Iron Man Killing Thanos in Avengers: Endgame Quietly Allowed 1 MCU Hero a Much Better Ending 4 Years Later

by

The climactic fight between Iron Man and Thanos in Avengers: Endgame is a major highlight of the film, and it significantly shaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, its biggest effect was felt in the final appearance of a particular character. While Thanos was a threat throughout the MCU, his connection to this character was especially strong and meaningful.

I’ve always felt like Tony’s story was deeply connected to Thanos, even before they actually faced off in Infinity War. Thinking back, the whole thing started with the Battle of New York in The Avengers – Thanos was pulling the strings through Loki, and that battle really scarred Tony. It just felt right that Tony was the one to finally make the ultimate sacrifice and defeat him in Endgame. Someone else could have done it, sure, but honestly, I think it was perfect that it was Tony who got to finish what started so long ago.

Drax’s Character Arc Is Better Because He Didn’t Kill Thanos

When we first meet Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, his main motivation is revenge against Thanos. Thanos killed Drax’s family, which led Drax to become the tough fighter we see throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He consistently seeks an opportunity to confront and defeat Thanos. Although Drax fights Thanos in Infinity War, he doesn’t get the satisfaction of finally avenging his family.

Honestly, I think Tony doing what he did was a really smart move for Drax’s story. It took away his immediate revenge on Thanos, which actually allowed him to grow in a much more interesting way after Endgame. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, we see Drax grappling with so much more than just getting even – he’s forced to confront the loss of his family and learn how to heal. Even though Thanos is gone and there’s a sense of justice, Drax has to come to terms with the fact that he didn’t get to be the one to deliver it, and that’s a powerful arc.

It’s a healthier direction for Drax’s character, and a more compelling storyline for the movie. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 surprisingly chose not to pair Peter and Gamora romantically, and Drax’s inability to get revenge is another example of the film challenging typical superhero conventions. Even though he didn’t get to defeat Thanos, Drax needs to find a way to move forward.

Although not directly shown in the movies, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 could have explored an interesting idea: the films consistently highlight the importance of found family. The Guardians love and support each other in ways they couldn’t do on their own. For example, Drax likely wouldn’t have been able to defeat Thanos as a lone warrior, but as part of a team, his actions played a crucial role in the events leading up to Iron Man’s final snap.

Who Would Have Killed Thanos If Tony Stark Hadn’t?

Tony Stark defeated Thanos largely because he was in the right place at the right time with the Nano Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones. It wasn’t necessarily Tony who had to defeat him – someone else with the Gauntlet could have done it too. A clear example is Hulk, who demonstrated he could handle the Stones when he reversed the Snap and brought everyone back.

Thor is another potential solution. Since he defeated Thanos in the main timeline, he could likely defeat the earlier version of Thanos as well. Without the Infinity Stones to protect him, Thor could have easily killed him again, just as he did before. This also applies to other incredibly powerful Avengers like Scarlet Witch and Captain Marvel.

Considering how Avengers: Endgame unfolds, it seems Tony Stark was the only one capable of defeating Thanos. Doctor Strange points out there’s just one possible future where they win, and it likely hinges on Tony successfully obtaining the Infinity Stones and eliminating Thanos with the snap.

Thanos has been defeated before in other realities, proving he’s not invincible. We see this happen in alternate universes, like in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where the Illuminati killed him. This means that with just a few different choices, many heroes could have defeated Thanos.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/7-years-later-marvel-is-finally-going-to-answer-one-of-the-biggest-avengers-endgame-questions/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-17 22:20