Thanos is a fictional supervillain character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The Invincible Iron Man #55 in February 1973 and was created by writer Mike Friedrich and artist Jim Starlin. Thanos has appeared in various Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. He is one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel universe and is known for his obsession with courting Death itself. But who exactly is the Mad Titan in love with?
Thanos’ Backstory
Thanos was born on Saturn’s moon Titan as the son of Eternals A’lars and Sui-San. However, he carries the Deviants gene, which explains his physical appearance and god-like powers. He has two brothers, Eros and Starfox. Thanos became fascinated with nihilism and death at an early age after being influenced by his father. He grew up to be a power-hungry warlord determined to prove his superiority and dominance.
At one point, Thanos augmented his physical strength and powers through bionic implementation and mysticism. He also increased his already formidable intellect. He became obsessed with Mistress Death, the physical embodiment of death in the Marvel universe. Thanos then started acquiring more power, including the Infinity Stones, in an attempt to impress Mistress Death.
Thanos and Mistress Death
Thanos has been in love with the cosmic entity Mistress Death for centuries. He worships and is infatuated with her. Mistress Death is an abstract cosmic entity that embodies mortality and the death-urge concept. She is one of the most powerful cosmic entities in the Marvel universe, even capable of destroying entire universes.
Mistress Death typically appears in the form of a human female skeleton clad in a purple cloak. She is cold, emotionless, and finds meaning in the elimination of life. Thanos has killed and collected souls in tribute to her. He hopes to gain her affection and love one day.
Thanos’ Attempts to Court Mistress Death
Here are some of the major ways Thanos has tried to impress Mistress Death over the years:
| Attempt | Description |
|---|---|
| Assembling the Infinity Gauntlet | Thanos assembled the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet which held six Infinity Stones. He hoped this display of power would impress Mistress Death. |
| Eliminating half of all life | To court Mistress Death, Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet to eliminate half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers in the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. |
| Defeating cosmic entities | Thanos defeated other cosmic entities like the Stranger and Epoch to prove his power to Mistress Death. |
| Destroying stars and planets | At times Thanos destroyed stars, planets, and civilizations as tribute and offerings for Mistress Death. |
| Consulting mystics | Thanos consulted with various mystics and oracles to gain insights into pleasing and wooing Mistress Death. |
As the table shows, Thanos has gone to extraordinary lengths and committed horrible atrocities in his attempts to impress Mistress Death. But she has consistently rejected his overtures and remained indifferent to his actions.
Mistress Death Rejects Thanos
Despite his dramatic displays of power and offers of death, Mistress Death has not reciprocated Thanos’ feeling and affection. There are a few key reasons why she continues to reject the Mad Titan:
- She is the embodiment of death and above such emotions and connections.
- His attempts to court her are trivial compared to her cosmic importance.
- His killings and sacrifices do not satisfy her meaning and purpose.
- She does not actually want a equal partner.
- She cannot be wooed or courted by beings in such ways.
Essentially, Mistress Death is an emotionless cosmic force and abstract entity. She cannot be impressed or courted through material displays, sacrifices, or trophies. She sees Thanos as beneath her and insignificant compared to the larger concepts she represents.
Thanos Occasionally Allies with Marvel Heroes
Interestingly, there have been instances where Thanos has allied with Marvel heroes against a common enemy or goal. These rare alliances are usually short-lived arrangements of convenience. Some examples include:
- Teaming up with Adam Warlock against Magus
- Joining forces with Thor against the death godwalker Walker
- Working with Adam Warlock again versus the Goddess
- Allying with the Guardians of the Galaxy to fight Annihilus
In these situations, Thanos put aside his normal goals and hatred to combat bigger threats to him or the universe. But he always returned to his evil ways and worship of Mistress Death once the temporary alliance ended.
Alternative Comic Storylines with Thanos
Thanos has such a long history in Marvel comics that there are also alternative storylines and universes where his story plays out differently:
Infinity Warp
In this merged universe, Thanos combines with Mistress Death to become a more powerful being.
Thanos Wins
In this possible future, Thanos defeats all of Earth’s heroes and annihilates most life across the universe.
Infinity Gauntlet (1991)
After assembling the Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos defeats Eternity and assumes control of the universe.
Infinity Abyss
This features a clone of Thanos who allies with Adam Warlock to defeat evil clones of Marvel heroes.
Marvel Zombies
The zombie plague infects Thanos and turns him into a mindless undead creature.
So while Thanos most often is depicted as being obsessed with Mistress Death, he does occasionally have different story arcs and relationships in special Marvel events and alternate universes. But the mainstream Thanos remains deeply infatuated with Death itself.
Conclusion
In summary, Thanos has been in love with the cosmic entity Mistress Death for centuries in the main Marvel comics continuity. He worships her and believes she gives his life meaning. Thanos has tried various grand gestures to impress Mistress Death, from collecting Infinity Stones to destroying half of life in the universe. However, Mistress Death consistently rejects his advances and remains indifferent to his acts. She sees herself as above material concerns and cannot be courted by beings like Thanos. Nevertheless, the Mad Titan remains hopelessly dedicated in his futile attempts to woo the embodiment of Death itself. Their tragic and destructive relationship is an integral part of Thanos’ twisted motivations.