be far behind.

Never heard of Pip the Troll? Well, you mustn’t have read some of Marvel’s most eclectic comics from the ’70s and’ 90s (his two glory days with the publisher).

Luckily though, for the majority of fans who probably haven’t dug into the larger myth around Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch, Newsarama is ready to reveal all the cosmic secrets of their strangest and strangest member. Crafty Pip the Troll as his great pal Adam Warlock prepares to make his MCU debut.

Who is Pip the Troll?

Introduced in 1975 in Strange Tales # 179, Pip the Troll was born Prince Pip Gofern, 260th nobleman in line to the throne of his homeworld Laxidazia (yes, it’s a play on Pip’s libertine and nonchalant attitude in his time. as a prince). With his political position so far removed from any real responsibility, Pip became a connoisseur of the many pubs, bars and party houses of Laxidazia while still practicing his profession as a painter.

But when he came across a group of Laxidazian Trolls – a population of satyr outcasts, considered less than by Laxidazian society – Pip transformed into a Troll himself after getting drunk on their enchanted liquor.

Pip encountered Adam Warlock when Warlock’s dark counterpart, the Mage, and his Church of Universal Life forces invaded Laxadazia, rounding up the Trolls with the intention of executing them all in a gruesome act of genocide. Warlock and Pip have come to trust each other, leading the Trolls in a revolt to drive the Magus out of Laxidazia.

Warlock and Pip continued to travel together as Warlock battled the Mage, going their separate ways after Warlock finally defeated the Dark Entity.

Their reunion took place a few years later when Thanos killed Pip in Avengers Annual # 7 with Gamora, although Adam Warlock was able to save them both by storing their essences in his Soul Gem (which of course is one of them. of the six Infinity Gems, later renamed the Infinity Stones).

Pip the Troll in the Marvel Universe

After years trapped in Soul World’s internal Soul Gem realm, Pip discovers the Silver Surfer also inside Soul World. The two team up to search for Adam Warlock, whom Silver Surfer reveals was also trapped in Soul World by Thanos who grabbed the Soul Gem as part of his quest to assemble the six Infinity Stones.

Pip and Silver Surfer find Warlock locked in a battle with Drax the Destroyer, who is also trapped in Soul World. After fixing their problem, Silver Surfer convinces Warlock, Drax, and Gamora to join him and Pip in escaping the Soul Gem to help confront Thanos, who is then deeply involved in building the Infinity Gauntlet as part of the game. its elimination plan. half of life in the Universe.

(Incidentally, in the comics, Thanos takes on this mission because he’s in love with the incarnation of death in the Marvel Universe, a motif much more twisted than his biased and violent take on resource management as depicted. in the MCU).

Adam Warlock, Pip, Gamora and Drax are reborn and joined by Moondragon, they help the heroes of the Marvel Universe defeat Thanos and undo his destruction, as seen in the landmark Marvel Comics Infinity Gauntlet event.

With the Gauntlet dismantled, Warlock assembles a team known as the Infinity Watch made up of himself, Pip, Gamora, Drax, Moondragon, and, almost shockingly, Thanos himself, to each hold one of the Infinities. Stones to keep them from being put together again (the six Infinity Stones have since been combined again several times – and Thanos himself could put the Infinity Stones together in a whole new way next year).

Oddly, Pip himself became a villain in one of Infinity Gauntlet’s sequels, Infinity Crusade, after accidentally absorbing a massive source of transformative cosmic power, calling himself King of the Universe until he can be rid of the power of corruption.

Pip the Troll in the MCU

One of the MCU’s biggest questions since Thanos’ ultimate defeat and destruction of the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Endgame is exactly what will happen to the cosmic power once contained in the Infinity Stones.

With Adam Warlock coming in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it’s entirely possible that the answer to that question might come in the form of a possible version of the Infinity Watch, a group dedicated to policing and containing, where appropriate, the power of the Infinity Stones.

If so, Pip the Troll could be a candidate for membership – and possibly one of the most requested characters by fans who love the cult Infinity Watch title and team.

And even if a formal Infinity Watch doesn’t come together onscreen, Pip could make the perfect supporting character for Adam Warlock if he morphs into his own movie or show, playing just the right amount of MCU humor on the often high-minded and serious sorcerer.

There is also the matter of the Eternals, which we mentioned at the very top.

While its many secrets won’t be revealed to those of us who haven’t attended early screenings (your beloved author included), there’s a good chance the film could somehow reestablish a presence. for Thanos and the Infinity Stones in the MCU. After all, Thanos is a Titan Eternal himself, despite being born with the hybrid genetics of the Eternals’ enemies, the Deviants.

If Eternals opens that door again, it could set all the pieces in place for a possible exploration of Warlock comic book history – in which Pip is a key player.

The story in which Pip joined Adam Warlock in the Infinity Watch team, Infinity Gauntlet, is one of the most notable Marvel Comics events all time.