10 Marvel Characters That Could Have Beaten Thanos in Avengers: Endgame

In the movie “Avengers: Endgame”, Earth’s strongest superheroes were given an extremely challenging mission: defeat Thanos, reverse the Snap, and miraculously endure. Using some clever time-travel, several poignant sacrifices, such as Tony Stark’s emotional demise among them, the Avengers eventually triumphed. However, it is important to note that powerful as Thanos may be, he was never invincible. Keep in mind, he is a Titan, not a deity. Even with the Infinity Stones.

Over numerous decades of Marvel comic books, a multitude of characters – from heroes to villains and everything in between – have either defeated Thanos or had the potential to do so. With the Multiverse open and characters from all corners of Marvel lore potentially available, it’s interesting to speculate: who else might have defeated Thanos if they appeared in “Avengers: Endgame”? Here are 10 candidates who could have stood up against the genocidal Titan.

1) Sentry

Sentry, whose real name is Robert “Bob” Reynolds, is one of the mightiest characters in the Marvel Universe and is often compared to Superman on steroids. This powerful being has the energy of a million exploding suns at his disposal, and his abilities such as flight, invulnerability, and immense strength are merely the beginning. In comic storylines like “Siege” and “World War Hulk,” Sentry demonstrated incredible power, tearing Ares in half and matching the Hulk in a fierce battle. Furthermore, in “Dark Avengers,” Norman Osborn utilized Sentry as a weapon of massive destruction, showcasing how dangerously powerful Reynolds can become when under the wrong control.

In this scenario, Sentry offers a 2-in-1 advantage because he not only functions as Sentry but also as The Void. This duality amplifies his destructive capabilities and unlocks reality-bending powers. Had he confronted Thanos, the outcome might have been drastically altered, particularly if The Void was utilized. With enough incentive or instability, Sentry could potentially stop Thanos before the Snap occurred. However, we’d then face the challenge of dealing with any potential aftermath, especially if The Void were to fully assume control.

2) Dormammu

2016’s “Doctor Strange” movie gave a sneak peek at Dormammu for fans, but comic enthusiasts understand that this flaming, demonic being is much more perilous than the on-screen portrayal suggests. Unconstrained by physical boundaries, it took the joint efforts of Doctor Strange, Eternity, and numerous cosmic forces merely to delay him.

While Thanos could potentially hold the Infinity Gauntlet, Dormammu is not just someone who might wield it; he is a dimension in himself and possesses divine status. If Thanos hadn’t already taken all magical artifacts and energy sources, Dormammu would effortlessly overpower him, and it’s likely that he would merely absorb Thanos’ soul for amusement.

Dormammu has encountered mighty cosmic entities such as Galactus, and though not directly against the Living Tribunal, has instigated universe-wide perils instead. In “The Eternity War,” this dark deity demonstrated his ability to bend reality itself when empowered by artifacts like the Evil Eye or when joined forces with beings like Umar or Mephisto.

3) Mephisto

Marvel’s Mephisto isn’t merely a deceiver or spellcaster; rather, he is a formidable manipulator operating at cosmic levels, boasting immense magical powers and the ability to warp reality itself. He demonstrates godlike strength, immortality, the capability to transform his form, and the power to influence time, space, and memories without requiring any Infinity Stone for assistance. What’s more, he is exceptionally difficult to eliminate, as if someone does manage it, he promptly reemerges within his own domain.

In the 1991 comic “Infinity Gauntlet”, Mephisto chose to align himself with Thanos, not out of loyalty, but to deceive and ultimately seize the Gauntlet for his own purposes. Known for his cunning and corrupt nature, Mephisto could have influenced events in “Endgame” to make Thanos undo himself or be trapped in an endless loop of torment. He is a brilliant strategist whose ambitions match the Mad Titan’s. However, if Mephisto had defeated Thanos, we might have faced something far more dreadful than the Snap.

4) Ego the Living Planet

In terms of size and power, let’s discuss the magnitude. The character Ego, played by Kurt Russell in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, was already a colossal being with immense strength. However, in the comics, this living planet is not just a powerful entity, but one that rivals Celestials in terms of mastery over cosmic energy. Ego has the ability to manipulate matter, emit energy, and heal himself nearly infinitely. He’s even been shown to consume entire civilizations and create avatars to confront threats directly.

In the comic book series Thor Volume 1, issues #132-133, it was Ego who engaged in a fierce confrontation with the God of Thunder, compelling Odin to step in using the power of the Young Gods. Ego’s dominion over the galaxy hasn’t expanded more not because of incapability, but due to his unpredictable, self-centered nature. Thanos might be formidable, but he stands no chance against Ego. With cosmic understanding and a god-like ego, Ego’s capacity to transform his planetary form into a weapon would make the Black Order shudder with fear.

5) Scarlet Witch (at Full Strength)

In the movie “Avengers: Endgame,” it’s clear that Wanda wasn’t fully prepared or transformed into her Scarlet Witch form yet. However, imagine if she had been! As depicted in Marvel comics, Wanda possesses incredible power to alter reality with mere phrases. She’s even demonstrated the ability to eliminate all mutant existence, as seen during the “House of M” storyline. That’s millions of lives, wiped out in a heartbeat.

She possesses a potent form of chaos magic that allows her to alter reality significantly. If the Scarlet Witch had unleashed her full House of M powers during Endgame, she might have effortlessly erased Thanos from existence altogether. What sets her apart from other cosmic entities is her human ties and emotionally fueled power source, making her all the more perilous when cornered.

