Thanos is finally dead in the world of Marvel Comics. But when you’re as bad a villain as he, not even death is truly the end. Which means it’s time for Thanos to claim a NEW body in Marvel’s Universe… and gods help whoever is living in it when he does.
That’s the story that has begun in the pages of Marvel’s rebooted Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series, spinning out of the recent Infinity Wars event. But no sooner had fans put that shocking event to bed (including the death of a Guardian of the Galaxy) than the TRUE plan concocted by Thanos was revealed. The story of the massive, purple-skinned, gold-armored Thanos may have been ended with a sword. But that only means Thanos will wear a new body when he makes his return… but which Marvel hero will become the next vessel of Thanos?
- This Page: Thanos Really is Dead, But Not For Long Next Page: The New Thanos Will Probably Be (SPOILER)
Yes, Thanos Was Really Killed
Just in case anybody missed the events of Infinity Wars that we referred to earlier, we should clarify that the death of Thanos really was what it seemed, according to everyone who has gotten the chance to inspect the Mad Titan’s body. Normally it would go without saying that when Gamora cuts off your head, she doesn’t leave anything to chance. And when she plunged a Power-Stone-upgraded sword through Thanos’ chest, and followed it up with a decapitation, the results seemed straightforward enough (the subsequent haunting aside).
As Guardians of the Galaxy begins, those facts are confirmed by none other than Eros a.k.a. Starfox, the brother of Thanos. With an assembly of just about every Marvel cosmic superhero, supervillain, organization, and military empire before him, Starfox confirms that Thanos has passed on to the next life (sympathy to those who resided there peacefully until recently). The guests believe that they are gathered at a funeral and reading of the Last Will and Testament of Marvel’s greatest cosmic conqueror… but they’re wrong.
Thanos Has a Back-Up Plan For Death, Too
The minds behind this new Guardians comic series promised that their plans would be unlike anything Marvel fans expected, and don’t take long to hit the bullseye. Writer Donny Cates and artist Geoff Shaw proved that Thanos was Marvel’s greatest warrior in their time on the Thanos comic, but this new twist is even more unbelievable. All things considered, having a massive hologram of Thanos appear to deliver one last, egotistical, mocking speech to every hero and outlaw who survived his wrath is perfectly on-brand for the supervillain. But he does more than just grin at his guests… he drops a terrifying bombshell.
As hard as it may be for Thanos to believe that this recorded message will ever be played - meaning that he has somehow NOT survived to become King Thanos at the end of Marvel’s universe - he is forced to accept virtually any outcome. And in the unlikely event of his death, Thanos has a plan in place.
First, have Starfox deliver this message to the assembled cosmic characters. Second? Tell them he’s about to return… and one of them is going to help him do it, whether they want to or not. Apparently Thanos took the chance to have his consciousness recorded (and stored?) so that even if his body dies, his mind, identity, and obsessive desire to conquer everything will survive… to conquer, we assume. Of course, it wouldn’t be terrifying or villainous enough to simply deliver a warning that he is about to return.
No, Thanos wants everyone present to hear the news because he wants them all at eachother’s throats. Why? Because he’s not telling anybody exactly who he has selected to become the next vessel for his conquering consciousness. It’s possible that one of the new roster of the Guardians of the Galaxy may even be in the crosshairs of Thanos, but those aren’t the only choices available.
When you factor in some of the Marvel characters teased in the same issue, it seems Thanos may be getting a more powerful form than ever before…
Page 2 of 2: Which Marvel Hero Will Thanos Likely Take Over?
Thanos is Taking Over a New, Living Body
It’s at this point that we should probably point out that the Thanos from Avengers: Infinity War isn’t really the same one made famous in Marvel’s comics. For starters, there is no ’noble mission’ that Thanos is committed to achieving before he finally rests. Well, not unless you consider ‘watching as his enemies quiver and scatter before his grinning face’ a mission, and ‘having nobody else to fight, kill, or conquer’ the same thing as resting. Thanos lives to instill fear and take control, and his promise to return by taking over a new body is just the latest instance. Still, the fact that he’s pulling it off from beyond the grave is pretty impressive.
Not many of the cosmic heroes, villains, space pirates, and demigods at the funeral respond with as much doubt as Beta Ray Bill, soon-to-be Guardian of the Galaxy. Unlike other survivors or scoundrels, Bill is comparable to Thor in both strength and honor, meaning he sees this as just as likely Thanos’ last laugh as a legitimate threat. But in the event that Thanos is telling the truth, it’s his brother Starfox who is most eager to kill the target before they can play host.
The Top Choices For The New Thanos
Nobody knows Thanos like his brother, who has put the days since he heard the recorded message from Thanos to use like any good comic book fan would: measuring each Marvel Comics character and deciding which would give Thanos the biggest boost. Taking into consideration not just physical strength, but the brain and field of influence his new vessel must wield, Starfox has come up with a wide range of top candidates, seen in the image above. Considering just what Thanos would do with the powers of Odin, Venom, Loki, Nick Fury, Luke Cage, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Black Panther, Ghost Rider, and several others is a potent mixture of fan service and bloodshed. But Starfox does have a prime target.
Considering that she is both the daughter of Thanos and his executioner, Starfox believes that it’s Gamora who might be the most in need of a preemptive death. However, it still isn’t clear how Thanos intends to ‘upload’ his consciousness into the target he chose before death, or whether the process is even able to be stopped or interrupted. Which means for the time being… readers have no choice but to wait and see whose body Thanos wants as his own… and how he plans to take it.
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Which of these assorted Marvel Comics characters do YOU think would make for the best new host of Thanos? Should Marvel take the chance to give Thanos the powers of Odin, Juggernaut, or even Mephisto? Or does this plan seem like an imperfect way to bring Thanos back into the cosmic side of the Marvel universe? Let us know what you think (and who you want to see given the terrible honor) in the comments.
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is available now at your local comic book store, and directly from Marvel Comics.
