THOR, DOCTOR DOOM & FIRELORD versus THANOS

Cosmic Battle on the Edge of The Universe! (Marvel)
Where: Infinity Gauntlet #4 When: October 1991
Why: Jim Starlin How: Ron Lim & George Perez

The Story So Far...
When the Silver Surfer crash lands to Earth through the roof of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum -- he brings ominous warning of the greatest threat the universe has ever known! Thanos lives and has taken possession of the Infinity Gems of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space to form the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet!

The Mad Titan's mission is to eradicate half of all sentient life in existence! A feat he achieves in an instant with but a mere thought! His quest to court the mistress Death does not end there, though. His dominion is now all that exists in the known universe -- a reality, his to dominate and reshape!

Ripples of Thanos' power echo throughout the universe, causing mayhem and destruction on Earth, where the mightiest heroes assemble in conference to discuss the unknown threat. The unexpected arrival of Adam Warlock provides limited answers as he takes command, selecting a special task force to confront Thanos in a desperate ploy to save the universe from The Infinity Gauntlet!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Thanos 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Dr. Doom 6 (Genius)
Speed: Firelord 5 (Super-Speed)
Stamina: Thanos 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Firelord 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Thanos 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Thanos 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Thanos 34 (Super)

The gauntlet of heroes suffered its first casualties in the third phase of battle with Thanos. In this round they're sending in a trio of power houses who could do some real damage: Thor, Doctor Doom, and Firelord!

As noted in the opening strike: Thor is in fact the mortal Eric Masterson, who will eventually come to be better known as Thunderstrike. He was imbued with the full powers of Thor when Odin banished his son to exile -- a compromise to ensure Earth would still be guarded from the evil of Odinson's enemies!

Masterson wields Mjolnir and all the power that comes with it, but will revert to his mortal form if he's separated from the hammer for more than sixty seconds. It was a catch like that that caused headaches for the genuine article when fighting Champion of the Universe in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, and Beta Ray Bill in Thor #337!

Thor and Firelord were both part of the opening strike on Thanos: a non-event when he froze time to avoid their attacks. That moment between moments was when Thanos made the all-important decision to fight without the cosmic omnipotence afforded by The Infinity Gauntlet, though. A decision to give the heroes the barest of fighting chance!

Doctor Doom wasn't a popular addition to Adam Warlock's army of heroes, but was too powerful an ally to turn down. An amoral, self-serving dictator by trade - he's a genius of the caliber of Mister Fantastic, who was lost during Thanos' purge of half of all life in the universe.

Doom brings an abundance of experience and understanding of cosmic entities. Unfortunately, he's usually trying to siphon off their power for his own devious schemes. We saw one of his many attempts at stealing Silver Surfer's power cosmic in Fantastic Four (Vol. 2) #6, and a Doombot trying similar in Silver Surfer #107.

Doom's incredible armor makes him a valuable asset, but his self-serving nature means the heroes probably won't be able to rely on him. When the Avengers and Fantastic Four were returning from a pocket reality, he turned at the vital moment, forcing a struggle with Thor in Heroes Reborn: The Return #4. Just one example of how things have the potential to go horribly wrong.

The combined godly and cosmic powers of Thor and Firelord would ordinarily be enough to cause Thanos problems. With Doctor Doom at their side, there is at least a very real chance Thanos could be relieved of his power and/or Infinity Gauntlet! Which is good, because the stakes are getting high!

The Tape: Thor, Doctor Doom & Firelord  Ranking: Thanos (#66)

What Went Down...

Having callously dispatched with Namor and She-Hulk; Thanos stands ominously over the remains of the first two casualties. Two more figures on the vast battlefield act on the grim turn of events. The first to strike is Thor - whose mighty hammer suddenly collides with Thanos' chest in a devastating blow!

At that same time, Doctor Doom has flown across the platform to seize upon his opportunity. With Thanos knocked flat on his back by the godly strike, he rushes to take possession of the awesome Infinity Gauntlet!

Doom pays for his avarice. His armor protects his life, but his body is hurled across the battlefield by the explosion of power emanating from Thanos! Doom may have put his own gauntleted metal fingers on The Infinity Gauntlet, but that is as close as he shall get!

Doom watches with envious eyes as his armor sizzles, and Thanos returns to his feet. The Mad Titan radiates raw power. Frustrated by Doom's interference, Thor resumes his attack, again hurling the enchanted hammer towards Thanos! Only this time, Thanos greets its trajectory with a wicked smile...

Seeing the attack coming; Thanos is able to create a portal inches from his face that safely sends the hammer's trajectory onward to deep space!

The separation of hero and hammer means Eric Masterson is fighting on borrowed time. He has a mere sixty seconds to be reunited with the hammer of Thor, or revert to his helpless mortal form! With the clock ticking - he fights!

The uppercut Thor launches manages to surprise even Thanos! He staggers back as the thunderer continues to fight with godly fists! His blows are enough to garner notice, but Thanos commands power to absorb them - and more!

Thanos snatches Thor by the cape - and tosses him to the darkness of space!

Firelord swoops in too late to rescue Thor, but eager to capitalize on Thanos' preoccupation. He ignites Thanos in a punishing stream of cosmic flame! Such is the gift of the power cosmic - bestowed upon him by Galactus!

Many would tremble at Firelord's boast, but his fire offers little threat to one with the power of The Infinity Gauntlet! With a swing of his arm, Thanos sends the airborne Firelord smashing brutally into the platform structure!

The Hammer...

Another wave of attack ends in victory for Thanos!

The consequences weren't quite the fatalities of the third wave, but three major players have at least temporarily been removed from playing field!

Doctor Doom survives thanks to his armor's defenses, but he was pretty badly fried. Firelord took a heavy enough blow to put him down, if not out. Without his mighty hammer: Thor is moments away from being a mere mortal floating in deep space! It's about as bad as it gets for the fourth wave!

