Due to the MCU, Thanos is probably Marvel’s most iconic villain, with a close to unbeatable stage of energy surging by means of his Everlasting physiology. Nonetheless, on uncommon events, Marvel’s biggest heroes have been capable of humble the Mad Titan.
Listed here are 13 of the best Marvel heroes who took Thanos down with their very own two palms – from recurring foes like Adam Warlock to some stunning big-names just like the Hulk and Thor.
13
Colleen Wing, in The Unbelievable Hulk Annual 2024
From Derek Landy, Geoff Shaw, Frank Martin and Cory Petit
A talented warrior who has mastered the katana like no-one else on Earth, Colleen is not precisely in Thanos’ weight class… at the least often. Nonetheless, when she came into possession of the Mind Stone, she was capable of channel psionic power into her iconic weapon. Coupled along with her talent, the Thoughts Katana has allowed her to knock out ultra-powerful foes together with Nightmare and Thanos.
This defeat was significantly satisfying as a result of Thanos had simply killed the unique Thoughts Stone bearer, Worldmind, making him the rationale that Colleen was even capable of entry this game-changing improve within the first place.
12
Star-Lord, in Guardians of the Galaxy Quantity 2 #25
From Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Wil Quintana and Joe Caramagna
Lengthy earlier than the Infinity Stones, Thanos’ weapon of alternative was the reality-warping Cosmic Dice. It was due to this fact significantly humiliating when Peter Quill’s Star-Lord turned the weapon towards him. Star-Lord used the final of the Dice’s cost to down Thanos, who threatened “all the things dies” earlier than falling unconscious, organising the occasions of 2010’s The Thanos Crucial occasion.
11
Gamora, in Infinity Wars Prime #1
From Gerry Duggan, Mike Deodato Jr., Frank Martin Jr. and Cory Petit
Underneath the guise of the mysterious Requiem, Thanos’ adopted daughter Gamora beheaded him, lastly taking revenge for her years of torture at his palms. Nonetheless, even this execution was solely the prelude to her bigger plans to govern actuality, as proven in 2018’s Infinity Wars. Principally, she simply did not need Thanos round to cease her.
Gamora was capable of kill Thanos utilizing a specifically made ‘Infinity Blade’ which channeled the Energy Stone. Sadly, his dying wasn’t everlasting. Thanos first tried to resurrect himself by taking up the physique of his brother Eros (aka Starfox), and later returned to bodily life by the Everlasting Phastos, who hoped to regulate the Mad Titan for his personal ends (and was promptly murdered for his troubles.)
Apparently, the Infinity Wars follow-up Wolverine and the Infinity Watch revealed that in Marvel’s authentic timeline, it was Loki who killed Thanos, not Gamora. The God of Lies then rewrote time to keep away from the result – just for Gamora to trigger almost similar occasions to unfold. That makes Loki our bonus #14 (anti)hero to beat Thanos.
10
Drax the Destroyer, in Annihilation #4
From Keith Giffen, Andrea Di Vito, Laura Villari and Cory Petit
After the dying of his household was attributable to Thanos, human Arthur Douglas was reborn in a brand new physique as Drax the Destroyer. Designed as a dwelling weapon by the godlike Kronos, Drax’s new physique gained elevated energy when close to Thanos, permitting him to trace and kill the servant of Woman Demise.
Drax completed his objective in the epic Annihilation event, tearing Thanos’ coronary heart out of his chest. Sadly, Thanos was later resurrected due to the machinations of a briefly unbalanced Adam Warlock.
9
Deadpool, in Deadpool vs. Thanos #4
From Tim Seeley, Elmo Bondoc, Ruth Redmond and Joe Sabino
Whereas Deadpool could appear to be the one Marvel character who has nothing to do with Thanos, the 2 even have an extremely private rivalry. That is as a result of each are suitors of ‘Woman Demise’ – the embodiment of dying within the Marvel Universe.
The 2 got here to blows over Demise’s affections in Deadpool vs Thanos, with Wade’s battle towards the Mad Titan making him momentarily worthy of turning into the latest host of the Enigma Force. Because the momentary Captain Universe, Deadpool overpowered Thanos, whose focus was hampered by Woman Demise’s rejection of him.
