Warning: Contains spoilers for Marvel’s What If…? episode 5.

Marvel’s What If…? introduces zombie versions of many classic MCU characters, including Thanos, but how powerful is the infected Mad Titan? In the core films, Thanos is one of the most powerful beings in the entire universe, capable of defeating Hulk, Thor, and even Scarlet Witch when equipped with his signature Infinity Gauntlet. Zombie Thanos is only shown briefly in What If…? episode 5, but the rest of the infected and the Marvel Zombies comics give some idea as to how strong he truly is.

In the Marvel Zombies comics, Zombie Thanos exists as a minor background character. He still wears his iconic armor, and there are allusions to him having invaded Earth, but it doesn’t seem that he got especially far on his quest for the Infinity Stones. His life as a zombie is cut short after getting into an argument with Zombie Hulk, which leads the infected Bruce Banner to smash Zombie Thanos’ head with a palm clap, killing him instantly.

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The MCU’s main version of Thanos certainly seems stronger than that, as he bests Hulk outright at the beginning of Infinity War. If the version of Zombie Thanos seen in What If…? is comparable to that of the comics, that would suggest that Zombie Thanos is notably weaker than his non-infected self in the MCU. Of course, since he isn’t shown in action in What If…? episode 5, that’s not entirely certain.

Zombie Thanos being at least a bit weaker would also make sense with how the rest of the infected Avengers are portrayed in What If…? episode 5. The zombified heroes retain their superpowers, but they don’t seem quite as strong or capable in combat as they were before. Zombie Captain America, for instance, gives Bucky a pretty good fight in the episode, but he ultimately loses to the Winter Soldier – something that would have been surprising to see from the real Steve Rogers.

The MCU’s zombies are generally portrayed as frailer than normal humans, and therefore easier to damage and kill. That could be why Hulk kills Zombie Thanos so easily in the comics, whereas in Infinity War he had so much trouble with the Mad Titan. The implication at the end of Marvel’s What If…? episode 5 is that Thanos will be more dangerous after the Mind Stone cure is distributed, as he’ll be able to resume his quest to complete the Infinity Gauntlet. Still, it would have been fun to see Zombie Thanos actually jump into action at some point in Marvel’s What If…? episode 5.

Marvel’s What If…? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

Key Release Dates
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  • Eternals (2021)Release date: Nov 05, 2021
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)Release date: May 06, 2022
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)Release date: Jul 08, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever/Black Panther 2 (2022)Release date: Nov 11, 2022
  • The Marvels/Captain Marvel 2 (2023)Release date: Feb 17, 2023
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)Release date: Jul 28, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)Release date: May 05, 2023
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Rick Stevenson
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Rick Stevenson is a writer, editor and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s written on TV, film and games for over six years, in addition to assorted stints in bookselling, carpentry, and TV production. Rick studied writing at the College of William & Mary and Oxford University, and can report with some authority that they are both old. He lives and dies for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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