The heroes are probably starting to sweat it, but Adam Warlock has a grand plan that's still being enacted. If Doom has truly been incapacitated, that can only bode well for the bigger picture! Let's just hope his firepower isn't needed! The fifth phase of attack is resting on the shoulders of one lone wolf!

The big picture can be yours to see and own in the collected trade edition of The Infinity Gauntlet! Shopping via Amazon link provided means you'll get a good deal and support the site at no extra cost!

You can catch-up on past, present, and future featured fights by diving in to the Secret Archive Index! There, you should be able to find links to all the Infinity Gauntlet updates in the Marvel section. All featured fights are index via publisher, series, and issue number!

Get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths via Twitter and Facebook! A like, share, or retweet is another great way to show your support and take the fight to the world!

Winner: Thanos
#40 (+26) Thanos
#74 (--) Doctor Doom
#531 (-121) Thor (Eric Masterson)
#532 (-121) Firelord

Infinity Gauntlet #4
Thanos runs the gauntlet of heroes in a special series spotlighting the classic cosmic showdown!
Versus Wave 1, Hulk & Drax, Wave 3, Thor & Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Wave 6, Cloak, Firelord & Drax, Iron Man, Spider-man & Thor, Nova, Quasar, Captain America

HERO OF THE WEEK: ROGOL ZAAR (DC)
Real Name: To Be Confirmed
First Appearance: Action Comics #1000 (June, 2018)
Fight Club Ranking: #DNR

Featured Fights:
- Yet To Be Featured on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths.

It's here! It's really here! Action Comics #1000 was one of the milestone comic books I used to dream about in the school yard. Would they ever really get there? Surely they must! They have!

Ten tales reflect upon eighty years of Superman, with the last story introducing Brian Bendis as the new writer of the Man of Steel. The short chapter, titled "The Truth", delivers a dangerous new villain called Rogol Zaar. He claims to be the destroyer of the planet Krypton - and in the dozen pages afforded - he's doing a pretty good job of devastating its survivors: Superman and Supergirl!

At first glance, the new villain seems like a bit of a groaner. The most off-putting aspect: that his existence and motivations apparently hinge on yet another retelling of a major character's origin.

Between movies, television, and comics, the world has been subjected to far too many origin stories! The only thing more skin crawling than going back to the beginning is the promise of 'dramatic new revelations' about decades old history. You'd hope we'd moved on after eighty years, but with Krypton airing on Syfy, and Jor-El making an unexpected (and unwanted) comeback in other recent Superman stories -- it seems Superman's past has never been more present. Emphasis on seems.

The story is called "The Truth", but Bendis has talked about, or at least implied, drawing inspiration for his work from the modern phenomena of digital misinformation.

It seems the masses have never had more difficulty grappling with fact and fiction. Facebook feeds have sapped the will to seek, supplanting a healthy diet of various inputs with self-confirming algorithms, and insular logics. Direct channels are easily exploited, preying upon fear, loathing, instant gratification, and confirmation bias.

A lot of people will be expecting Bendis to rewrite Superman's history - and therefore already believe that he has. He, and others, have certainly had that tendency. However, we've been given no reason to consider Rogol Zaar a credible narrator. It is interesting that he knows Jor-El by name, but the planet Krypton and its most notable citizens have never been a secret. It could be very interesting if Bendis is planning to tell a story of exploiting a history told to the hero through second-hand sources.

Characters like Supergirl and General Zod offer perspectives informed by the memory of living Krypton, but could also be compromised by the uncertainties of youth, and a biased agenda. An interesting predicament for Superman, who has no first-hand knowledge of his home. Bendis has discussed drawing upon the influence of Superman's creators as Jewish immigrants, and one might speculate that the narrative of false truths could also reference recent trends of WWII Holocaust denial, in some pockets of society.

Whether his claims are credible, or not; Rogol Zaar seems to have a literal axe to grind with Kryptonians. Given the influence of John Byrne's work, which sought to restore Superman as the last son of Krypton; it'll be interesting to see if the villain is used to drastically reduce the number of Kryptonians living in the DCU. Supergirl, and even Zod, seem to serve a valuable purpose as characters, but the super son, and other stragglers, could be on the chopping block!

The last inspiration I'd speculate about is Donald Trump. The subjects Bendis is apparently thinking about inevitably circle around the controversial American President. I'm not sure what Rogol Zaar means, but "Zaar" immediately makes me think Tsar, and it might not be the biggest stretch to suppose "Donald" could become "Rogol". His unique hairline, another quality that could be supposed as an imagining of what Trump might look like, sans his famed flopping hairstyle. That might be staring at goats, though...

It's going to be interesting to see what Rogol Zaar is really all about, and just how many of these theories actually come to pass. Will he take an enduring place beside other memorable Superman villains, or will our Hero of the Week be forgotten in the years to come? With Jim Lee drawing, a foe like Equus comes to mind, but here's hoping Bendis has bigger goals for Superman!

Here on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, we've got big goals to run the gauntlet of The Infinity Gauntlet! Regular updates started with Friday's opening salvo, inspired by the countdown to Avengers: Infinity War in theatres! That means we'll have to wait to see Rogol Zaar, Superman, or the Girl of Steel in action. Be sure to dive into the Archive Index and follow on Twitter & Facebook to find more to discover on The Comic Book Fight Club!

<< Hero of the Week 04/30: Thanos     [Home]     Hero of the Week 4/16: Juggernaut >>

VISION, SUB-MARINER & SHE-HULK versus THANOS

Cosmic Battle on the Edge of The Universe! (Marvel)
Where: Infinity Gauntlet #4 When: October 1991
Why: Jim Starlin How: Ron Lim & George Perez

The Story So Far...
When the Silver Surfer crash lands to Earth through the roof of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum -- he brings ominous warning of the greatest threat the universe has ever known! Thanos lives and has taken possession of the Infinity Gems of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space to form the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet!

The Mad Titan's mission is to eradicate half of all sentient life in existence! A feat he achieves in an instant with but a mere thought! His quest to court the mistress Death does not end there, though. His dominion is now all that exists in the known universe -- a reality, his to dominate and reshape!

