STARSTONE

Classification: Magic item

Creator: Unrevealed

User/Possessors: The Incinerators, Professor Justin Alphone Gamble, Merlin

First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes II#17 (November, 1968)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: Imbued with a mysterious lifeforce energy originating from the previous universe, it was used by Merlin in combination with the energies from the Pool of Blood to create four artifacts of enormous magical power and durability that confer near-invincibility upon their possessors; however the possessor of one artifact can use it to wound or kill the possessor of another. It has been said that these artifacts are intrinsically evil and, in time, will turn their possessors evil. Whether this is due to the original lifeforce or the influence of the Pool of Blood is unknown.

History:

(Avengers Annual I#22/2 - BTS) - The Starstone condensed out of primeval matter left from the previous universe just after the Big Bang.

(Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1 - BTS) - The Starstone was imbued with a mysterious life-force (according to Merlin).

(Avengers Annual I#22/2 - BTS) - A mysterious "Cosmic Voice" instructed Professor Justin Alphonse Gamble to collect the Starstone and give it to Merlin.

(Avengers Annual I#22/2 (fb) ) - The Incinerators invaded Professor Gamble's time ship, took him prisoner and learned of the Startstone's existence by probing his mind. They decided to use it to power their Time Incinerator.

(Avengers Annual I#22/2) - The Starstone fell from the Heavens near Camelot. The Anachronauts were there to watch it fall and be taken by the Incinerators. The Anachronauts rescued Professor Gamble and defeated the Incinerators. Professor Gamble then gave the Starstone to Merlin in exchange for his copy of the Book of Skelos. He planted the idea into Merlin's mind of forging a weapon with it.

(Marvel Super-Heroes II#17 / Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1) - To help Camelot avoid its fate, Merlin decided that the Black Knight needed a "better blade." He and Sir Percy traveled to the Pool of Blood. There, using Merlin's magic and the enchanted blood from the Pool, Percy forged four ebony artifacts: a sword, a staff, a shield and a chalice. Percy chose the ebony sword for himself; Merlin destroyed (or banished away?) the other three, except that, unbeknownst to the wizard, the staff was seized by Morgan Le Fay who then used it to forge an ebony dagger for Mordred.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas (writer), Howard Purcell (pencils), Dan Adkins (inks).

This is a profile on the Startsone only. For the further history of the Ebony Sword, Shield, Staff and Chalice see the respective entries under Black Knight and Mordred.

Unpublished information (according to Jean-Marc Lofficier, who plotted Mystic Arcana: Black Knight#1): Here is a bit of information that did not make it in the finished plot for reasons of space (copied verbatim):

The Origins of the Starstone:
It is the first bit of a matter created after the Big Bang; condensed out of Primordial Matter.
It was picked up by Professor Gamble at the very very beginning of our universe before stars formed, etc. Very dangerous. A COSMIC VOICE (Eternity ?) instructed him how to do it.
Then it was taken to Camelot and traded to Merlin for his copy of the Book of Skelos, Avengers Annual I#22, but mostly because only Merlin had the power, wisdom, knowledge and strength (again four elements!) to take it and forge the four artifacts.