Thanos Is Coming For Kang's Crown As Marvel's Greatest Conqueror
Warning! Spoilers for Eternals #9 by Marvel Comics
Many Marvel fans know Kang is the greatest conqueror in comics, but Thanos just proved he's a match for the supervillain's elusive title. In Eternals #9 from Marvel Comics, Thanos unleashes his attack on Lemuria. But, instead of joining the fight right away and doing the killing himself, he holds back, reminding readers that he's a conqueror, not a berserker - at least in his latest battle.
Kang the Conqueror earned his name after many successful attempts at taking over parts of the Marvel Universe. The time-traveling villain has won so many times; he's got his own museum filled with a collection of weapons and relics from all the heroes he's defeated. Meanwhile, Thanos has shown both the ability to fight and cause death on a massive scale by himself and, conversely, leading a team to do his bidding for him - only intervening when the moment calls for it. However, the Mad Titan decided to act more precisely from afar in his recent attack of the Eternals and Deviants.
In Eternals #9 by Kieron Gillen, Esad Ribic, Guiu Vilanova, Matthew Wilson, and VC's Clayton Cowles, Thanos begins his latest murder spree searching for Phastos. Marvel's new Prime Eternal wants to capture the innovative Eternal to help rebuild his body and is willing to bring him in dead or alive since the Great Machine can resurrect Phastos. With the Eternals hiding in Lemuria, the home of the Deviants, Thanos unleashes his army against them. The Mad Titan intentionally chooses to hold back himself, realizing that victory is more important than simply destroying the city. The Great Machine notes Thanos would love to go on an uncontrollable killing spree, but that "he is a conqueror, not a berserker."
Thanos decides to show precision in his own attack on Lemuria, choosing to keep Tolau the Delirious (who later dies from excess deviation) alive after Thena provides info on where Phastos is hiding. After locating Phastos, Thanos brutally murders him by smashing his head like a grape and leaves the city. However, there's no question Thanos conquered the city, as the death count on his greatest attack on the Deviants is nearly incalculable.
In this case, Thanos used his advanced knowledge and army gained by becoming the Prime Eternal to decimate Lemuria and cause mass casualties. Like Kang before him, Thanos acted as a conqueror and not a berserker, which proved to be the right strategy in his quest to find Phastos. Now, Thanos will likely rebuild his body and become an even greater conqueror in the process. Eternals #9 is in comic book stores now.