Ripples of Thanos' power echo throughout the universe, causing mayhem and destruction on Earth, where the mightiest heroes assemble in conference to discuss the unknown threat. The unexpected arrival of Adam Warlock provides limited answers as he takes command, selecting a special task force to confront Thanos in a desperate ploy to save the universe from The Infinity Gauntlet!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Thanos 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Thanos 5 (Professor)
Speed: Firelord 5 (Super-Speed)
Stamina: Thanos 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Sub-Mariner 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Thanos 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Thanos 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Thanos 34 (Super)

The assembly of heroes enters the third phase of attack with confidence gained from their second wave brawlers. They may've been sent packing, but set up the distraction to begin a third wave with: Vision, Sub-Mariner and She-Hulk!

Sub-Mariner was part of the first wave that Thanos avoided by manipulating time. They never really entered any kind of conflict, but inadvertently helped Thanos reach a decision to negate his omnipotence - and fight fair.

She-Hulk doesn't quite pack the punch of her incredible cousin -- who was part of the second wave -- but with the flying Sub-Mariner in tow, she could provide a more dexterous follow-up to the brawling successes of Hulk and Drax! She can stretch to her cousin's strength level [eg; She-Hulk vs Avengers], but it's her mental acumen that best distinguishes her.

Champion of the Universe was able to beat She-Hulk using the Power Infinity Gem in She-Hulk #8, but she lawyered her way to a quick rematch victory in a memorable cosmic contest. Thanos isn't above reason, but he's probably made the exceptions he's going to. So smart strength is her best role.

Ultimately, the real x-factor in this phase of attack is Vision! The eerie android brings a versatility that none of the other combatants have offered! Thanos has committed to fighting by some rules of physical reality, but Vision can easily subvert them by shifting his density from total intangibility - to super density!

In the "Counter Earth" reality of Avengers (Vol. 2) #1; Vision's density proved strong enough to topple Thor! Unfortunately, his synthoid body was susceptible to the magic of Loki. When Rogue absorbed Thor's powers in the alternate reality of What If...? #66, Vision attempted a trademark of shifting density while intersecting with her body, but her newfound godly energies rendered it moot.

If the other heroes can maintain a distraction, Vision could conceivably try to sneak up on Thanos, to attempt to interfere with the Infinity Gauntlet, or harm him by shifting density within his person. A hand in the brain is sure to cause even Thanos problems! He could also deliver a powerful beam of energy from his forehead at point blank!

That said, with so much power at his disposal, it's just as likely Vision could be reduced to scrap by the powers of the Infinity Gems! Like Loki's magic, the gems could have unforeseen effects. Thanos himself also possesses abilities to manipulate energy that could destroy Vision - and his allies!

The heroes are riding a moment of opportunity, but the deck is still seemingly stacked in Thanos' favour. Let's see what happens in the third wave!

The Tape: Vision, Sub-Mariner & She-Hulk Ranking: Sub-Mariner (#22)

What Went Down...
Preoccupied with attempting to squash a miniaturized Hulk -- Thanos doesn't notice the eerie synthezoid materializing behind him! The Vision has the drop on the god-like being -- and intends to take full advantage!

Vision unleashes a narrow beam of energy directly at Thanos! Its heat causes the surrounding air to ignite - engulfing Thanos in flames!

Unaffected by the fire, but stunned by the unexpected attack, Thanos stands idle as the Vision disappears as suddenly as he came! The synthezoid phases effortlessly through Thanos' space platform in strategic retreat.

Captain America orders his team to "pour on the power" -- summoning She-Hulk and Sub-Mariner in a sudden rush!

Sub-Mariner soars above the licking flames, while She-Hulk runs straight through! Their fists collide with Thanos in perfect unison - a left and a right!

Thanos orders the pair away with a remarkably simplistic push. He throws his hands outward to merely shove them away. but his newfound powers are as vast as they are cruel! In truth, the areas where his hands made contact begin to manifest a strange growth spreading across their chests with alarming speed!

Namor and She-Hulk desperately claw at the spreading stuff as it overwhelms their chest and torso! In seconds their arms and faces are also encased! It only takes a few more for the two Avengers to be completely and utterly consumed.

Where once there was hope, there is now only two disgusting piles of unknown moss marking the place where Sub-Mariner and She-Hulk died. Such is the unspeakable will of the Titan who would court death: Thanos!

The Hammer...
The first wave ended in ambiguity, while the second was determined only in retreat. Vision may've got in and out, but this time Thanos concludes the battle with the most final of victories -- a double fatality!

I'm reluctant to state exactly what it was that consumed them with any certainty. The initial growth was on bare flesh, but it quickly overwhelmed their clothing, too. Some kind of fungus, it would seem. It hardly matters.

One might question whether Sub-Mariner and She-Hulk were the best heroes for this particular fight. Their courage is unquestionable, of course, but in a battle of such esoteric scale, could the close quarters combat of bare flesh truly hope to triumph? On a team with so many heavy-hitters, perhaps you would think so, but alas poor Namor, I knew him well.

Adam Warlock seems fairly resigned to losing some of his troops. His resolve to keep Silver Surfer out of the fight doesn't sit well with the space rider, but it has its purpose. At least Vision made an impression and remains in play.

For those following the rankings through these posts, Vision's role will warrant an assist stat - rather than a defeat. His get in, get out offensive really only served to facilitate the follow-up power play from the duo of defeated Avengers.

Vision has established himself as a floating wildcard with potential to cause real harm. His phasing powers could be a real game changer if he can use them to relieve Thanos of The Infinity Gauntlet, or interfere with his internal make-up.

Be here in two days as we advance to the fourth wave! Readers of past, present, and future can find all the Infinity Gauntlet installments via links throughout these posts, or by using the Secret Archive Index! All featured fights are filed by publisher, series, and issue number!

