Infinity Wars: Infinity #1

History

Writer Gerry Duggan, who had shepherded the Infinity saga from Infinity Countdown through the main Infinity Wars six-issue limited series, wrote this coda as a deliberate structural epilogue rather than another tie-in chapter. Penciller Mark Bagley — a veteran Marvel artist known for prolific, clean storytelling — handled interior art, while Mike Deodato Jr., the main series' artist, provided the cover, maintaining visual continuity with the event's branding. Editor Jordan D. White oversaw the issue, which was solicited in September 2018, with a final order cutoff date of December 3, 2018, and released on January 2, 2019, making it the last piece of the Infinity Wars publishing program to reach shelves. The issue was collected in the Infinity Wars by Gerry Duggan: The Complete Collection hardcover alongside the main series, Infinity Wars Prime, Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian, and material from Thanos Legacy #1.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Hector Bautista (later codename: Overtime), a Texan death-row inmate who is wrongfully convicted of murder — the primary character focus of the entire issue.
• Hector Bautista is chosen by the Time Stone, which crashes into his prison cell the night before his scheduled execution and merges with him, granting him the ability to stop and restart time.
• Written by Gerry Duggan, with interior art by Mark Bagley (inks by Andrew Hennessy, colors by Guru-eFX, letters by Cory Petit) and a cover by Mike Deodato Jr.
• Edited by Jordan D. White and Annalise Bissa; published under Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski; rated T+ (ages 13 and up); released January 2, 2019.
• Structured as a one-shot epilogue to the Infinity Wars event, set immediately after Adam Warlock releases the Infinity Stones to seek their own hosts following Gamora/Requiem's defeat.
• Secondary plot features Talonar (Robbie Rider) and the Fraternity of Raptors observing that at least one Infinity Stone — the Time Stone — remains on Earth, setting up future conflict.
• Hector Bautista returned as 'Overtime' in the 2021 Infinite Destinies crossover (specifically Captain America Annual #1, again written by Duggan), where Captain America and Black Widow tracked him across Texas.
• The issue was collected in the trade paperback/hardcover Infinity Wars by Gerry Duggan: The Complete Collection, which also includes Infinity Wars #1–6, Infinity Wars Prime, Infinity Wars: Fallen Guardian, and material from Thanos Legacy #1.

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