8
Wolverine, in What If…?: Newer Improbable 4 #1
From Paul Tobin, Patrick Scherberger, Craig Yeung, Chris Sotomayor and Nate Piekos
On this alternate timeline, followers are handled to a “What If…?” situation the place the short-lived Nineties New Improbable 4 (Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Hulk and Wolverine) stayed collectively lengthy sufficient to must take care of the occasions of Infinity Gauntlet.
Whereas different heroes fall, Wolverine pretends to hitch Thanos, admitting he is an unbeatable foe. Fortunately, Logan is simply biding his time, and as soon as Thanos is distracted, he cuts off his arm, severing his connection to the Infinity Gauntlet and making it doable to undo his galactic acts of evil.
7
Lockjaw, in Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #4
From Chris Eliopoulos, Ig Guara, Chris Sotomayor and Nate Piekos
Whereas he could also be a canine, the Inhuman hero Lockjaw can be some of the {powerful} teleporters in existence. After numerous animal sidekicks of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assemble to cease Thanos reclaiming the Infinity Stones, Lockjaw completes the set and blasts Thanos with cosmic power, repeatedly teleporting away from the Mad Titan’s grasp till the villain falls.
6
Thor, in Thor Quantity 2 #25
From Dan Jurgens, John Romita, Jr., Dick Giordano, Gregory Wright, Richard Starkings and Wes Abbott
After a brutal beating from the mixed forces of Thanos and the Mangog, Thor finds himself close to dying. Fortunately, his allies are capable of present three weapons blessed by Odin – the Gauntlet of Tomorrows, the Protect of Life and the Belt of Energy – that restore his well being and vastly enhance his energy. Thor proceeds to hammer Thanos into the mud along with his elevated power.
This story was later retconned such that the Thanos overwhelmed by Thor was a clone (one of Thanos’ experimental Thanosi), nonetheless the copy had all Thanos’ powers and was initially written with the intent of being the real-deal, so we’re calling this a legit victory.
5
The Hulk, in The Unbelievable Hulk Annual 2024
From Derek Landy, Geoff Shaw, Frank Martin and Cory Petit
Thanos and Hulk have clashed several times, however the Jade Large has hardly ever been capable of obtain a transparent win towards the smarter and extra versatile foe. Nonetheless, it lastly occurred after Thanos confronted the Hulk throughout a interval when the Inexperienced Goliath was at his most crafty.
Whereas Thanos snapped Hulk’s neck early of their battle, Bruce Banner’s different half shortly healed, insisting to the gloating Thanos that whereas he could have conquered different variations of the Hulk, “you have by no means overwhelmed me.” Hulk proceeded to combat as soiled as doable, from a gap sneak assault to biting the Mad Titan.
Hulk introduced Thanos to his knees and decisively received their battle, permitting the innocents Thanos had been menacing to flee. For an much more definitive conflict, followers can see the primary quantity of Marvel Zombies, the place Hulk crushes Thanos’ head after consuming Galactus and absorbing a portion of his energy.
4
Squirrel Lady, in GLX-Mas Particular #1
From Dan Slott, Matt Haley and Dave Lanphear
Earlier, we talked about the Thanosi – clones of Thanos that had been primarily utilized by his creator Jim Starlin to retcon the Mad Titan’s prior defeats, making it in order that heroes like Ka-Zar and Thor by no means beat the Mad Titan.
In 2005, the Nice Lakes Avengers‘ Christmas particular hit again by depicting Squirrel Girl beating Thanos whereas the remainder of the crew have a good time the vacations, with the Watcher current to verify that this was definitively the one, true Thanos.
Followers did not see how Squirrel Lady took down Thanos, however it’s a part of a working gag the place Doreen Inexperienced finds a solution to convey down A-list villains by herself. Up to now, the listing consists of:
- Physician Doom
- Magneto
- Kang the Conqueror
- Fin Fang Foom
- Ego the Dwelling Planet
- The One Under All
