Marvel’s New Release Is a Sad Reminder of How Much the MCU Underpowered Thanos

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Thanos is currently the strongest villain the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen, so it’s surprising to discover he wasn’t at his full power in the films. Unlike many one-and-done villains, Thanos was developed over ten years, creating high expectations for his eventual appearance in Avengers: Infinity War. It took the combined strength of the Avengers, and even time travel, to finally defeat him – and they were fighting a diminished version of the Mad Titan.

Thanos is famous for using the Infinity Stones to eliminate half of all life in the universe. But even without them, he was an exceptionally strong and skilled fighter. He defeated Hulk in hand-to-hand combat and destroyed the Nova Corps’ planet with his army. While already a formidable opponent for any hero, it feels like Thanos could have had even more abilities.

Why Thanos Doesn’t Look Like The Rest Of The Eternals, Explained

Before discussing Thanos’s powers, it’s important to understand his connection to the Eternals. The movie Eternals reveals that these super-powered beings were created by the Celestials through experiments on early humans. The Eternals are essentially artificial life forms, and the Celestials can create new ones to replace those who die. At the end of the film, a new Eternal named Eros appears, offering to help the others find their lost companions. He also reveals a surprising family connection: he’s Thanos’s brother.

There are a couple of things that don’t quite make sense. The Eternals were created by the Celestials, not born, so the idea of them having siblings is strange. Also, if Thanos is one of the Eternals, it’s odd that he looks so different from the others. In the comics, Eros, also known as Starfox, comes from two Eternals who left their society and started a new one on Titan, making him Thanos’ younger brother. While this explains their connection, Thanos’ unique appearance and powers come from a condition called Deviant Syndrome.

Published in 2022, Marvel Anatomy: A Scientific Study of the Superhuman is presented as a research document created by T’Challa and Shuri while Wakanda is under attack by the Skrulls. They delve into Wakandan archives to analyze files on various Marvel heroes and villains as part of their war preparations. For example, the file on Thanos details how he possessed a specific gene – the Deviant gene – which caused significant physical transformations. This gene is responsible for his purple skin, incredible strength, large size, and distinctive chin, making him stand out from other Eternals.

Thanos Eternals Physiology Should Give Him More Powers In The MCU

Thanos’ unique look is a result of his Deviant Syndrome, but that condition should cause more than just physical changes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Marvel Anatomy, Thanos is actually quite different in the comics—specifically, the comic book version of the character is even more powerful than the one we see in the MCU.

The book describes Thanos as having a fast healing ability, which would account for his resurrections. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t mention this healing power. In the movies, when Thanos returns after being defeated, it’s due to time travel, not a natural ability.

Furthermore, Thanos’ unique genetic condition, Deviant Syndrome, gives him a special connection to cosmic energy. In the comics, he can absorb this energy and release it as powerful blasts from his hands and eyes. This ability would make him an even more dangerous opponent, adding to his already considerable strength in battle.

The book reveals that Thanos’s cosmic energy allows him to breathe in space, eliminating his need for oxygen. T’Challa suggests Thanos even has a unique nervous system built to control this energy – a detail not seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Introducing these abilities would have required more explanation, especially since the Eternals, who could have provided context, hadn’t appeared in Infinity War or Endgame yet. It’s disappointing that the MCU ultimately removed some of Thanos’s most impressive powers.

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2026-04-26 19:40