The Living Tribunal

Living Tribunal
The Living Tribunal. Art by Jim Starlin.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Strange Tales #157 (June 1967)
Created by	Stan Lee Marie Severin Herb Trimpe
In-story information
Abilities	Reality warping, Near Omniscience, Omnipresence

The Living Tribunal is a fictional cosmic entity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #157 (June 1967) and was created by Stan Lee, Marie Severin, and Herb Trimpe.

The Living Tribunal debuted in a storyline called "The Sands of Death" in Strange Tales #157–163 (June–Dec. 1967), giving mystic hero Doctor Strange a limited time to prove Earth is worth saving. Established as apparently the supreme power in the Marvel Universe, the character made several sporadic appearances over the years, including What If #32 (April 1982); Rom #41 (April 1983) and Secret Wars II #6 (Dec. 1985). The Living Tribunal revealed clues as to its true purpose and nature in Silver Surfer vol. 3, #31 (Dec. 1989).

After brief appearances in the role of observer in Guardians of the Galaxy #16 (Sep. 1991) and Quasar #26 (Sep. 1991), the character had a significant role in the limited series Infinity Gauntlet #1–6 (July – Dec. 1991), Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 (Feb. 1992), and DC vs. Marvel #1–4 (April – May 1996). The Living Tribunal's role was eventually expanded on in She-Hulk vol. 2, #12 (Nov. 2006).

The Living Tribunal is an entity that oversees and maintains balance in the realities that constitute the Marvel Comics Multiverse, including the mainstream universe and all alternate universes. He serves as a judge of these realities.