| “ | I'm a big enough man to admit when I'm wrong. T'Challa here showed me there was more than one way to reallocate the universe's resources. | „ |
| ~ Ravager Thanos. |
| “ | Not crazy ... Mad! | „ |
| ~ Ravager Thanos. |
Thanos, also known as Ravager Thanos, is a featured character in the Disney+ animated series, Marvel's What If...?, appearing as a major supporting character in the second episode - What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?
In one alternate universe, he is a member of the Ravagers as well as the adoptive father of Nebula and the former kingpin in the intergalactic underworld. He was convinced by T'Challa to forget about his quest of wiping out fifty percent of all living creatures, which later left a power vacuum, harnessed by the Collector. Thanos and his Ravager team later went on a mission to steal the Embers of Genesis from the Collector, which would result in a Ravager victory.
Like his counterpart from Earth-199999, he is voiced by Josh Brolin, who also portrayed Llewelyn Moss in No Country for Old Men, Jonah Hex in the titular film, young Agent K in Men in Black III, Cable in Deadpool 2, and Gurney Halleck in Dune (2021) and its 2024 sequel.
Biography[]
Background[]
In one of many alternate timelines, Yondu abducted T'Challa instead of Peter Quill. The result has T'Challa become a hero throughout the galaxy with one of his accomplishments being him convincing Thanos to abandon his plans. Although the Titan still believes his plans have merits, he is willing to listen and become a Ravager.
What If...?[]
While enjoying themselves at a bar, T'Challa is given a task by Nebula to take down the Collector, who had taken Thanos's spot as the most feared being in the universe. Thanos joins him to aid, but is captured by the Collector's men. Nebula soon reveals that she and T'Challa plans her to pretend betraying them so that she could get the Collector's treasure and break them out. While escaping, the group find themselves surrounded by soldiers. Thanos gives them time to escape by fighting them alone with his bare hands. Although he starts getting overwhelmed, Nebula jumps in to help, allowing both of them to escape alive with the rest of the Ravagers. He joined T'Challa in his journey to Earth, and had a conversation with Okoye regarding his original plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe.
Appearance[]
While still purple and gigantic like his main counterpart of the regular timeline, this version of Thanos wears a more humble set of ravager clothing.
Personality[]
Originally, Thanos was much like his original counterpart and wanted to wipe out half the universe. However with persuasion from T'Challa, Thanos gave up on this plan of his and joined the Ravagers. He is much more heroic and comedic now, although he still believes mass genocide wasn't a bad idea - albeit he is in denial that his abandoned plan actually was a form of genocide.
Thanos is also shown to be selfless, given how he stayed behind to fight members of the Black Order even though he almost died.
Like his original self from the main universe, Thanos has a strained relationship with his adoptive daughter, Nebula, although it was to a lesser degree since he had exchanged very few of her organic body parts with robotic ones. Eventually, Nebula forgives him and the two become closer, as she can be seen embarrassed when he flirts with a Dora Milaje while calling him dad.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Titan Physiology: Thanos possesses much of the same physical constitution and abilities from his extinct species.
- Superhuman Strength: Thanos possesses superhuman strength, capable of easily defeating many soldiers and overpowering Black Dwarf, who also has superhuman strength and is even larger than him. He was also capable of briefly knocking out Proxima Midnight with one hit.
- Superhuman Durability: Thanos possesses superhuman durability, capable of surviving attacks from Black Dwarf and Proxima Midnight. However, his durability is significantly inferior to his Sacred Timeline counterpart, as he could be subdued with less effort.
- Superhuman Agility: Thanos can move with superhuman agility, leap over a chasm into Kraglin's starship while carrying Nebula in his arms and gracefully landing in its cargo bay.
- Superhuman Stamina: Thanos' musculature produces almost no fatigue toxins during physical activity. This allowed him to easily combat against his enemies with showing minimal exhaustion.
- Superhuman Reflexes: Thanos possesses incredible superhuman reflexes, to the point that he was able to catch Black Dwarf's hammer in mid-strike. His reflexes also enabled him to dodge out of the way of the giant vines that sprouted up from the ground after the Embers of Genesis became active.
- Regenerative Healing Factor: Thanos' Titan physiology possesses a powerful regenerative healing factor, which allowed him to quickly regenerate from his wounds. After enduring a brutal beating at the hands of Proxima Midnight and Black Dwarf, he was able to get up again with no signs of injury.
- Longevity: Thanos has lived for around a thousand years, but he is still in his prime during the 21st century.
Abilities[]
- Genius-Level Intellect: Before his confrontation with Star-Lord, Thanos was the most ruthless kingpin in the intergalactic underworld.
- Expert Combatant: Thanos is a highly experienced warrior and hand-to-hand combatant. His combat skills supplemented by his physical prowess enable him to overpower many opponents. Under his tutelage, Nebula became an extremely formidable fighter. He was able to take out dozens of the Collector's soldiers, and he had the edge when fighting Black Dwarf in one-on-one combat. However, this Thanos is not nearly as skilled in combat as his Sacred Timeline counterpart, as his years of living a peaceful life as a gardener caused his skills to atrophy. He had trouble dealing with multiple opponents on his own skill level (as shown when Black Dwarf and Proxima Midnight could take him down by working together) and was vulnerable to being caught off-guard (which enabled Midnight to stun him with an electrical shockwave and strike him from behind to great effect).
