What's This? A build-a-figure.
The facts: With the help of their Mother Box, the Forever People can combine into/summon while they themselves are "elsewhere", the mysterious Infinity Man. He appears in the group's first issue (March 1971) and appears from time to time when the kids are in over their heads. In Jack Kirby's Fourth World, John Byrne gives him a precursor and builds out the lore. Death of the New Gods (2008) makes him the killer, though he says he's acting on behalf of the Source. The New52 gives him a title called Infinity Man and the Forever People (he first appears in the second issue, 2014), but he's clearly labelled as Izaya (i.e., Highfather) in that book.
How you could have heard of him: Infinity Man makes non-speaking appearances in Young Justice, where he is the product of the Forever People's combination rather than a separate entity.
Example story: Forever People #5 (June 1988) "Turning Points!" by J.M. DeMatteis, Paris Cullins and Karl Kesel
Let's just see what happens when the Forever People call on the Infinity Man. Unlike similar switcheroos like Captain Mar-Vell/Rick Jones or even Captain Marvel/Billy Batson, he's an entirely separate being and presented almost as a force of nature. The Dark has just defeated the kids in Dark Castle. And didn't split them up. Oops! Although, it seems at this point that they've forgotten all about the Infinity Man and how to summon him. It comes to them slowly, like a repressed memory. And they seem to get a push from the beyond...
Must be tough being the Infinity Man. Apparently, he has no existence when he's not been summoned.
He must live in some kind of liminal space, and the Forever People
haven't allowed him to live in a while. But perhaps he's just a
manifestation of an abstract concept - the heart of the Cosmos and of
Man. It's DeMatteis, so you probably need to meditate to really get it.
Not that he has any hobbies, or anything. He's all business as soon as
he sees the servants of the shadow.
Puts me in mind of OMAC, which I think is perfect. Oh! More OMAC-style action!
I mean... the Forever People are just these super-powered hippies, and though they can use powers in combat, it's not entirely their thing. So when you call the Infinity Man, you want an action man to the core! The weird cosmic sermon is just the cherry on top. But can the Forever People ever meet their hero? Well... yes!
This is new. Mark Moonrider thinks it's impossible. And indeed, it's not possible for long because the I-M soon fades from view and is replaced by a different character, saying his work as a "father" (bit of an absentee, though, no?) is over and what they need is a mother (box). Which seems to mean she's PRESENT. Check your daddy issues at the door, kids!
So yes, sure, the Infinity Man, as a concept, is really a chance to do big action, but it's really COOL big action and I don't think I need to see him at home doing chores or at his job filing papers.
Who's Next? Libra's bunch.
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