Fictional Character Biography
The Living Tribunal is a virtually omnipotent entity that oversees and maintains balance in the realities that constitute the Marvel Comics Multiverse, including the mainstream universe and all alternate universes.
The character is first encountered by Doctor Strange, announcing its intent to destroy Earth due to its potential for evil. After a series of trials Strange is able to convince the Living Tribunal that good also exists, and Earth is spared. The Tribunal reappears to the Galadorian spaceknight Rom; appears briefly with the rest of the cosmic hierarchy when in discussion with the entity the Beyonder; and reveals to the former Herald of Galactus (the Silver Surfer) that its three faces represent "Equity"; "Vengeance" and "Necessity" respectively. The fourth side of the Living Tribunal's head is a void, with the entity claiming that it could have represented the face of the cosmic entity the Stranger. The character also witnesses the triumph of the hero Quasar - acting as the avatar of cosmic entity Infinity - over the villain Maelstrom, who acts for the entity Oblivion.
The Living Tribunal's power is apparently limitless, as the entity prevents the Infinity Gems from being used in unison, though is inferior to the even higher entity, whom it represents and serves, known as the One-Above-All. The entity has representatives called The Magistrati who dispense judgments by request on alien worlds, and chose to reveal the previously covered face of "Necessity" to She-Hulk as a reflection of her own face, stating that the face is a "Cosmic Mirror which reminds us to always judge others as we would have ourselves judged."
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