When the story opens, Thanos is contemplating his next move with his power.\u00a0 His only companion and advisor is the demon Mephisto, who has effectively served as the Satan figure in Marvel Comics.\u00a0 Already, the psychological issues of the Mad Titan are on display for, of all the possible travel mates, why does he pick the most vile, self-centered, duplicitous being available to stand at his right hand?<\/p>\n Always a consummate comics story teller, Starlin likes to bring any new readers up to speed using one of his characteristic summary scenes\/pages and, as usual, they are a pleasure to look at even for those who are already informed.\u00a0 The one used for the Infinity Gauntlet doesn\u2019t disappoint in style, art design or layout.<\/p>\n With the preliminary matters out of the way, Starlin once again sends Thanos to court Mistress Death<\/p>\n only to be once again rebuffed.\u00a0 This time, however, Mephisto\u2019s presence, much like the proverbial devil perched upon a character\u2019s shoulder, spurs Thanos into new depths of depravity.\u00a0 Convinced by his demonic advisor that Death is a dark soul in need of dark gifts, Thanos turns his grand-daughter Nebula \u2013 a minor villain introduced in the Marvel universe years earlier and essentially incinerated by him upon his resurrection \u2013 into a shambling, rotting monstrosity doomed to a mute agony in his court and forever denied death.<\/p>\n Finding that his grotesque offering has garnered no favor, Thanos then reminds himself that he has yet to fulfill his original vow to eliminate half of the universe\u2019s population,<\/p>\n an oversight he quickly remedies with a snap of his fingers,<\/p>\n but even this incredible sacrifice fails to soften Death\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n When the full ramifications of the mad god\u2019s ambition become clear, all the remaining forces in the universe begin to align against Thanos.\u00a0 The various pantheons of the gods (embodiments of belief in the Marvel universe) set aside their individual differences and plot a strategy.<\/p>\n Likewise, the remaining heroes begin to come together as do the abstract cosmic entities (see earlier posts in this series).<\/p>\n Despite this incredible marshalling of force, the most important stratagem in the opposition to Thanos comes from an unexpected quarter.\u00a0 Adam Warlock, who had died at the hands of Thanos during the original battle over the Infinity Gems, abandons his peaceful existence with the Soul gem and once again takes corporal form.<\/p>\n Acting as a general for all sides, Warlock organizes Earth\u2019s superheroes and then turns his attention to the cosmic entities, where he proves that he may have the skill to deal with Thanos.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a petulant Thanos now tries to make Mistress Death jealous for his attentions by creating his perfect mate Terraxia.<\/p>\n While he plays with his new toy, Warlock sets the first strike against Thanos. Summoning the remaining members of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-men as well as the Hulk, Drax, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and a handful of additional characters, Warlock has them confront Thanos while he and the Silver Surfer wait for an opportune moment to steal the gauntlet. During the battle, which consumes the better part of issue #4, the reader is treated to the horrific spectacle of his favorite character being gruesomely defeated, and usually killed.\u00a0 Sadly, when the moment comes, the Silver Surfer misses his mark by a fraction of second.<\/p>\n Having failed at his \u2018easy\u2019 stratagem, Warlock reluctantly directs the cosmic abstract entities into the fray, praying as he does that the resulting battle doesn\u2019t destroy the very universe he is trying to save.<\/p>\n Despite their awesome might, these godlike figures fare little better and they are also either soon destroyed or subdued. \u00a0But the seeds of Thanos\u2019s undoing are sowed in this defeat when Mistress Death actively opposes him.<\/p>\n Feeling betrayed, Thanos decides that he must forever more be above the petty squabbles of the flesh.\u00a0 He abandons his body and assumes a spiritual godhead, with his only witnesses being Terraxia, his manufactured consort, Eros, his brother who has been forced to watch the carnage and insanity in mute impotence, and Nebula.<\/p>\n At this point in the story, Starlin employs a similar device as he used in unseating Thanos\u2019s first ascension when he opposed Captain Marvel and the Avengers.\u00a0 Distracted by cosmic grandeur, Thanos fails to secure his body upon which rest the Infinity Gauntlet, the source of all his might.<\/p>\n Pushing her deformed body slowly but surely towards her grand-father, Nebula succeeds in claiming the infinite power for her own.<\/p>\n After a rocky start, Nebula begins to understand how to wield her unbridled power.\u00a0 She soon undoes all of Thanos\u2019s actions and then sets herself to remake the cosmic order in her own image.<\/p>\n Warlock persuades Thanos to align himself with their efforts to stop Nebula in a way only Warlock can do (and Starlin can dream up as a story).<\/p>\n thereby corrupting the gauntlet, causing it to fall from Nebula\u2019s hand.\u00a0 The disharmony doesn\u2019t last for long, and as all sides scramble to reclaim it, Warlock steps in first.\u00a0 During the aftermath, it appears that Thanos is destroyed and that the universe is finally free of his menace.<\/p>\n The epilogue finds Warlock, now reunited with his old companions Pip the Troll and Gamora, contemplating what to do with his new-found godlike status.\u00a0 As a first step, he seeks advice from a most curious farmer living on a sparsely populated world far from the galactic centers.\u00a0 This farmer is none other than Thanos, who has retired from dark ambitions and universal conquest to reflect on his many defeats.\u00a0 As the Infinity Gauntlet<\/em> closes, the reader is treated to a new Thanos, philosophical and at peace for the first time in his many lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/aboutcomics.blogwyrm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IG_Covers.jpg\")
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\nThis time, Warlock\u2019s distraction ploy works.\u00a0 While a strike team comprised of Earth\u2019s heroes and their new purple ally distract Nebula on the physical plane, Warlock returns to the Soul Gem and sows dissension among the other Infinity Gems<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n