Despite being filled to the brim with overpowered characters, only a few villains have managed to leave a mark quite like Thanos. With his philosophical obsession with death and his success in annihilating half of the universe, Thanos set a high bar for villainy.
His legacy is such that one would expect his son to follow his dark footsteps just like Nebula did at one point. However, Thane, Thanos’ only biological child character, tragically failed to live up to the menace of his father.
The Rise And Fall Of Thanos’ Son Thane
Thane was first introduced in New Avengers #10 in 2013. He was born of an unknown Inhuman woman and kept hidden from the world. So, Thane’s very existence was a secret. When Thanos launched an attack on Earth, Thane found himself caught in a conflict between his father and the Inhuman king, Black Bolt.
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The resulting clash led to achieving what others couldn’t, temporarily subduing his father and the deadly Proxima Midnight. This electrifying debut suggested that Thane might be more than a mere footnote in Thanos’ story. Moreover, he was capable of trapping his enemies in amber stasis in addition to unleashing devastating energy.
All this made him into a being with immense capability. However, that moment of triumph was short-lived. Ebony Maw, who was a master manipulator, quickly wormed his way into Thane’s life. He positioned himself as a mentor and subtly nudged the young Inhuman toward destructive choices. With no strong convictions of his own, Thane was an easy prey for him.
From that point onward, Thane’s story became a series of humiliations. Manipulated by J’son, the former Spartax Emperor and father of Star-Lord, Thane was thrown into conflict with the X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy. So, rather than establishing himself as a cosmic threat, Thane ended up drifting into space, powerless and utterly defeated.
Thane Had More Power Than Purpose
Thane’s fall from grace only continued when Death revived him after one of his many failures. Death promised him power and purpose, thrusting him into yet another scheme to kill Thanos. However, once again, Thane found himself outmatched and manipulated.
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Though he temporarily wielded the Phoenix Force, his attempt to confront his father ended predictably in disaster. Even with the universe-burning might of the Phoenix at his fingertips, he was no match for Thanos. Moreover, this theme of loss and wasted potential is central to Thane’s character.
Unlike Thanos, Thane was very unstable. His powers, by nature, are volatile and dangerous, requiring him to wear a containment suit to prevent catastrophic outbursts. This physical restraint mirrors his deeper flaw: a lack of self-direction. Even when freed by Death herself or gifted with the Phoenix Force, Thane’s ambitions always end in ruin.
