Between its cameos in Thor and Iron Man 2 and an upcoming appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger, an object known vaguely as a "Cosmic Cube" is causing quite a stir in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But what is a Cosmic Cube? To understand how it may play out in future Marvel films, an examination of the Cube's origins is required.
For the maiden entry in the Wait, What's A Cosmic Cube? series, let's take a look at the Cosmic Cube's first appearance in 1966:
It is in this issue,
Tales of Suspense #79, that readers encounter the Cube for the first time. In this first chapter of a multi-issue storyline,the freshly-named A.I.M. organization (formerly known as "THEM") constructs this version of the object. The Cosmic Cube is said to be "enough to stagger the imagination of a wizard," according to an A.I.M. agent with an apparent talent for making melodramatic statements. Later, The Red Skull manipulates A.I.M. and orchestrates a plan to acquire the Cube. After a classic struggle between Cap and the Skull, the villain and the Cube disappear into the depths of the ocean. All readers are left with is a few simplistic descriptions about the Cosmic Cube. By the end of this arc, we know it can bend and mold reality. We know that it is a unfathomable source of power -- specifically, to its holder. We can also guess that some A.I.M. scientists moonlight as beat poets.
It is in future appearances that we glimpse more into the possibilities of the Cosmic Cube. Upcoming entries in this series will focus closely and follow the Cube on its journey through Marvel lore. For now, like the Red Skull, we can rely on just a taste.