Wolverine Cut Off Thanos' Arm In His Darkest Infinity Gauntlet Loss
In a Marvel "What If...?" storyline, Wolverine successfully managed to gain Thanos' trust before using his adamantium claws to slice the Infinity Gauntlet off of his arm. In What If? Newer Fantastic Four, Logan Howlett was thought to have betrayed his closest allies to be the servant of the Mad Titan, when in reality, he was just getting close to spring a bloody attack on Thanos when he was at his most vulnerable.
Marvel Comics "What If...?" anthology series told special stories of major Marvel moments occurring in a different or completely different fashion. Among the comics include What If Spider-Man Joined The Fantastic Four?, What If Dr. Strange Had Been a Disciple of Dormammu?, and What If Gwen Stacy Had Lived? Some "What If...?" stories have even been springboards for popular characters to enter the Marvel Universe, including issues about Jane Foster becoming Thor, and Peter Parker's daughter, Mayday Parker, being introduced. Disney+ is adapting "What If..." into its own series surrounding the events of the MCU.
What If? The Newer Fantastic Four (2009) by Paul Tobin, Patrick Scherberger, Craig Yeung, Chris Sotomayor, and Nate Piekos, told the story of a new Fantastic Four forming after the original team was murdered by a shapeshifter. The new team, consisting of Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Ghost-Rider, formed in their absence. However, After Thanos snapped half of reality from existence (including Ghost-Rider) with the Infinity Gauntlet, Iron Man joins the team as the group takes on the cosmic juggernaut. After witnessing Thanos use the gauntlet to kill powerful cosmic beings such as Galactus, and Uatu the Watcher, Wolverine agrees to become his servant, leading the Mad Titan to kill Mephisto. While the rest of the team is shocked to learn of Wolverine's betrayal, it was all for good reason.
Wolverine tells Thanos he is driven by his desire to be with Jean Grey, much like the Eternal desires to be with Death. When Logan convinces Thanos that touching Death will be one way to prove his love, Wolverine unsheathes his claws and cuts off the villain's arm. Wolvie's Fantastic Four members are happy to learn they weren't betrayed, as Hulk knocks Thanos out, while Spider-Man using the Infinity Gaunlet to restore reality to how it previously was.
Wolverine cutting off Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet-wielding arm is one of the most effective, badass ways a hero has defeated the Mad Titan to date. While the moment doesn't exist in mainstream Marvel continuity, if Wolverine ever comes face-to-face with Thanos in either the MCU or in the pages of future comics, he could end the villain's run by distracting him and cutting off his arm - or like Thor, he could go for the head.