Want to read The Infinity Gauntlet for yourself? Get the whole story in collected edition by following the Amazon link provided! Using the link to shop gets you a good deal and helps support the site at no extra cost!

Follow Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook to get daily fight links inspired by the topics of the day! A like, share, or retweet is another great way to join the fight and spread our battlecry!

Winner: Thanos
#66 (+51) Thanos [+2 kills]
#24 (-2) Sub-Mariner
#375 (-5) She-Hulk
#359 (+3) Vision [+1 assist]

Infinity Gauntlet #4
Thanos runs the gauntlet of heroes in a special series spotlighting the classic cosmic showdown!
Versus Wave 1, Hulk & Drax, Wave 3, Thor & Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Wave 6, Cloak, Firelord & Drax, Iron Man, Spider-man & Thor, Nova, Quasar, Captain America

HULK & DRAX versus THANOS

Cosmic Battle on the Edge of The Universe! (Marvel)
Where: Infinity Gauntlet #4 When: October 1991
Why: Jim Starlin How: Ron Lim & George Perez

The Story So Far...
When the Silver Surfer crash lands to Earth through the roof of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum -- he brings ominous warning of the greatest threat the universe has ever known! Thanos lives and has taken possession of the Infinity Gems of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space to form the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet!

The Mad Titan's mission is to eradicate half of all sentient life in existence! A feat he achieves in an instant with but a mere thought! His quest to court the mistress Death does not end there, though. His dominion is now all that exists in the known universe -- a reality, his to dominate and reshape!

Ripples of Thanos' power echo throughout the universe, causing mayhem and destruction on Earth, where the mightiest heroes assemble in conference to discuss the unknown threat. The unexpected arrival of Adam Warlock provides limited answers as he takes command, selecting a special task force to confront Thanos in a desperate ploy to save the universe from The Infinity Gauntlet!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Thanos 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Thanos 5 (Professor)
Speed: Hulk 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Thanos 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Drax 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Thanos 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Thanos 34 (Super)

The first strike ended with a bit of a dead rubber, but now that Thanos has decided to take the heroes on - the fight can really get under way!

His choice to indulge a physical fracas helps all of the heroes of Earth, but it could be argued it especially suits the pure brute strength of the second wave coming at Thanos in today's spotlight!

Hulk is Bruce Banner in spirit, if not mind and body. At this point in time, Hulk doesn't quite command the scientific acumen of Banner, but he possesses a degree of intelligence greater than his best known days of rampaging. That bodes well for both the collective of heroes he's joining - and their careful plan!

Unfortunately, Drax The Destroyer does not possess a very notable IQ. These were the days when his physical might was at its peak, but his mental state was akin to that of a child. This means he's susceptible to distraction, confusion, and temper tantrums that could endanger his allies as quickly as his enemy!

We saw the dim-witted Drax exercise his strength against a mad Thor in Warlock and The Infinity Watch #21. He also brings the appealing quality of existing for the very purpose of destroying Thanos. Something he achieved temporarily, many years after Infinity Gauntlet, in Annihilation #4!

Hulk has no shortage of big time battles with major league opponents. We've seen him take down the likes of: demi-god Hercules [Tales to Astonish #79], Silver Surfer [Incredible Hulk #95], The Sentry [World War Hulk #5], and Thor [Avengers #5]. He's also gone toe-to-toe with Superman [Marvel versus DC #3] and Green Lantern [Unlimited Access #1] in crossover dream battles!

In the last battle, Thanos kinda ducked out of dealing with Iron Man, Sub-Mariner, Firelord, and "Thor". That said, we have seen him punk out Terrax in the Green Lantern/Silver Surfer crossover, and beat up the Guardians of the Galaxy who literally found him with his pants down [GOTG #25]!

Given the added omnipotence of The Infinity Gauntlet as a greater sum of the Infinity Stones of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space -- Thanos is one of the most formidable forces imaginable! He is vulnerable only by choice, which leaves very little chance for the heroes.

Drax has an individual victory to his name, and shared in the team gambit of Star-Lord and The Guardians of the Galaxy. Our Fight Club history favours he and the Hulk, but will their combined strength put a dent in Thanos' plan? Let's go ahead and find out...!

History: Drax (2-0-0)
The Tape: Hulk & Drax Ranking: Hulk (#6)

What Went Down...
Even with the choice to strip his knowledge and awareness of all things in the universe; Thanos loses himself in gloating laughter as the first wave of heroes crashes harmlessly into his platform. He is undeniably their better, yet, in his rush to appeal to the mistress Death, he has allowed himself to be vulnerable!

Thanos fails to notice two green behemoths drifting directly behind him! Fails to remember their trajectory on a board he just walked, unencumbered by the whims of time! In his arrogance, Thanos did not notice The Hulk & Destroyer!

The two power houses punish Thanos for his neglect! Their devastating punches hit in unison - sending the omnipotent villain flying across his own platform!

The twin titans immediately seize upon their advantage - raining down a barrage of blows with massive fists! Any ordinary foe would crumble under such punishment, but not one who wields the Infinity Gem of Power!

A blast of energy sends Drax flying away from the Mad Titan! His patience for a fair fight is clearly being tested, but the Hulk remains, still pummeling with power far greater than any ordinary man!

In spite of his present intelligence, The Hulk loses himself in a flurry of punches. For a moment, he truly believes his opponent isn't even defending himself! The awful truth of the matter soon becomes too apparent to ignore: the Hulk is the smallest one there is!

Thanos' command of reality has reduced the once towering Hulk to a man of mere inches! He stands barely as tall as the fist that wears the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet responsible for his predicament!

That same hand reaches out to squash the tiny hero! With the proportionate strength still housed in his muscular legs - the Hulk leaps clear! Forced to suffer the indignity of running from the fight! Even as he fleas, his purpose is still served. Behind them rises the next attack to catch Thanos by surprise...!

The Hammer...
In the first wave - neither party delivered any kind of decisive attack. This time the battle was more clear. Although Hulk and Drax live to fight on - it was the hand of Thanos that toppled The Destroyer, and forced Hulk to run for his life!

