Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Avengers Annual 2024 #1!Thanoshas been a major Marvel Comics villain for decades, meaning fans might think they know him pretty well, especially after his breakout story from 33 years ago,Infinity Gauntlet. The main thing fans think they know about him is his motivation, the reason why he does all the atrocious things he does across the cosmos. However, in his latest story, Marvel corrects thatmisconception about Thanos.
In a preview forAvengers Annual 2024#1 by Derek Landy and Salvador Larroca, Thanos is plotting his next move, as he’s hunting down every current keeper of the Infinity Stones. This comic is the latest inMarvel Comics’ most recent crossover event: Infinity Watch. In it, the Infinity Stones have selected mortal hosts to bond with, imbuing them with their respective cosmic powers. These Stone Bearers become stronger when they are in proximity, making this Infinity Watch perhaps the strongest superhero team in the Marvel Universe - and Thanos wants to use that for his own gain.
Before this event kicked off,Thanos stole the essence of Mistress Death and used it to make a new Infinity Stone: the Death Stone. However, the Stone rejects him when he tries to bond with it, though he hopes that he’ll succeed in bonding with the Stone after first collecting the other six Infinity Stones just as he did leading intoInfinity Gauntlet. And Thanos makes it clear that the reason he’s on this crusade isn’t because of his love of Death, nor is it due to hatred or anger. Thanos does what he does because of one thing: duty.
Thanos is Motivated by Duty, Not a Love of Death
Thanos has Never Loved Death, & Now He’s Finally Being Honest About That
Thanos has famously been trying to court Death roughly his entire Marvel Comics career. The pinnacle of his display of affection came inInfinity Gauntlet, whenThanos used the Infinity Stones to eliminate half of all life in the universewith the snap of his fingers. He wanted to offer Mistress Death a gift to win her affection, though she was unsatisfied, as Thanos’ entire cosmic goal is the pursuit of becoming a god, and by extension, gaining immortality.
Thanos doesn’t actually love Death, he’s obsessed with Death, but never for himself. That’s why Mistress Death has no affection for him, because he only wants to use Death to further his own agenda. And why does he want to further that agenda? Thanos is duty bound to do so. That’s why Thanos turned Mistress Death into an Infinity Stone to her like a weapon, as this is the first time he’s actually being honest about his intentions with Death, as well as the reason behind them: duty.
Thanos’ Intelligence and Arrogance Shaped His Self-Imposed Duty
Nothing Drives Thanos’ Actions but Thanos, Making Him a Truly Despicable Villain
When it was believed that everything Thanos did was for Mistress Death, he was a far less despicable villain in a twisted romantic sort of way. If one truly wants to court Death, cosmic slaughter seems to be a given, as he and Death were simply playing a game of romance on a level that mortals can’t comprehend. However, this issue makes it clear that Thanos murders and conquers for no other reason than because he believes he’s smarter and more worthy of power than everyone else, and he’s duty bound to prove it to the universe.
Marvel Reveals the 1 Hero Who Can Permanently Defeat Thanos (& Even Redeem Him)
Thanos is an insanely powerful super-villain, but he isn’t unbeatable or irredeemable, as Marvel Comics actually reveals the one hero who can do both.
Duty, not love, is what drives Thanos in the Marvel Universe. While that’s definitely a change-up from what fans were led to believe in stories like Infinity Gauntlet, it’s not all that shocking, and has been hinted at throughout his Marvel Comics history. Now, fans simply have confirmation, as Marvel finally corrects fans’ biggest misconception aboutThanos.
Avengers Annual 2024 #1by Marvel Comics is available July 22, 2025.
