Thanos #2

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Mike Deodato

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Thanos is still stepping on anthills as this issue begins. He has traveled to the most advanced medical planet in the galaxy to find out if they can cure him of his fatal condition. Jeff Lemire waxes poetical about advanced nature this beautiful civilization as Thanos tramples through it, ripping its inhabitants limbs off.

Meanwhile, a cabal of conspirators plot to kill Thanos...or not. He’s already dying, so it’s not like they need to kill him. They want to take him out before he has a chance to prolong his life. Tryco (Champion of the Universe), Eros, (former Avenger, Starfox) and Thane (Thanos’s son) recently recruited Nebula who joined for seemingly no reason at all. Starfox asked her if she wanted to come with them while she was in the middle of a life-threatening adventure and she was like, “sure” and off they went.

The story has the vibe of Thunderbolts written by Warren Ellis. It’s a group of half-villains doing work for the supposed greater good. Taking down Thanos is a worthy goal, but it would be such a huge loss for the Marvel Universe to actually lose him permanently. That’s why most people find themselves rooting for Thanos, no matter how bad he behaves.

If anything, issue #2 is even better than the first. Thanos has a natural affinity for causing mayhem, but when Lemire throws in the desperation of facing impending death, Thanos achieves new levels of monstrosity. And it’s super satisfying.

The story switches gears deftly. Conversations build anticipation and are interrupted by brief, but pointed, outbursts of violence. This Thanos series does not yet have prolonged battle sequences, but the conflicts are more poignant. Artist Mike Deodato’s style is even looser in this issue, which caused me to squint a few times but he generally knows when to tighten it up.

Issue #2 is another solid Thanos adventure. All the plot threads are winding toward each other. Action breaks up the less spectacular scenes of scheming and talking. It’s also nice to see Marvel do something that isn’t aimed at 13 year olds. I’m not against that tactic, per se, but they’ve been a mostly one-note company with their Disney-friendly tone lately. The stakes are often so low that we’re worried about the high school chemistry grades or love lives of Marvel’s teenage heroes.  It’s refreshing to see Thanos mercilessly murder a few thousand innocent people every now and again.