The net result of the defeat is still minimal for the heroes, but Hulk and Drax at least succeeded in knocking Thanos off his feet! They confirmed that Thanos is playing by a code of rules -- inspiring some degree of hope!

They've also inspired a recklessness in Thanos that once again renders him sufficiently distracted to fail to notice the next attack coming!

Everyone understands the titular "Infinity Gauntlet" is a gem studded glove, but Thanos is now running the gauntlet of heroes assembled by Adam Warlock! This combat gauntlet depends on carefully planned waves of attack, which we've determined are distinguished enough to be recorded as individual fights!

Thanos has registered his first Infinity Gauntlet win, but it's only a temporary victory. Warlock's army of heroes still has a full regiment, and there's a long way to go before this gauntlet is done!

If Hulk and Drax come back around to combine with some of their fellow heroes, who knows what they might achieve? The next wave is not without its promise, too. Be here for the next installment to see who's on offense - and how it goes!

If you're looking for more links from the Infinity Gauntlet you should check out the Marvel section of the Secret Archive Index. You'll find each wave linked as issue #4, with plenty of other featured fights to discover via publisher & series!

Get ahead of the fight by reading the Infinity Gauntlet in collected edition for yourself! Shopping via the Amazon link provided helps support the site at no extra cost to you!

Discover more battles by following Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook! A like, share, or retweet is another great way to join the fight!

Winner: Thanos
#117 (+236) Thanos
#6 (--) Hulk
#100 (-24) Drax

Infinity Gauntlet #4
Thanos runs the gauntlet of heroes in a special series spotlighting the classic cosmic showdown!
Versus Wave 1, Hulk & Drax, Wave 3, Thor & Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Wave 6, Cloak, Firelord & Drax, Iron Man, Spider-man & Thor, Nova, Quasar, Captain America

IRON MAN, THOR, FIRELORD & SUB-MARINER versus THANOS

Cosmic Battle on the Edge of The Universe! (Marvel)
Where: Infinity Gauntlet #4 When: October 1991
Why: Jim Starlin How: Ron Lim & George Perez

The Story So Far...
When the Silver Surfer crash lands to Earth through the roof of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum -- he brings ominous warning of the greatest threat the universe has ever known! Thanos lives and has taken possession of the Infinity Gems of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space to form the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet!

The Mad Titan's mission is to eradicate half of all sentient life in existence! A feat he achieves in an instant with but a mere thought! His quest to court the mistress Death does not end there, though. His dominion is now all that exists in the known universe -- a reality, his to dominate and reshape!

Ripples of Thanos' power echo throughout the universe, causing mayhem and destruction on Earth, where the mightiest heroes assemble in conference to discuss the unknown threat. The unexpected arrival of Adam Warlock provides limited answers as he takes command, selecting a special task force to confront Thanos in a desperate ploy to save the universe from The Infinity Gauntlet!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Thanos 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Thanos 5 (Professor)
Speed: Firelord 5 (Super-Speed)
Stamina: Thanos 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Sub-Mariner 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Thanos 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Thanos 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Thanos 34 (Super)

The force assembled to take on Thanos is a who's who of heroes who survived his purge of half of all existing life! The collective is guided by Adam Warlock, with field command led by Captain America.

Their strategy involves multiple waves of attack, beginning with a heavy hitting first strike. Charged with firing this opening salvo is a trio of Avengers, with a former herald of Galactus: Iron Man, Thor, Sub-Mariner, and Firelord!

Firelord was once Pyreus Kril of the planet Xandar. He was a soldier of the Nova Corps, until his friend Gabriel Lan was abducted by Galactus. Kril doggedly pursued his friend, pledging his service to The Devourer of Worlds in exchange for knowledge of Gabriel's untimely demise as the short-lived herald Air-Walker.

Like others imbued with the Power Cosmic: Firelord possesses greatly enhanced strength, speed, and stamina. He also wields a staff in combat, able to channel cosmic fire through the weapon. He's used this power to battle opponents as powerful as: Ego The Living Planet, Phoenix, Silver Surfer, Nebula, and Thor!

Thor may appear to be part of this awesome foursome, but at this point in time, it was mortal Eric Masterson who was in possession of Mjolnir! He was given the full powers of the thunder god so as to protect Earth while the real Thor lived in exile - punishment handed down by Odin.

Masterson would eventually come to be better known as the mace-wielding Thunderstrike, but at this time, he's the next best thing to the god of thunder! He may lack the combat experience of the genuine article, but possesses all his godly strengths -- as long as he isn't separated from Mjolnir for sixty seconds!

That just leaves Iron Man and Sub-Mariner, who between them have registered notable victories against: Juggernaut, Doctor Doom, The Mandarin, Diablo, Axis Mundi, and other prominent opponents. We know them well!

Against any other opponent, they would be an intimidating force - but Thanos is no ordinary villain! We saw him swiftly defeat a manipulated Terrax [Green Lantern/Silver Surfer], and dominate the entire line-up of Guardians of the Galaxy [GOTG #25] without any enhancements!

In today's battle he has forged the famed Infinity Gauntlet: A glove wielding the combined powers of The Infinity Stones. These grant him command over the realms of Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Space. He is nigh omnipotent!

The laws of reality are now within Thanos' jurisdiction - and unlike some who may wield the gauntlet, he has the wherewithal to fully comprehend and control the power at his finger tips. His influence is on a cosmic scale, making physical reality trivial in comparison. There's no greater example than his purging of half of living entities in the universe!

Among the heroes identified as missing, likely eradicated, are: Archangel, Beast, Black Cat, Black Panther, Box, Dagger, Daredevil, Diamond Lil, Firestar, Guardian, Hawkeye, Hercules, Human Torch, Iceman, Invisible Woman, Makkari, Marvel Boy, Marvel Girl, Mister Fantastic, Night Thrasher, Northstar, Power Man, Puck, Quicksilver, Sasquatch, Sersi, Shaman, Thing, USAgent, Vindicator, Wasp, Windshear.

