Thanos' Long Shadow
No villain was ever built up more patiently: a grin in the credits in 2012, the Snap in 2018. The benchmark Doom is now measured against — and the blueprint for how Marvel tells final bosses.
The path · 5 steps
1
The Avengers
The grin: 'To challenge them would be to court death.'
2
Guardians of the Galaxy
The first appearance: on the throne, still outsourced to Ronan.
3
Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Titan does it himself: 'Fine, I'll do it myself.'
4
Avengers: Infinity War
The victory: he sacrifices Gamora, beats everyone — and rests.
5
Avengers: Endgame
Dust twice: beheaded at the cabin, snapped away in the battle.