Thanos had small roles in various Marvel films during the initial phase of the universe, but it wasn’t until 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” that he truly made his grand entrance. This film demonstrated just how effortlessly Thanos could defeat Earth’s strongest heroes in individual confrontations and then obliterate half the cosmos with a mere finger snap. Essentially, Thanos is a formidable adversary who can take on most Marvel heroes, but not every hero can stand up to him.
Among the Marvel characters not in the MCU during “Infinity War” and those who had perished or lost power before Thanos appeared, surprisingly, there are many characters who might have posed a formidable challenge to the Mad Titan.
Thena
Regardless of your opinions about the Eternals, it’s clear that these Celestial-created beings are among the mightiest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given her role as the group’s warrior, Thena would likely be the one to face off against Thanos, delivering a crushing defeat. Equipped with superhuman strength, durability, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, and healing, Thena also has the ability to create weapons imbued with cosmic energy that can penetrate not just other Eternals or Deviants, but even Thanos’s tough purple hide. In essence, Thena’s weapons, combined with her exceptional combat skills, make her a formidable adversary capable of going toe-to-toe with Thanos (had she not been in hiding at the time).
Odin
In simpler terms, Odin, a renowned figure, was considered the strongest entity across the Nine Realms. When his daughter Hela managed to escape from her prison and proceeded to kill the mighty Valkeries – the top warriors in Asgard – Odin overpowered her alone and locked her away again. When his son Thor, often regarded as one of the most powerful Avengers, began misbehaving, Odin effortlessly took away his powers and sent him to Earth. If Odin hadn’t passed away just before the occurrences in Infinity War, there would have been no question that he could easily have defeated Thanos.
Franklin Richards
It’s hard to compare Franklin Richards with Thanos on this list, as their abilities are so disproportionate that a confrontation between the two might not even be considered a battle, but more like dealing with an invasive pest. Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue Richards from the Fantastic Four, hasn’t yet appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but considering his powers are said to transcend multiple universes, it’s likely he already knows about it. This is due to the fact that Franklin Richards’ abilities have been characterized as being “above multiversal.
Essentially, unlike Thanos who needs immense effort to reduce the population by half in a single universe, Franklin has the ability to effortlessly generate entirely new universes with just a casual gesture. In reality, Reed Richards’ abilities far surpass those of Thanos, placing him on an entirely separate level.
Adam Warlock
In the world of comics, Adam Warlock and Thanos share a rivalry similar to Batman and the Joker. However, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos perished before Adam Warlock was introduced, leaving us speculating about their potential clash. If they had met, it’s likely that Adam would have emerged victorious due to his exceptional insight into Thanos’ mindset and motivations, even though he may not always be physically stronger.
In the comics, however, the portrayal of Adam Warlock is different. The version of Adam Warlock introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was incredibly powerful, and this power level was achieved even before he was fully awakened from his cocoon. When Adam Warlock reaches his full potential, it’s plausible that Thanos, with all the Infinity Stones in hand, might not have stood a chance against him in a fight.
Jean Grey (Phoenix)
If the Fox franchise managed to accurately depict the strength of the Phoenix Force only twice, we’d have accumulated two nickels in total. While that may not seem like much, it’s somewhat strange that they got it right just twice.
Regular comic book character Jean Grey possesses extraordinary powers as an Omega Level mutant, with no clear limit to her abilities. But when infused with the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey transcends ordinary limits and gains divine, cosmic powers that far surpass what it means to say she could easily overpower Marvel Cinatic Universe’s Thanos.
Galactus
It’s clear that Galactus isn’t your typical hero, yet he’s not a traditional villain either. He transcends such labels, without any intended pun. In essence, the Devourer of Worlds possesses the potential to bring an end to Thanos’s destructive rule if he chooses to do so. Although we won’t know just how potent the Galactus portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be until the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, if he mirrors his comic book counterpart, he’ll likely outmatch most characters within the MCU in terms of power.
Galactus is often referred to as “a universe personified,” meaning he essentially represents an entire cosmos. Unlike Thanos who destroys half of all life, Galactus embodies the universe itself.
Cosmic Ghost Rider
If we claimed that The Punisher could defeat Thanos in a one-on-one fight, people would think we’re joking in every comic book store across America. But if we said that Frank Castle, armed with the powers of Ghost Rider and the Silver Surfer, using a chain made from Cyttorak’s bones, could beat Thanos, it wouldn’t seem so far-fetched, would it? That’s because such an event has already been depicted in a comic story.
In simpler terms, Cosmic Ghost Rider embodies over-the-top strength, much like comics often do. And let’s face it, even Thanos isn’t exactly a paragon of reasonable power levels. In the realm of fantastical power struggles, Cosmic Ghost Rider outplays Thanos in his own league.
The Incredible Hulk
You might be wondering, ‘Wasn’t it quick for Thanos to overpower the Hulk?’ Yes, it was necessary for the plot of Infinity War. When a filmmaker needs to introduce a highly powerful villain into a universe filled with incredibly strong characters, one effective way is by having him defeat the strongest character first. This helps establish the new villain’s power. That’s why it makes sense, from a storytelling perspective, for the Russo brothers to start Infinity War with Thanos defeating the Hulk. However, this is different from the Hulk in the comic books, who has always been less powerful compared to his four-color counterpart.
As a die-hard Marvel fan, I’ve got to say, the Hulk from Marvel Comics is an entirely unique force. Just how strong is he? Well, even the formidable Thanos confessed during his initial pursuit of the Infinity Stones that he was hesitant to engage the Hulk in battle until he had amassed all the stones. Case closed!
Squirrel Girl
In case you’re pondering over how a character like Doreen Green, also known as Squirrel Girl, could potentially vanquish Thanos, let me save you the trouble because she has already done so. That’s right, Squirrel Girl, a mutant who can communicate with squirrels, has defeated Thanos in the primary 616 universe. Not only did she best him using her squirrel abilities alone, but this triumph took place under the watchful eye of Uatu the Watcher, who explicitly declared that it was Squirrel Girl who had vanquished the authentic Thanos, not a duplicate or imitation.
To put it simply, the battle occurred out of sight in the comic, and was likely meant as a humorous jab at fan discussions about who could defeat whom among characters. Yet, a victory is a victory, and if Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl) enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe someday, it would be fitting for her to triumph over an exceptionally powerful adversary off-screen, reflecting her comic book history.
Magneto
From a cinephile’s perspective, it’s hard to deny that Magneto, with his noble actions, deserves a place on any hero list. Given his history as a Holocaust survivor, if anyone has a personal motivation to stand against a tyrant like Thanos – who seeks genocide – it’s definitely him. Moreover, his unique power to manipulate not only regular metals but also alien materials like Uru metal makes him an ideal adversary for Thanos and his Asgardian-crafted gauntlet.
It’s strongly implied that the Infinity Gauntlet, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is crafted from the same enchanted metal as Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, since both were forged by the same entity. Given Thanos’ arrogance and penchant for lengthy speeches, Magneto would likely have ample opportunity to reduce the Infinity Gautlet into a minuscule orb, trapping Thanos’ hand inside it. It’d be quite challenging to snap one’s fingers if they were turned into liquid.
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2025-04-08 00:14