Which brings us to the fight! If Thanos can erase all those heroes in an instant, the odds are clearly stacked against those that survived. Existence gives them the chance to confront Thanos on the physical plane, but with all the power at his disposal, the odds are not in their favour! Let the fight for life begin!

The Tape: Avengers & Firelord Ranking: Iron Man (#3)

What Went Down...

Delivered to Thanos' space shrine to Death by the magic of Doctor Strange; the heroes launch their carefully planned attack!

Iron Man, Firelord, Thor, and Sub-Mariner hurl themselves at the battlefield as the first wave. Each extends whatever influence they can before their airborne person! Thor tosses his mighty hammer, Firelord spews cosmic flame, and Iron Man lets loose with blasts from his armored gauntlets!

Only the noble Sub-Mariner leads the pure muscle, flying his body towards Thanos like a human missile! Four awesome attacks of pure brawn and energy certain to destroy any opponent -- assuming they ever connect!

With a simple snap of his fingers - The Mad Titan freezes time. Each threat hangs suspended in reality as Thanos moves freely amongst them. He smiles, confident in the transcendent knowledge of the Infinity Gauntlet's power.

The Titan walks among his first attackers and despairs. He'd hoped the universe would challenge him with so much more. He notes he could eradicate them in an instant. Such is the awesome omnipotence of The Infinity Gauntlet!

Spared the bondage of time and reality is Thanos' advisor - Mephisto - who draws his attention to two more existing beyond the gauntlet's influence. Adam Warlock and Silver Surfer loom over the battlefield in observation. The arrogant Thanos presumes their reservation to be a sign of intelligence. He contemplates their destruction - but Mephisto seizes his ear!

If omnipotence has failed to impress the mistress Death, perhaps an act of courage may improve his lot. Mephisto inspires a scenario where Thanos has severed his cosmic awareness, granting the barest chance of failure!

Only Thanos' brother Starfox notices Mephisto's mischief at work. He has saved the heroes from instant eradication, granting them their first sliver of hope. It is highly unlikely that Thanos' power will be overcome - but now there is a chance!

Thanos resumes the natural timeline by a simple act of will. No longer where he once stood; Mjolnir, Sub-Mariner, and the heroes' attacks crash into the stony matter of the strange space platform!

The Mad Titan lets out a bellowing laugh -- sufficiently distracted to be unaware of the next wave of assault coming behind him!

The Hammer...
It's no secret the mini-series' titular "Infinity Gauntlet" refers to a gem-studded glove worn by Thanos. What's a little less obvious is the existence of a second gauntlet: The running of the gauntlet by Thanos -- against some of the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe -- in the pages of Infinity Gauntlet #4!

It was difficult to determine whether or not the battle should be examined as a single force in continuing attack, or a series of separate skirmishes.

This opening strike highlights the nature of the problem fairly well. The narrative perspective is told through Thanos, who can remove himself from normal time, and examine a frozen moment over multiple pages.

Each offensive is designed to flow as part of a larger plan hatched by Adam Warlock, but the overlap is minimal. Each wave is easily distinguished, with only a few fighters participating in multiple waves. Taken as a gauntlet of separate attacks, we'll be examining each wave as a featured fight.

As for this opening attack? Thanos may have had total manipulation of the battlefield, but this opening challenge resulted in no conclusive result.

I'm sure Sub-Mariner didn't particularly enjoy flying face-first into Thanos' platform, but he's faced far worse, and didn't have too much trouble smashing right through it. The other heroes involved were in no way impacted by their attacks missing the target. This is by definition an inconclusive draw!

Rest assured the battles that are coming will not end quite so ambiguously. The heroes have been given a chance to fight the impossible foe. We'll see just how successful they are as we return for daily Infinity Gauntlet updates!

You can follow Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook to help keep you abreast of subsequent updates. Those coming in late can check out the Secret Archive Index to find sequential links to each battled listed under Infinity Gauntlet in the Marvel section. I'll endeavor to make sure there are links to adjacent waves of attack for convenience. [See: Hulk & Drax vs Thanos]

If you'd like to witness every bitter blow and cosmic gesture - check out the collected edition of The Infinity Gauntlet! By shopping via the Amazon link provided, you not only get yourself a good deal - you help support Secret Wars on Infinite Earths at no extra cost!

For his role in inspiring their stay of execution, Mephisto will record an unlikely assist stat. The demon trickster is here as chosen advisor to Thanos, but it's clearly in his interest to stem the flow of evaporating souls.

Winner(s): Inconclusive (Draw)
#3 (--) Iron Man
#22 (--) Sub-Mariner
#410 (new) Thor (Eric Masterson)
#411 (new) Firelord
#353 (+2) Thanos
#144 (+31) Mephsito [+1 assist]

Infinity Gauntlet #4
Thanos runs the gauntlet of heroes in a special series spotlighting the classic cosmic showdown!
Versus Wave 1, Hulk & Drax, Wave 3, Thor & Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Wave 6, Cloak, Firelord & Drax, Iron Man, Spider-man & Thor, Nova, Quasar, Captain America

HERO OF THE WEEK: JUGGERNAUT (Marvel)
Real Name: Cain Marko
First Appearance: X-Men #12 (July, 1965)
Fight Club Ranking: #43

Featured Fights:
- vs SPIDER-MAN: Amazing Spider-man #230 (Jul 1982)
- vs SPIDER-MAN: Amazing Spider-man #230 (Jul 1982)
- vs COLOSSUS: Uncanny X-Men #183 (Jul 1984)
- vs NIMROD: Uncanny X-Men #194 (Jun 1985)
- vs CAPTAIN BRITAIN: Excalibur #3 (Dec 1988)
- vs DEADPOOL & SIRYN: Deadpool: Sins of the Past #2 (Sep 1994)
- vs SUPERMAN: DC versus Marvel #1 (Mar 1996)
- vs SPIDER-MAN & WONDER WOMAN: Unlimited Access #1 (Dec 1997)
- vs TEEN TITANS: Unlimited Access #3 (Feb 1998)
- vs HULK & DOCTOR STRANGE: Marvel Adventures #14 (May 1998)
- vs AVENGERS: Thunderbolts #150 (Jan 2011)

Late last year I was pretty pleased to see Marvel bring Juggernaut back to basics as an unstoppable guest character in Uncanny Avengers. His classic routine continues in Despicable Deadpool #298, where Deadpool must contend with a gauntlet of mercenaries, villains, and past nemeses as the tables turn in The Marvel Universe Kills Deadpool. CBR featured a very nice cover & preview.

