Warning: contains spoilers for Heroes Reborn #1

Marvel’s Thanos is often considered an imitation of DC’s Darkseid, however, in Heroes Reborn, it’s Green Lantern that the Mad Titan takes most inspiration from. This new take on the Marvel Universe has seen a wide variety of terrifying new villains, and while most are combining two Marvel villains into one, this new version of Thanos is more reminiscent of Green Lantern’s nemesis Sinestro than anything found in the main Marvel Universe.

Marvel’s new Heroes Reborn event might be their biggest in some time. Due to the machinations of Mephisto, something happens to the Marvel Universe that creates a new timeline. In this new universe, Captain America never unfroze and the Avengers never formed. In their stead, the Squadron Supreme reign as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. As a result of these changes, readers have seen wildly different versions of classic Marvel characters, such as a Red Skull who has the Venom Symbiote and a Scarlet Witch who also has the powers of Quicksilver. Though all of these new threats are intimidating, Thanos with the powers of every Lantern Corp might be the most frightening of all.

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In Heroes Reborn #1 from Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness, Mark Morales, and Matthew Wilson, readers finally see this new world. The Squadron responds to various threats around the globe, establishing just how the Squadron operates. Of note is Marvel’s riff on Green Lantern, Doctor Spectrum, who flies into space after detecting an alien object roaring towards Earth. Flying near the moon, Doctor Spectrum is shocked at the purple beam of light hurtling towards him. Five multi-colored fists pummel the Squadron member as he protests that this shouldn’t be happening because he had seen his assailant die. Readers then meet the culprit, Thanos and he seems even more mad than usual. In this reality, Thanos doesn’t wield six Infinity Stones, but instead, Five Infinity Rings.

While it currently appears like the Infinity Rings are less powerful than their main Marvel Universe counterpart, this version of Thanos seems madder than previous takes on the character. Despite his moniker of ‘the Mad Titan’ Thanos is far from Marvel’s most maniacal villain. Here, however, his wide smile has an air of wildness to it that Thanos isn’t typically known for. Though he only assaults Doctor Spectrum with gauntlet-shaped light constructs, it’s almost certain that future issues will see Thanos get more creative with it, as Hal Jordan has often done as Green Lantern.

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In the DC Universe, all power rings (not just the green ones) are incredibly powerful tools. The strongest of all power rings is easily the white ring, which can channel the energy of all other power rings. By combining the five Infinity Rings with his Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos may very well have power on the level of a White Lantern. Regardless of just how powerful Thanos is while channeling the powers of a Green Lantern, he is and always will be a threat worth taking seriously.

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About The Author


Evan Mullicane
(362 Articles Published)

Evan D. Mullicane is an editor, critic, and author based out of California’s Bay Area. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels and writing fantasy.

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