Marvel’s Illuminati Are Hiding a HUGE Secret About the End of the World

Marvel’s Illuminati Are Hiding a HUGE Secret About the End of the World

Warning: contains spoilers for Thanos #3!

Marvel’s Illuminati are a secretive organization, and now fans have learned they hold the biggest one of all: knowledge about the end of the world. For decades, the Illuminati have met to guide the affairs of Earth’s heroic community, all while keeping their existence a secret. Now, in Thanos #3, the Illuminati gain access to the knowledge of Mistress Death, including when the world will end.

Thanos #3 is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Luca Pizzari and German Peralta. Mistress Death asks the Illuminati to hide her away for a while. They agree, but ask her what is in it for them. She tells the group that their world will end much sooner than expected. Death says it will happen in their lifetimes, but if they agree to hide her, they will gain access to information on the event, and maybe even how to stop it.

Marvel’s Illuminati Are Hiding a HUGE Secret About the End of the World

Death tells them her Infinity Well will come to them at the right time.

Marvel’s Illuminati Makes the Hard Decisions

The Illuminati Have Terrible Secrets

Five panels of Death negotating with the Illuminati

The Illuminati are one of Marvel’s most powerful and mysterious teams. Drawing from all corners of the Marvel Universe, the Illuminati make difficult decisions, not all of which work out in the end. For instance, the original incarnation of the Illuminati decided to banish the Hulk to deep space, eventually leading to World War Hulk. Due to ethical concerns, the team’s existence is kept quiet. Recently, Emma Frost replaced Professor X and the Blue Marvel will join the team as well.

The new members arrived just in time to be saddled with a great burden. While they do not know yet exactly how the world will end, they know it will, and soon. This knowledge alone would be too much for some, but not only do the Illuminati know it, they will find out how as well. As usual, the Illuminati are keeping this from the rest of the heroic community, and if history proves anything, this decision will backfire on them as well. How it will backfire remains to be seen.

Will This Knowledge Be The Illuminati’s Undoing?

The Illuminati’s Secret Keeping Has Backfired Several Times

Marvel Illuminati Combined Power

Of all the knowledge and secrets the Illuminati has, this is by far the heaviest. They do not learn the specifics of the end of the world in this issue, leading to speculation on how it might go down. Death was particularly harsh on Thanos in this issue, perhaps suggesting the Mad Titan may be behind it. Death’s recent sojourn as a human has taught her lessons on empathy and compassion, and she may use these abilities to help Marvel’s Illuminati turn back the end of the world.

Thanos #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!

Thanos #3 (2024)

Thanos #3 Preview page 1.
  • Writer: Christopher Cantwell
  • Artist: Luca Pizzari and German Peralta
  • Colorist: Ruth Redmond
  • Letterer: Cory Petit
  • Cover Artist: Lenil Francis Yu and Sunny Gho