Following the exploits of "Thanos' Quest," Jim Starlin decided to take on a concept that is very tempting: what if one person had control over the entire universe? It's tempting, but even harder to pull off for a comic book corporation who has hundreds of heroes that are on pages read weekly, monthly, and annually. How could you possibly kill them all off and still have some merit of continuing the beloved format? Well, "The Infinity Gauntlet" became one of the biggest events in comic book history when the all powerful Thanos decided to take over the world with just a snap of his finger. What's more incredible is that in spite of this, there's something haunting and sympathetic underneath that is more human and vulnerable than one could expect. It is a goofy, overlong story for sure, but it's also one that understands the struggle of wielding power in all its forms.
Ostensively, the whole point of this run of Thanos stories is one of courtship between him and lady Death. Having been pulled from his own grandiose murder, Thanos acquires the power of the universe in order to impress her. What's haunting is that his actions aren't fueled by a self-driven ego, but one in which he destroys with the hopes of impressing Death. But she never responds, choosing to have her servants to answer her displeasure for her. So why does he keep doing it? Why does he mutilate his brother and wipe out half of the population? It's in part for the logical reason of creating enough resources for everyone, but it's also a love story where the idea that power can impact a relationship is at the center. Even his granddaughter Nebula is brought into the equation when she is a decrepit skeleton, barely holding on. It's sadistic, and there's no way for an average superhero to stop him.
The story's ability to add humanity to destruction is astounding, considering how lengthy the roll out is. It's a story spanning galaxies and featuring likely hundreds of characters. This is one where everyone who tries will perish, but they do it for the hope of perfecting justice. The idea that evil can win is terrifying, and it creates the ultimate struggle To the outsiders, he is an unstoppable force. To the readers, he's the most sympathetic character in part because his motivations are understood. He has a reason, which is tragic unto itself. It's also poignant then that he is the one who ends the story on a happy note, sitting out on a porch and overlooking a world where he has been stripped of The Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Gems' power. He has been defeated by Adam Warrock and Nebula in a move of sheer luck, and it subverted the expectations entirely by making him a hero and the good guy a power-hungry whiner.
It's a story with so much going on that it can't help but occasionally drag on. As strong as the Thanos drama can be, it is often sandwiched in between several ongoing stories where his damaged is commented on. The story's central heroes, notably Adam Warrock, are more engaging based on their cultural sentiments than most of what goes on in the story. It's impossible for too many to stand out, instead working together as a force to counteract a strong commentary of the issues with power. It isn't just Thanos who suffers from it. It's most of The Avengers, whose leadership skills leave something to be desired. Starlin's innate gift for telling a story that breaks down on a macro and micro level makes this far stronger than it has any right to be. The only issue is that, as the serialized nature of comics suggests, this can't be the end for Marvel's biggest icons.
"The Infinity Gauntlet" is the story that heavily influenced this summer's The Avengers: Infinity War, and it's easy to see why. The simple three panel shot of Thanos snapping his fingers and the world into oblivion is simple and iconic. His looming presence for most of the six issues is felt even during the weaker spots. Even if some characters seem pointlessly used, it's all to create an intergalactic battle that is unlike anything else. In the process, it finds the emotional core that is necessary to make a story like this work. It's powerful stuff, literally and figuratively. Thanos is a character who could easily be farce, but works so well here because of how well Starlin writes his struggles. He's pure evil, possibly among the most detestable characters out there. Yet, he's also somehow one of the most familiar at the same time. It's an incredible act of cognitive dissonance that few super-villains could ever hope to achieve.
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