Thanos

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See also Thanos (disambiguation) for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles.


Thanos
Continuity:	Marvel Universe
Notability:	Antagonist
Gender:	Male
Race:	Titanian
Relatives:	A'Lars (father) Sui-San (mother) Kronos (grandfather) Eros (brother) Nebula (granddaughter)
Status:	Alive
First:	Iron Man, Vol. 1 #55

Thanos is a fictional demon-like alien conqueror featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer/artist Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich and first appeared in Iron Man, Volume 1 #55 in February, 1973. Thanos also headlined his own short-lived Thanos comic book series in 2003 and 2004. The character has also been represented in 2012 superhero film The Avengers.

Overview[]

Thanos is one of the Eternals of Titan. He is of the offshoot race known as the Deviants, and as such, is defined physically by his hulking mass, purple skin and mottled chin. Thanos is the ultimate "bad guy" of the Marvel Universe - a ruthless conqueror, he has enslaved countless worlds in his unending bid for ultimate power. Thanos is a nihilist and seeks nothing more than the total destruction of all existence. Because of this, Thanos' one true love is none other than the personification of Death itself.

Biography[]

During one of his earliest missions of conquest, Thanos established a beachhead on Earth inside of a mountain in the Southwestern part of the United States. He sent two alien simians known as the Blood Brothers to safeguard this facility, but the Blood Brothers ended up getting into a fight with Iron Man. The cosmic warrior, Drax the Destroyer, attempted to aid Iron Man, but Thanos captured him. With some electromagnetic help from Mentor, Iron Man and Drax broke free, but Thanos escaped, leaving behind a robotic duplicate of himself to distract the heroes. ^[1]

At one point, Thanos gained control over the Cosmic Cube. In yet another bid to please his unrequited love, Mistress Death, he used the Cube to phase the entire planet Earth out of reality. He also used it to torture and torment Mar-Vell, such as causing him to age at an accelerated rate. ^[2]

Thanos eventually acquired all of the Infinity Gems and fitted them into a gold-plated glove dubbed the Infinity Gauntlet. Operating from a barren lifeless planet, he decided to test his newfound power by opening a trans-dimensional conduit to Titan and pulling forth the Silver Surfer and Drax the Destroyer to his location. Thanos made a showy display of demonstrating the abilities of each of the gems to his opponents. Drax immediately went on the offensive and leaped at Thanos. Thanos used the Time Gem to freeze Drax in mid-leap. He then used the Space Gem to bring them to the planet's prehistoric past. As a further display of his mastery over the gems, he transported them all across space. He then altered Drax's soul to re-motivate his spirit, causing him to attack the Silver Surfer. He used the Mind Gem to assail their minds with images of people from their past. Thanos then warped reality, twisting the Surfer and Drax's physical bodies. He then used the Power Gem to render them both inert. ^[3]

Even with all of the power given to him by the Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos continued to express his undying and unrequited love for Mistress Death. He even created the Shrine of Death so she could be worshiped. It was only through Mephisto, who stood as witness to Thanos' actions, that he learned what Death truly desired. Death had determined that there were more people alive in the universe today than had ever died, and such a thing represented a great upset to the cosmic balance. To satisfy this, a mass culling was required. Thanos used the gauntlet, snapped his fingers, and in the blink of an eye, one-half of all living creatures in the universe, including animals, disappeared from existence. ^[4]

Equipment[]

Cosmic Cube: At one point, Thanos gained control over the Cosmic Cube. In yet another bid to please his unrequited love, Mistress Death, he used the Cube to phase the entire planet Earth out of reality. He also used it to torture and torment Mar-Vell, such as causing him to age at an accelerated rate. ^[5]
Infinity Gems: The elements that coalesced into the Infinity Stones were once part of an ancient omnipotent being that existed millennia ago called a Celestial. This being was all that existed throughout infinity. Once it determined that its endless existence had no purpose, it committed suicide. From the ashes of this being sprang the universe. The Infinity Stones were aspects of the reincarnated soul of this being.

Thanos robot: Thanos was not above using robotic duplicates as decoy. When Thanos first established a beachhead on Earth, he left behind a robotic lookalike to distract Iron Man and Drax the Destroyer so that he could make his escape. ^[6]

Notes & Trivia[]

The character of Thanos was created by writer and artist Jim Starlin and co-writer Mike Friedrich.

Alternate versions[]

Marvel Adventures: Thanos was the central antagonist of the 2010-2011 four-issue limited series Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet, which is aimed at younger readers. In the series, Thanos acquires the power of the Infinity Gauntlet and uses its power on a quest for cosmic domination. After vanquishing countless worlds and defeating the Avengers, a new team of Avengers is put together to combat Thanos.

Marvel Cinematic Universe: In the continuity of the Marvel movies franchise, Thanos is revealed to be the key behind the Chitauri army that invades Earth. The Chitauri leader, known as The Other, reports to his master following the Battle of New York to inform him that Earth's defenses are more powerful than they had bargained for, and that anyone who would seek to challenge them courts death. Thanos merely turned towards the Other and smiled.

External Links[]

References[]

Appearances[]

Avengers Annual 7
Captain Marvel 30
Captain Marvel 33
Captain Marvel 41 (In flashback only)
Captain Marvel 59 (Behind the scenes only)
Daredevil 105 (In flashback only)
Infinity Gauntlet 1 (Does his "Snap" thing)
Iron Man 55 (1st appearance)
Ka-Zar Vol 3 11
Silver Surfer Vol 3 38
Silver Surfer Vol 3 44 (Uses the Infinity Gauntlet for the 1st time)

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Prelude 2