I haven't had much chance to sing the praises of artist Mike Hawthorne, but I daresay he's one of my favourite pencillers going today. He's got a good clean rendered line, and draws characters with just the right amount of heft. His work on Deadpool has really been a pleasure to see, even from a distance. I'm always interested to see what he's got going and fully expect bigger things post-DP.

There may be bigger things coming for Juggernaut, too. There are rumors and fan theories he might make a more faithful appearance in Deadpool 2. I'm not really convinced. Trailers show Colossus hitting something metallic and rounded, but it doesn't immediately say Juggernaut to me. If we do get a more faithful Juggernaut, and anything resembling one of their classic brawls - that'll be great!

<< Hero of the Week 04/23: Rogol Zaar       [Home]      Hero of the Week 04/09: Brainiac >>

NOVA & DRAX versus ANNIHILATION WAVE

Blood And Thunder (Marvel)
Where: Annihilation #1 When: October 2006
Why: Keith Giffen How: Andrea Divito

The Story So Far...
They came from beyond the edge of the universe: The Annihilation Wave! An invasion force so devastating it eradicated the Nova Corps within its first week of attack!

Lord Annihilus advances his plague of insectoid denizens against the universe, retaliating against expansion into the anti-matter domain of The Negative Zone. By their own savage logic, their assault across galaxies is taking back what's theirs!

Within months: the Skrull Empire is decimated -- sending a bold message to the rest of a besieged universe! Old enemies are irrelevant! In the ruins of old civilizations, new alliances are forged, appointing Nova Prime as Commander-in-Chief of a surviving United Front!

Tartus Minor fell as they came to grips with the nature of their enemy, but on the Kree-System Periphery of Daedalus 5, the Annihilation Wave has been held! It is a fleeting relief against an enemy of overwhelming number, whose forces are unrelenting! With Command Center soon to be lost, Nova enters the fray!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Drax 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Nova 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Nova 7 (Lightspeed)
Stamina: Drax 6 (Generator)
Agility: Nova 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Drax 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Nova 5 (Lasers)
Total: Nova 33 (Super)

The universe is under threat from an incursion of Arthrosian insectoid aliens known collectively as the Annihilation Wave! They are a living plague that threatens all existence, invading from the Negative Zone under the command of its most notorious denizen: Annihilus!

Fortunately, some of the universe's most powerful beings have come together to form a single United Front led by Richard Rider: the last surviving Nova! The United Front includes such luminaries as: Star-Lord, Ronan The Accuser, Firelord, Gamora, and Drax The Destroyer.

Drax serves as a powerful soldier in the fight against the Annihilation Wave, but has also been a trusted voice to Nova, who credits him with 'destroying Richard Rider, the boy, to make room for Nova, the man'. His blunt mentorship helps Nova direct his forces in the face of devastating losses, and overwhelming odds.

This incarnation of Drax hadn't been around a long time at this point. He differs when compared to the prior form we saw battling Thor [in Warlock and The Infinity Watch #21] in reduced mass, and increased tactical intelligence. He's a more ferocious combatant, relying on mobility and twin daggers, rather than brute strength. This reduction in pure power has its drawbacks, as seen in Guardians of the Galaxy #25, when he struggled with a rampaging Thanos.

Thanos serves as an ally to Annihilus during the Annihilation event, as well as having outstanding personal grievances with Drax. From past entries we know this comes to a head in Annihilation #4 -- another showcase for the destructive hand-to-hand potential of Drax!

Our Nova file also comes exclusively from the time after Annihilation. When he returns to Earth with the full power of the Nova Force and Xandarian Worldmind, he effortlessly defeats former nemesis Diamondhead [Nova #2], and fights the Thunderbolts to a standstill [Nova #3]!

There's a lot of evidence here to argue Drax and Nova should make a serious dent in the nameless hordes of the Annihilation Wave. The catch is the simple overwhelming numbers of the Wave.

The Tape: Drax & Nova Ranking: Drax (#127)

What Went Down...

With perimeter force-fields breached, the Annihilation Wave advances on United Front HQ. Commander-in-Chief Richard Rider orders second-in-command Peter Quill to get their people clear. The former Starlord complies, while Rider dons his Nova Corps helmet and prepares to lead from the front.

In the field; a Kree soldier collects Earth girl Cammi Benally while her charge continues to fight. Drax sprays Arthrosian innards as he fights them one at a time with nothing but a sturdy pair of daggers!

As the Wave pushes forward, the ground gives way beneath Drax's feet. He falls to the lower levels, where Kree soldiers do their best to fire before they're inevitably consumed. Drax joins them in their hopeless fight.

Drax never stops fighting as the insect horde begins to overwhelm him. All that can be seen is a blood-soaked blade -- still stabbing and slashing at alien hide!

A reprieve comes in streaking golden light. Nova descends into the pit at speed -- a living missile targeting the amassing threat! The collision crushes one of the insects and scatters the rest! Drax is knocked clear with the rest of them.

The last Nova briefly joins Drax in fighting the aliens hand-to-hand while they assess the dire situation. He soon clutches The Destroyer by the wrist and takes them both airborne as they consider a response to their defensive breach.

Human Richard Rider struggles with the consequences of his next decision. Drax is coldly pragmatic with his assessment of the situation. The Annihilation Wave is catching up to the wounded. Nova can lose hundreds - or risk thousands.

