Summary
- When Thanos died, his energy mingled with that of Death, creating the Rot.
- The Rot is neither alive nor dead, and even Eternity was powerless agains it.
- Now, Avengers heroes it that they have to protect Thanos, since his death could bring back his apocalyptic offspring.
Warning: SPOILERS for Thanos #4When it comes to the greatest threats of the Marvel Universe, the Thanos’ own forgotten child the Rot.
Thanos #4 by Christopher Cantwell, Luca Pizzari, Germán Peralta, Ruth Redmond, and Cory Petit finds the villain facing off against the one-time love of his life, Death herself. As heroes including Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Emma Frost look on, the Illuminati debate how best to intervene before one cosmic powerhouse kills the other.
Arguing that they must keep Thanos alive, Doctor Strange says, "The last time Thanos died, his energy was absorbed into Death and something awful was created. Something nearly unstoppable." While Thanos himself has always been a major threat, it's clear from Strange’s words that protecting the Mad Titan is a necessary evil if it prevents his child's rebirth.
The MCU's Thanos Never Got to Meet the 1 Hero He Hates Most
The Mad Titan has many enemies across the Marvel Universe, but unfortunately, Thanos' greatest rivalry will likely never been seen on the big screen.
Thanos and Death Merged to Create Rot
The Undead Force Is One of Marvel's Biggest Threats
First appearing in Avengers: Celestial Quest #5 by Steve Englehart and Jorge Santamaria, the entity known as Rot is the aforementioned essence of Thanos merged with his love Death. Described by Death herself as their child, the Rot truly lives up to its name as a vast and empty entity with the ability to destroy anything it touches. Neither living nor dead, it’s so powerful that Death cannot affect it, nor can even more powerful entities like Eternity himself. With durability like that, it’s no wonder the Avengers would prefer to tangle with Thanos.
The Rot might not be Thanos’ most famous offspring, but it is by far the most dangerous...
While the Mad Titan is one of the most dangerous beings in the universe, he at least still has intellectual and emotional motivations that mean he can be reasoned with or undermined. On top of that, Thanos also has a physical form that makes fighting him a valid option when reason fails. In contrast, the Rot simply destroys and replaces everything it touches - a type of enemy Earth's Mightiest Heroes are woefully unsuited to deal with.
Thanos Must Live, Or the Marvel Universe Dies
Thanos May Be Evil, But He Could Become Something Worse
The Rot might not be Thanos’ most famous offspring, but it is by far the most dangerous. With power far exceeding that of the Mad Titan and even a universal entity like Death, there’s very little in the Marvel Universe that could stop the Rot should it return. And while the Avengers may consider Thanos one of their most dangerous enemies, heroes like Doctor Strange will fight to keep him alive and safe if the alternative is once again unleashing his horrific offspring.
Thanos #4 (2024) |
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Thanos #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
