In the MCU, Thanos set out on a mission to collect the Infinity Stones and use them to erase half of all life in the universe so that those who remained could flourish, and as a reward, he was attacked by the Avengers and decapitated by Thor. Yet even in death, Thanos could rest easy knowing that he accomplished his cosmic task. He died, but he died a winner, which is a far cry from his perpetual fate in Marvel Comics.

Thanos is a loser in Marvel Comics canon, plain and simple. Every attempt he makes at attaining godlike power ends in failure, even if he’s briefly successful. The greatest example of this can be seen in Infinity Gauntlet. Thanos has just completed his ‘Thanos Quest’, he has all the Infinity Gems, and he promptly uses them to imprison every abstract and/or cosmic entity before successfully doing the Infinity Snap. However, even as the strongest being in the universe, Thanos is defeated by mere mortals – and it’s his own doing.

Thanos loses the Infinity Gauntlet upon using it to turn himself into the new Eternity, and in doing so, he leaves his physical form totally vulnerable. Nebula used that opportunity to steal the Infinity Gauntlet, and immediately used it to undo everything Thanos had done before exiling Thanos to the far reaches of the universe. It wasn’t some grand plan that effectively gave the heroes the win (as Nebula attaining the Gauntlet opened the door for Thanos’ final defeat), it was the carelessness of Thanos himself – which, according to at least one Marvel Comics hero, was self-sabotage.

Thanos Knows He’s a Loser, & Adam Warlock Proved It To Him

Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin and George Pérez

After Nebula banishes Thanos upon stealing the Infinity Gauntlet, the Mad Titan is rescued by Adam Warlock, who needs his help in claiming the cosmically powerful artifact for the heroes. This seemed like a bold move on Warlock’s part, given that Thanos had just had the Gauntlet, and would assuredly never let it leave his side again given the chance to reclaim it. However, Adam Warlock assures Thanos to his face that the Mad Titan truly isn’t capable, and that even he knows it.

Adam Warlock was inside the Soul Stone when Thanos had it in his possession at the start of the storyline, which allowed Warlock to see the true nature of Thanos’ heart. Warlock found that Thanos secretly knew he was unworthy of holding onto godlike power, even after proving his might by claiming it. Thanos’ unquenchable thirst for power would always drive him to seek the means to effectively become a god, but his hidden belief that he was unworthy of keeping that power would always lead him to ultimate defeat – just as it always had.

Thanos Actively Fights Any Version of Himself Who Gains Ultimate Power

Thanos Wins by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw

Thanos has encountered alternate/future versions of himself on numerous occasions, from the Infinity Siblings trilogy to Thanos Wins. However, it’s the latter example that arguably stands out the most, as Thanos Wins sends Thanos to an alternate future where – as the title gives away – Thanos wins. Everything he’s ever claimed to have wanted was his, with the only downside being that he still hadn’t won the heart of Mistress Death, and knew he never would. Thanos took one look at his repugnant future form and hated him before actively fighting to undo the damage he caused.

Thanos believes he’s unworthy to win, and hates himself if he does. He’s utterly unloved by everyone, including and especially Mistress Death, and can’t even seem to love himself. Thanos festers in perpetual failure, haunted by an unfulfilled life that still somehow pushes him to fight for ultimate power, only to rip it away due to his own self-doubt and self-loathing. The MCU’s Thanos may have died, but Marvel Comics’ Thanos is forced to live, and in his state, that’s infinitely worse.