The Return of Thanos Stripped a Major MCU Villain of Their Power
Thanos isn't the only villain to have their power affected by a near-death experience - as an MCU villain is experiencing her own issues.
Warning! Spoilers for The Mighty Valkyries #4 by Marvel Comics below
After returning from certain death after being sucked into a black hole with Thanos, Hela can only watch as Helheim slips through her fingers. In The Mighty Valkyries #4, Hela wonders what is happening on Hel now that she's back in her domain, noticing it's not quite the same as before she left. Hela's power over Hel is seemingly fading.
In Thanos and the Black Order's last fight with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Hela found herself in the throes of a black hole after trying to trap the superteam with a black hole gun. She was sucked into the Black Hole alongside Thanos and, like the Infinity Gauntlet-wielding villain, was noticeably absent in the pages of Marvel Comics for a short period of time. Finally, Hela returned in The Mighty Valkyries, where she found Hel adapting without her - including her wife Karnilla raising three stolen kids (who happen to be new gods) after striking a deal with More, which allowed her to create life in Hel.
In The Mighty Valkyries #4 by Jason Aaron, Torunn Gronbekk, Mattia De Iulis, Erica D'Urso, Marcio Menyz, and Joe Sabino, Hela walks across the beaches of Hel - noticing how unfamiliar Niffleheim suddenly feels to her. She wonders if Hel has been warped and twisted since she's last left or is missing something. Hela is aware Karnilla is keeping something from her and opines why Hel isn't yielding to her as it once was.
After locating Karnilla and the three new gods she's stolen, Hela is confused with the growing grass and trees that have overtaken the bones and sand which previously made up Hel's desert. In a fit of rage, Hela screams at Karnilla, asking her what she's done to her realm. Clearly, Hel isn't as it once was and Hela isn't impressed with what Karnilla's done with it since she's been gone. Previous warnings about the Ten Realms changing are seemingly coming true right before Hela's eyes.
Without control of Hel, Hela has lost her biggest power as the ruler of the region. Moreover, her wife Karnilla has gone off-script and is creating her own pantheon - even making Jane Foster the protector of the three powerful children - despite Hela's clear objections. After nearly being wiped from existence after falling into a black hole with Thanos, Hela's return has gone completely sideways, as Hel has become an entirely different place under Karnilla's role. It's safe to assume Hela will fight tooth and nail to return the region to its previous darker form. The Mighty Valkyrie #4 is in comic book stores now.