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The Avengers Defeat Thanos With Sacrifice

What does it really mean to be a superhero? That question has haunted Tony Stark over the past decade’s worth of films. “I never said you were a superhero,” Christine Everhart needled Stark back in Iron Man, prompting him to out himself to the world in a press conference. “You’re not the one to make the sacrifice play,” Steve Rogers fumed in The Avengers, “to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you.” He was proven wrong when Stark flew into a portal carrying a nuclear bomb, but ever since that day Stark has wrestled with questions of power and responsibility. What does it mean to be a hero? What mistakes and failures is he responsible for, and can he truly protect the world from the greatest threat it has ever faced? It’s all come to a head in Infinity War, and it would be so very appropriate for Tony Stark to give his life to save the world - to make the ultimate “sacrifice play.”

Read More: Infinity War: Which Of The Original Avengers Will Die?

The reality is that Infinity War and Avengers 4 are the swan song for many of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth are all expected to be high-profile casualties in the battle against Thanos. Some of them will die at Thanos’ hand - screenwriter Stephen McFeely promised that there would be a cost every time Thanos acquired an Infinity Stone - but the victory itself is sure to cost the Avengers dearly too. It’s time for the changing of the guard, with a new generation of heroes - Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange - stepping up.

Thanos Causes His Own Defeat

The classic Thanos story is Jim Starlin’s Infinity Gauntlet, in which the Mad Titan gained possession of the Infinity Gauntlet. Towards the end of that miniseries, Adam Warlock revealed - via the Soul Stone - the deepest secret of Thanos’ heart; that he doubts himself, that he does not believe he is truly worthy, and thus that he sabotages his own victories. While Thanos’ motives in the MCU have been subtly changed, this secret weakness could still remain.

Read Theory: Thanos Will Cause His Own Defeat, Not The Avengers

And this weakness is important when it comes to wielding the power of the Infinity Gauntlet. It allows reality to be structured according to the wearer’s deepest desires - including their subconscious ones. Reality itself will be structured according to Thanos’ will, creating the opportunity for his defeat. This won’t make the heroes’ victory seem much easier, and the Avengers may still pay a terrible price, but it at least makes it more feasible for Thanos to be beaten.

Doctor Strange Uses Time Travel… Somehow

Doctor Strange introduced the concept of time-travel to the MCU. For millennia, the Sorcerers Supreme have used the Time Stone to protect reality itself; Strange did the same thing at the end of his solo film, trapping Dormammu in a time loop. Trailers for Infinity War have suggested he’s since become even more skilled at using the Time Stone. In one recent TV Spot for Infinity War, Strange explained that he’d actually explored possible futures to see how the Avengers could beat Thanos. “I went forward in time to see all the possible outcomes,” he told Iron Man. If there is any way the Avengers can defeat Thanos, then not only will Strange know it, he’ll know which decisions take the Avengers down that particular timeline. That may explain why trailers have shown contradictory versions of the same scene; it’s possible Infinity War will actually explore the different timelines through Strange’s eyes.

Read Theory: Infinity War Secretly Features Multiple Timelines

Even if this isn’t the case, there’s strong evidence that Avengers 4 is a time-travel story. Set photos shown members of the Avengers in classic costumes, with Hemsworth sporting his flowing golden locks, and Chris Evans walking down a street filled with classic cars. Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man was even photographed on set during what was clearly the Battle of New York from The Avengers. It’s possible Infinity War will end with the Avengers defeated and they’ll then travel back in time to rewrite history.

The Avengers Steal the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos

In Jim Starlin’s classic Infinity Gauntlet miniseries, the fate of the universe rested upon one question; who would wield the Infinity Gauntlet? Dazzled by his own power, Thanos let down his guard, and Nebula stole the Gauntlet, putting right the wrongs Thanos had done. Where Thanos had erased half the life in the universe, Nebula restored it with but a thought. But she, too, proved dangerously unstable - unable to safely wield the Infinity Gauntlet. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were forced to unite with Thanos himself against Nebula, knocking the Infinity Gauntlet from her grasp. A mad scramble followed, with heroes and villains alike rushing for the Gauntlet. It was ultimately picked up by Adam Warlock.

While Adam Warlock isn’t in Infinity War, this concept could easily be played out on screen with a twist. After all, if Thanos does succeed in uniting all six Infinity Stones, he will have power beyond anything the Avengers or the Guardians have ever seen before. The only way to defeat him would be to successfully steal the Infinity Gauntlet from the Mad Titan’s hand.

