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taliaissmart's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking in its portrayal of a character so desperate for love that all he can do is destroy. Aaron adeptly reveals Thanos’ motivation without trying to make him too sympathetic. Very well done.
jhstack's review against another edition
3.0
A lackluster Thanos prequel that could have been condensed to, maybe, three issues. Or a mega one-shot.
otherwyrld's review against another edition
4.0
Most people who go to watch the Marvel Universe films know to sit through the end credits. In The Avengers, there are two such sequences. In the one not involving Shwama we are treated to the visage of a smiling purple alien. If you went "Who?" rather than "Whoa!", then this book is for you.
This graphic novel is the full origin and life story of Thanos the Destroyer, who has killed his way through more worlds than just about any other Marvel villain. We begin with his birth, one where his mother tries to murder her newborn child because she recognises the evil in him.
With an incarcerated mother and an absent father (he's a scientist, which of course we all know make for terrible parents - the fact that he also runs the entire planet seems something of a minor point here), you would think that this is the story of how an outcast who looks different from everyone else gradually descends into murder and madness. You would be wrong, because the other children embrace this strange boy with a genetic mutation that makes him look so different.
At this point he also meets a strange girl who urges him to take dangerous risks, something that leads to the tragic deaths of his friends. It is at this point that he begins to become the monster that his mother recognised. He begins to kill and torture, first animals then people, and finally
Fleeing his homeworld, Thanos goes out to the stars, where he discovers he has another talent. No matter how different the alien species is, he is not only a babe magnet, but is also able to impregnate every female he meets. For a while, he keeps a low profile on a pirate ship, but finally his killing ways begin again. Returning from exile to his home world, he meets again the beautiful strange girl of his childhood, who pledges to be his lover. There is one odd thing here - the text says that all his children look like their mothers, but the art clearly shows they look him him. I wondered if this was some clever attempt to show how Thanos's mental imagery is at odds with reality, but it is just as likely to be a simple mistake.
Finally, Thanos returns home, this time to destroy his world as the final act to win his love. It is at this point, in a final confrontation with his father that the truth is revealed -. He leaves, to continue his death mongering, forever alone.
This is a fascinating study of a psychopath and the paths that lead to such a being. You shouldn't let the comic book nature of this book get in the way of this. It is well written, mostly well drawn (just a few wobbles where the art is not as clear as it could be), and a well thought out book. A well deserved 4 stars
This graphic novel is the full origin and life story of Thanos the Destroyer, who has killed his way through more worlds than just about any other Marvel villain. We begin with his birth, one where his mother tries to murder her newborn child because she recognises the evil in him.
With an incarcerated mother and an absent father (he's a scientist, which of course we all know make for terrible parents - the fact that he also runs the entire planet seems something of a minor point here), you would think that this is the story of how an outcast who looks different from everyone else gradually descends into murder and madness. You would be wrong, because the other children embrace this strange boy with a genetic mutation that makes him look so different.
At this point he also meets a strange girl who urges him to take dangerous risks, something that leads to the tragic deaths of his friends. It is at this point that he begins to become the monster that his mother recognised. He begins to kill and torture, first animals then people, and finally
Spoiler
his mother, who he cuts up to try and finds out whether his differences come from herFleeing his homeworld, Thanos goes out to the stars, where he discovers he has another talent. No matter how different the alien species is, he is not only a babe magnet, but is also able to impregnate every female he meets. For a while, he keeps a low profile on a pirate ship, but finally his killing ways begin again. Returning from exile to his home world, he meets again the beautiful strange girl of his childhood, who pledges to be his lover
Spoiler
but only if he goes back and kills all the women he slept with and their offspring, which he duly doesFinally, Thanos returns home, this time to destroy his world as the final act to win his love. It is at this point, in a final confrontation with his father that the truth is revealed -
Spoiler
the woman he loves is a figment of his imagination, a manifestation of his own psychosis. He may love death, but it is himself he loves and not some womanThis is a fascinating study of a psychopath and the paths that lead to such a being. You shouldn't let the comic book nature of this book get in the way of this. It is well written, mostly well drawn (just a few wobbles where the art is not as clear as it could be), and a well thought out book. A well deserved 4 stars
hermgerm's review against another edition
1.0
The worst thing Jason Aaron has ever written. Jim Starlin must have been fuming when he read this; to have his seminal creation dragged through the mud like this. Thanos is much more than just a serial killer. Yes, he is a 'MAD TITAN' in 'love with Death,' but this book gives him the motivation of killing for killing's sake, or just because he feels like it. A pathetic attempt to give Thanos an origin. There was NO interaction between Thanos and his brother Eros, and no regard for past origin stories which had much better motivations for the characters involved. Added to this, Thanos' powers as an Eternal was completely glossed over, his strength, his durability, all completely ignored. One of the worst origin stories ever. I would give this book 0 stars if I could. Simone Bianchi's art doesn't redeem this story for me; at best it is scratchy, with blurry pencils and indistinct lines all over the place. I definitely would NOT recommend this book to anyone interested in Thanos as a character, especially after the recent Marvel Studios film Avengers: Infinity War. There he is presented as a much more compelling character than the one Jason Aaron gives us in this boring slog of a book.
buffalokid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
geese82's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good intro to the one of the main villain in the Marvel Entertainment universe. This origin story kinda changed to more a mental version of Death rather than the real deal. This book is a great addition to all the Thanos stories out there.
Simone Bianchi's artwork is always superb.
Simone Bianchi's artwork is always superb.
gswizzel's review against another edition
3.0
Doesn’t include anything new I didn’t know and I did prefer the novelisation I read about Thanos’ backstory but nevertheless it was still well written and entertaining. If you know nothing of Thanos’ origin, this is something I’d recommend for you to understand his motivations and him as a character within the universe. It definitely adds some needed dimension.
beyadob's review against another edition
3.0
Thanos is a serial killer. That's it. So much potential, such an amazing character, brilliant writer, and they come up with this.
Skip the story. He's a delusional psychopathic serial killer who has no redeeming qualities. They didn't even try to give him good qualities to make you sympathetic to him, very much unlike the MCU version, which was amazingly done, to say the least.
The art is great though.
Skip the story. He's a delusional psychopathic serial killer who has no redeeming qualities. They didn't even try to give him good qualities to make you sympathetic to him, very much unlike the MCU version, which was amazingly done, to say the least.
The art is great though.