Eternals is finally coming to Disney+ this week, and while I don't quite have an Eternals-centric comic in my backlog right now, I have something that's adjacent enough to mark the occasion. BACKGROUND:
Here's a fun fact for everyone before you go see the Eternals: Thanos is an Eternal himself (albeit descended from the Eternals who migrated to Titan, and a mutant one at that). This is a connection I really hope is established in the MCU, which is why I felt compelled to read this today. As for the book itself, I've actually read parts of this story arc, so I have a good idea of what happens. Still, I haven't read it cover to cover, so I'm looking forward to seeing more details. THE WRITING: This story arc shows us one of the most terrifying ways the Marvel Universe can end: Thanos completely erasing all life from the universe. We get a peek into the far, albeit alternate future (literally millions of years after present day), and it is as bleak as it gets: Thanos sits on his throne overlooking a barren universe, and is king to pretty much no one. Readers get a glimpse at how this future comes to pass, as you'll see Thanos vanquish the Avengers, decimate planets, and even topple cosmic beings like Galactus. If that doesn't hammer home how hopeless things are, the comic frames this as, on some level, an inevitable fate for the universe. Plus, the way Thanos flexes one of his specific conquests is as hardcore as it gets. Perhaps unsurprisingly, King Thanos is a bit unsatisfied despite the complete and total victory that he's wanted. Turns out, despite all he's done, the one thing he's always wanted still eludes him: the hand of Mistress Death. In one last attempt to get what he wants, King Thanos drags his younger self from present day out of his timeline and into the future, and seeing the still-hungry younger version clash with his more experienced, jaded self was a great way to explore Thanos as a character. In particular, seeing present Thanos react to what he becomes despite achieving his goal is quite interesting. Though this future is devoid of life, there are still a few other beings lingering about. First is an aged Hulk, who is sadly nothing more than Thanos's pet at this point. Second, there's the Silver Surfer, who's gotten a super badass power upgrade in hopes of avenging the universe (something I was hyped to see since the Surfer is probably my favorite cosmic Marvel character). Last, but definitely not the least, there's a new version of the Ghost Rider who is imbued with the Power Cosmic and is stuck serving Thanos. This Rider's backstory is explored in full, and his true identity prior to his power-up comes as quite the surprise. I thought the arc was a neat alternate future story, even if the initial premise isn't shocking (after all, a desolate universe is the natural expectation when you think "Thanos wins"). You get to see how Thanos changes after he gets what he wants, and how his younger self feels about that. Plus, there's a bunch of cool moments (like Silver Surfer's appearance, or the result of Galactus fighting Thanos), and we get a straightforward but fun origin for a new version of the Ghost Rider. Also included in this collection is the Thanos Annual comic from 2018, which collects a handful of short stories centered around the Mad Titan. Though all standalone stories, the connecting thread is that Cosmic Ghost Rider is narrating them, which adds a slightly humorous spin to the whole thing. Most of the short stories here are pretty funny, putting Thanos in hilarious situations (him helping an old lady across the street) or having him act in a more comedic manner (him tormenting a regular dude named Dave for seemingly no reason). The few more serious ones are interesting in their own right, with the standout to me is the story where Thanos destroys a civilization's version of the afterlife, and how the ensuing existential crisis changes how they act. THE ART: The overall style has a kind of "gritty" feel to it, if that makes sense. A lot of the fine details and textures are achieved with a generous amount of hatching and rough lines. Along with some pretty dark shading, it all comes together to give off the vibe I describe. It's also fitting since there's a lot of violence in this comic (almost all of which is Thanos's brutality), and the art style complements the often bloody fights. There are some new designs introduced in this comic. The King Thanos of the alternate future is weirdly more pudgy than his young version, but he does have a costume that has an awesome-looking crown. Cosmic Ghost Rider naturally boasts a unique design, and the fusion of the classic demon aesthetic with more sci-fi elements looks pretty neat. The Thanos Annual features a wider variety of art styles, since each short story is drawn by a different artists. The ones that stuck out in my memory were the callback to the older art style of the Infinity Gauntlet comic, and the one that depicts Thanos in a hyper cartoon world (it's as unnerving as it sounds). VERDICT: I found Thanos Wins to be an awesome The End-style alternate future story. Seeing the Mad Titan be victorious is a chilling sight on its own, but what makes it memorable to me is how Thanos changes after millions of years alone in his victory, and how his younger self reckons with the thought of his victory (and how it could possibly change him). Plus, I liked the introduction of Cosmic Ghost Rider, was pleased with how cool Silver Surfer was in the story, and I had fun with the variety of short stories in the annual. If you enjoyed Thanos as a character in the movies, this is definitely one book worth checking out. You'll get just enough of what makes his comic version different from the MCU version (his obsession with Death), be treated with a quick origin story, and the rest of the story is standalone enough that you need not read the previous issues of this series (or anything else, for that matter). Comixology link below for those interested: Thanos Wins by Donny Cates - Comics by comiXology - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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