There are few things more effective at establishing the power of a villain than pitting them against another established villain. The trope effectively sets a standard and establishes the new challenge the heroes face on a narrative level. Now, Marvel has set the stage for one of its big Summer 2026 crossover events by killing an infamous Avengers villain.
Thanos, who had sworn himself into Hela’s service. Thanos was unsuccessful, but returned in Knull #5 seeking to redeem his previous failure. However, the Avengers’ adversary failed again, this time losing his life as Knull impaled his head upon the All-Light spear.
How Thanos’ death sets up Marvel’s next big event
Observing Thanos’ death from a distance, Hela began to grow concerned. While dismissing Knull as a fool before, she had to acknowledge he now had light powers strong enough to counter the Darkforce she commanded. Her general, however, had devised a backup plan should Thanos fall — a strategic retreat to Earth.
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