Thanos is as Powerful as Thor’s Father Odin in the Comics

Thor and his Avengers companions may be a major obstruction for Thanos‘ goals of global domination, but Thor’s father Odin may be the greatest threat of all. When Thanos finds himself against the king of Asgard, the Mad Titan soon realizes that Odin is on a completely different playing field compared to the superheroes of Earth. Thanos has mainly gained a reputation for dealing with superheroes, fellow Eternals, mutants, and cosmic entities, but royal Asgardians represent a whole other ball game for the destroyer.

Throughout Marvel Comics history, Odin has fought beings on Thanos’ primordial level on several occasions. The 1991 limited series The Infinity Gauntlet, perhaps Thanos’ most iconic storyline, even provided readers with a first glimpse into Thanos’ implied fear of Odin. In an attempt to prevent Odin and his Skyfather allies from interfering with his road to godhood, Thanos shatters Asgard’s eminent Bifrost Bridge. Though Thanos is in possession of one of the greatest sources of power in the universe, the Infinity Gauntlet (capable of warping realities, resurrecting the dead, altering time, teleporting, and more), the Titan remains cautious about the potential damage Odin could inflict to his carefully orchestrated plans.

Thanos and Odin’s first and most memorable comics match up occurs in the pages of 1994’s Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25, written by Thanos co-creator Jim Starlin (The Thanos Quest, The Infinity War) with Angel Medina (The Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers) on art duties. A massive raid on Asgard ends with Thanos and his cohorts crossing paths with the ruler of the realm, Odin himself. Without moving a muscle, Odin easily renders himself unharmed by attacks from both Thanos and the Power Cosmic-driven Silver Surfer. With the Surfer out of commission, Thanos attempts to finally put an end to Odin, who counters nearly every single one of the Titan’s attacks.

While Thanos initially surprises the All Father, Odin quickly proves himself worthy of his title. Even without his title of All Father, Odin remains a formidable threat to any cosmic force that comes his way. Utilizing his enchanted spear Gungnir a.k.a. the Spear of Heaven, Odin gives Thanos a fight to remember, which destroys half of Asgard in the process. In the end, two victors remain standing in the rubble… Odin and his fellow combatant Thanos. Along with his general abilities, Odin has his most promising aspect, fondly named the Odinforce. While often changing with the storyline, the Odinforce is most commonly a magical energy capable of granting the already nearly omnipotent Odin or Thor ultimate power.

Thanos has successfully taken over the universe and even gave the cosmic destroyer Galactus a good fight. But Thanos does have numerous cracks in his armor, especially pertaining to his ego and state of mind. However, Odin is a Skyfather, a prized member of Marvel’s collection of most powerful gods. He has achieved years of experience in combat alongside his son Thor, and attained access to the Odinforce and Gungnir. Thanos, on the other hand, lacks these advantages, and is not quite the hostile force of nature that the noble Odin needs to fear.

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