Read More: Avengers That Could Wield The Infinity Gauntlet In The MCU

Who could wield the unlimited power of the Infinity Gauntlet? The comics have offered up many possibilities, although given the story of the MCU began with 2008’s Iron Man, it would be appropriate if Tony Stark who delivered the final blow. Another possibility, though, is that it should be Captain America - the Avengers’ heart and soul. Of course, we still don’t know what’s going on with Hawkeye…

Thanos’ Daughters Get Revenge

Infinity War is Thanos’ story, and that means two characters are going to be key: Nebula and Gamora. These are two of Thanos’ adopted children, former members of the Black Order. Their knowledge could be crucial to defeating their “Father”.

Indeed, the Infinity War trailers have focused in on Gamora, setting her up for a major arc. That makes sense; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 revealed that Thanos forced his children to compete against one another, transforming the loser into a cyborg of some kind. Gamora, however, is relatively unscathed - suggesting she’s been able to best Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw, Cul Obsidian, and Proxima Midnight. She knows their strengths and weaknesses, and her guidance could prove invaluable in the Battle of Wakanda.

But how will Thanos react to his daughters’ treachery? That’s the real question, especially if the Mad Titan succeeds in creating the Infinity Gauntlet. In Starlin’s Infinity Gauntlet miniseries, Thanos chose to keep his daughter Nebula at his side, transforming her into a desiccated husk as a form of torture. This proved to be his ultimate mistake; Nebula took advantage of a moment’s distraction and snatched the Infinity Gauntlet from her father. Could something similar play out here?

Read More: Gamora (Not Nebula) May Be The Key To Stopping Thanos

Thanos Could Be Betrayed

But if Nebula and Gamora have betrayed Thanos, why are we assuming the rest of the Black Order will remain loyal? All eyes are on the monstrous being known as Ebony Maw, who seems to play a major role in Infinity War. Ebony Maw was created as part of Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity event, presented as the most disloyal of Thanos’ followers. Thanos knew it, describing Maw as an “irritant,” but respecting his genius too much to simply kill him. He accepted Maw’s treachery, factoring it into his plans; when Thanos arrived on Earth in Infinity, Ebony Maw decided now was the time to reveal his own agenda. “I want what Thanos wants,” Maw revealed, and enslaved the mind of Doctor Strange in order to accomplish that goal.

That particular scene appears to be adapted into the film, with trailers teasing Ebony Maw’s torture of Doctor Strange. But why is Maw doing that? What does he have to gain? It’s possible that Ebony Maw will have his own agenda in Infinity War, one that ultimately puts him at odds with Thanos. If that’s the case, it may mean neither winds up actually possessing all six of the Infinity Stones; Maw’s treachery could easily create an opportunity for the Avengers and the Guardians to defeat Thanos.

Read More: Thanos Could Be Betrayed In Infinity War

Perhaps Thanos Isn’t Defeated At All

Of course, there is one other chilling possibility; that Thanos won’t be defeated at all. Infinity War could end with Thanos triumphant, in possession of the Infinity Gauntlet, and the Avengers defeated. If that’s the case, he will finally have the power to achieve his goal; the Mad Titan will snap his fingers, and half the life in the universe will be extinguished.

But here’s the catch; with the Infinity Gauntlet in play, even a victory isn’t the end of the story. In the original comics, Thanos sought to become a god in order to earn the love of Mistress Death. In the MCU, his actual goal is to kill half the universe. But all it will take is for someone else to acquire the Infinity Gauntlet - even years later - and his action can be undone. In order for Thanos to win, he has to continue to win; all his opponents have to do is win once, and get their hands on the Infinity Gauntlet. Then, all this can be undone. Fortunately, there’s an Avengers 4.

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The drama and scale of Avengers: Infinity War is unprecedented. The power levels at play are off the charts, even for a universe where dimensional barriers can be torn apart and entire worlds can be ravaged by cosmic beings. That means defeating Thanos will be no easy thing; indeed, it will be the greatest challenge the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy have ever faced. But they will win in end. Even if they can’t protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure they’ll avenge it.

MORE: Where Every Avenger Is At The Start Of Infinity War

  • Ant-Man 2 Release Date: 2018-07-06 captain marvel Release Date: 2019-03-08 spider-man homecoming 2 Release Date: 2019-07-02 Avengers: Infinity War Release Date: 2018-04-27 The Avengers 4 Release Date: 2019-04-26