She has vanquished cosmic beings such as Chthon and Mephisto, and on one occasion, she confronted both the Avengers and X-Men at the same time. In ‘Avengers: Disassembled’, her manipulation of the probability and reality structure was so destructive that the Avengers were on the brink of extinction in a single night.

6) Phoenix (Jean Grey or Rachel Summers)

The Phoenix Force symbolizes the universal manifestation of life, demise, and regeneration. When it merges with mutants such as Jean Grey or Rachel Summers, the consequences are catastrophic. Jean, transformed into the Dark Phoenix, annihilated entire galaxy systems, while Rachel managed to hold the entirety of the Phoenix Force and wielded it without succumbing to evil. Such mastery over the cosmic entity implies that she could reduce Thanos to mere atoms.

Thanos might believe himself unavoidable, but to Phoenix, he’s simply a blemish on the cosmos’ surface. The Force provides the ability to destroy enemies at a molecular level and offers foresight, suggesting that Jean or Rachel could detect Thanos before he even initiated his first action.

7) Lockjaw (Yes, Really)

Lockjaw is a colossal teleporting bulldog who collaborates with the Inhumans. He’s incredibly cute, excessively potent, and the epitome of a well-behaved pet. To put it simply, this enormous drooling canine could be just what you need in a crisis. He has the ability to teleport through dimensions, control energy, and detect changes in reality. He can transport entire teams, bend time, and avoid detection by even the most formidable entities.

Since we haven’t stated that every character on our team takes on Thanos individually, it’s worth considering Lockjaw as a potential game-changer against Thanos. He could simply transport Thanos into a black hole, the Negative Zone, or even to Dormammu for a confrontation. With Lockjaw in the group, Thanos won’t have any strategic advantage or place to hide. In fact, Lockjaw has demonstrated before that he can teleport a raging Hulk, showing that sometimes, the most straightforward solutions can be the most powerful.

As a movie enthusiast, I recently delved into the thrilling world of “Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers.” This film saw me assembling an extraordinary team with a unique mission: retrieving the Infinity Gems. What truly left me astounded was their ability to withstand the gems’ corrupting power, something not even the infamous Thanos could accomplish.

8) Thane

Discuss a family that could easily be featured on Jerry Springer’s show. Thane is Thanos’ biological son, and some might argue he’s even more perilous. Presented in issue #4 of Infinity, Thane wields death itself in one hand, and the power to put people into a “living stasis” with the other.

In truth, Thane has already managed to overcome Thanos in the comic books once. By utilizing his powers, he imprisoned his father in amber, keeping him alive but perpetually frozen in a nightmarish condition. If given the opportunity, Thane could potentially defeat Thanos again. With cosmic support or tactical assistance from allies such as Ebony Maw, Thane could dispose of Thanos without ever having to throw a single punch.

During the “Thanos: A God Up There Listening” storyline, Thane accepts his fate and develops a connection to the cosmos, suggesting that with the right guidance, his abilities might surpass even those of his father.

9) Squirrel Girl

One lesson we’ve learned from shows like “Rick and Morty” and Marvel’s Squirrel Girl legend is never to underestimate squirrels, especially Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl). Known for her impressive victories, she has outsmarted formidable foes such as Doctor Doom, Galactus, MODOK, and even Thanos. In GLX-Mas Special #1, her win over Thanos was so surprising that not even Uatu the Watcher could verify its authenticity at first.

As a devoted fan of comic book lore, let me tell you from my perspective – I’ve got to hand it to Squirrel Girl! Her power set is nothing short of extraordinary, boasting superhuman strength, agility that puts the fleetest animals to shame, the ability to communicate with squirrels, and plot armor that seems almost reality-bending. She’s a walking deus ex machina with a bushy tail.

But here’s what sets her apart: she’s a member of the Great Lakes Avengers, and believe it or not, she once outsmarted Ego the Living Planet using just her wit and squirrel cunning. In the series Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, she doesn’t overpower villains – instead, she outsmarts them every time, ensuring victory after victory.

10) Mar-Vell (Captain Marvel)

Prior to Carol Danvers assuming the title, Mar-Vell was the initial Captain Marvel. As a Kree warrior, he possessed extraordinary abilities enhanced by cosmic energy, enabling him with superhuman strength, speed, and energy control. His battles against powerful cosmic entities such as the Supreme Intelligence and the Beyonders demonstrate that he had the potential to engage in combat with the Mad Titan Thanos and emerge victorious.

Mar-Vell, too, possessed deep knowledge about cosmic equilibrium and even willingly gave up his life to prevent an intergalactic conflict. His passing in “The Death of Captain Marvel” remains one of the most impactful stories within the Marvel universe. He was a hero with enough might to conquer Thanos, yet possessing the wisdom to refuse divinity.

In the hypothetical scenario where he was part of the Avengers’ Endgame, his tactical intellect and understanding of cosmic phenomena could potentially have allowed him to outsmart Thanos. This is more so if he tapped into the complete power of the Nega-Bands or the Cosmic Cube. To be honest, it seems somewhat questionable that Captain Marvel, even Danvers, couldn’t defeat Thanos in the film.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/10-most-powerful-mcu-villains-introduced-since-avengers-endgame/embed/#

2025-07-28 14:41