Nova tosses Drax to the safety of a Kree fortress, then returns to the battlefield to carry out his solemn duty. Hovering above the war zone, he makes contact with Barrage Command. His order: full-scope heavy ordnance barrage.

The assault from above rains death and destruction upon Daedalus 5!

The zone is cleared at the cost of The United Front's own forces. A necessary toll to defend thousands more. The creed of the Kree warriors would likely have it no other way, but the burden of victory will weigh heavily on Richard Rider.

The Hammer...
His order cost The United Front untold casualties, but Nova's tactical decision ensured they won the battle -- and remain in the war. A result more bitter than sweet.

Nova's intervention also meant Drax safely shared in the win from behind their second perimeter. Things looked a little hairy, but Drax did plenty of damage against the seemingly endless hordes of the Annihilation Wave. The cold, warrior's rationale of his council also proved valuable to reaching the difficult decision to end it.

Something that really strikes me about the 2006 cosmic reboot is just how effectively it evokes the feeling of a super-hero space war. A lot of comics profess to be set in war time, but the sense of scale, chaos, and grim reality is particularly effective in Annihilation!

It worked to the event's favour that Marvel's cosmic line had gradually fallen out of grace in the new millennium. It meant even the most popular heroes (or villains) involved had been easy to lose sight of. Whether you were reading the tie-in mini-series, or not, Annihilation #1 provided a jarring jump-start to the chaos.

Those tie-ins were an attractive lure to lapsed, or longing fans. Even casual readers coming of age in the mid-2000s could recognize Silver Surfer, Super-Skrull, Ronan The Accuser, and Nova. Each gave a little extra mystique and star-power to the seemingly risky proposition of an all-out cosmic relaunch.

Cue the obligatory reference to a 2005 Drax mini-series that served as a precursor to Annihilation, while also revamping Drax as the streamlined fighter we saw today. Oft referenced material we'll take a look at one of these days!

The elevation of Nova from staple of the teen New Warriors, to battle-hardened space commander, made him an obvious break-out of Annihilation itself. The on-going series that followed was a no brainer, capitalizing on a fresh new look and feel that made Nova one of the most exciting heroes of the year.

Aspects of the revamp leaned heavily into what DC tried in the nineties with Kyle Rayner, but what it unraveled was far less beloved. It's tough to imagine anyone demanding a H.E.A.T. style rebirth for the spandex and bucket-head days. The new-look Nova paid homage to what came before, but embellished it in ways that made the character a bona fide star character.

It was a lot less obvious that Nova's grizzled right-hand man, the dusted off Starlord, would surpass him as Marvel's premiere cosmic hero! Of course, in Annihilation, it's a very different Peter Quill than the space-bum slacker of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, comics, and animated series!

Speaking of movies: it looks as if Annihilation might be a small influence on next month's Avengers: Infinity War film! Still no signs of Richard Rider in the cinematic Nova Corps, but it looks like Thanos might be bringing something resembling the Annihilation Wave to Earth! Exactly what Nova fought to avoid!

It wouldn't be too surprising if Annihilation has something to do with the closely guarded Avengers 4, but who knows? The influence of The Infinity Gauntlet is still on the ambiguous side, despite presumptions it would factor heavily into the long awaited arrival of Thanos.

Want to get ahead of the game by reading today's featured fight for yourself? You can check it out in collected edition via the Amazon link provided right! Not only will you get a cosmic deal, but also help support the site at no extra cost!

You can ride the wave to more featured fights like this one by checking out the Secret Archive Index! Every past battle is indexed by publisher, series, and issue number.

For even more recommendations, follow and subscribe via Twitter and Facebook for daily fight links inspired by the topics of the day! A like, share, or retweet is a great way to help support the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths! Or just tell a friend!

Winners: Nova & Drax
#76 (+51) Drax [+2 confirmed kills]
#77 (+51) Nova (Richard Rider) [+2 confirmed kills]

HERO OF THE WEEK: BRAINIAC (DC)
Real Name: Vril Dox
First Appearance: Action Comics #242 (July, 1958)
Fight Club Ranking: #846

Featured Fights:
- vs SUPERMAN: Adventures of Superman #519 (Jan 1995)

Almost everything about the SyFy produced series Krypton is wrong.

Nobody really needs to know the ancient history of fictional forefathers. Superman is the special one in the family - and there are plenty of contemporary branches to tell other stories with. At best, shows like Smallville or Gotham eventually wake up to the flawed tedium of their core concept, and start mangling comic book references into a hodgepodge of inconsistent colour and timelines. It shouldn't really satisfy anyone. Who the hell wants Batman villains without Batman?! Live in the now!!

With SyFy's reputation for second-rate genre television, I was more than ready to live my life without a second-thought for Krypton, but I failed to consider one crucial thought: What if they actually did something good? That seems to be the unique case of TV's Brainiac, who made his broadcast debut last week! See USA Today's February first-look for a striking image, and CBR for an episode recap:

I usually look to Supergirl for a more savvy, colourful comic book television show, but this is one of the times they've come off second-best! They pitched a weak Legion with a pretty ugly Brainiac 5 who lacks the vivid greens and purple of his Krypton counterpart!

Admittedly, I still won't be going out of my way to seek out episodes of Krypton. The central premise is something I'm just fundamentally not interested in. They don't seem to be applying the same design integrity to appropriated characters like Adam Strange, either. Always disappointing.

I'll sure as hell praise the merits of Krypton's vision of Brainiac, though! It isn't just close to recent comic book designs -- it's vivid, weird, unusual, and downright exciting! Superheroes should have a strong aesthetic and offer something new. Making them more like everything stinks. So good job, Krypton. You're the well earned Hero of the Week! I hope after your inevitable cancellation this version of Brainiac can show up in some other show. Probably Supergirl! Weeee!

<< Hero of the Week 04/16: Juggernaut   [Home]   Hero of the Week 04/02: Invisible Woman >>