The Mad Titan Thanos and the Devourer of Worlds Galactus are two of Marvel’s most powerful and feared villains, but that doesn’t mean they consider themselves allies. In fact, the two cosmic powers have a long history of clashing with each other, leading Galactus to insult the former owner of the Infinity Gauntlet.
In Ryan North, Erica Henderson, Chris Giarrusso, Rico Renzi and Clayton Cowles’ Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4the titular hero encounters the Eater of Worlds. Due to her unique and cheerful attitude, Doreen Green is the first person to greet Galactus as an equal rather than a terrifying god of destruction, piquing his interest.
The two have a brief argument in which Squirrel Girl mentions that she once defeated Thanos in a fight, with Galactus responding: “Thanos is an idiot.” The insult shows how Galactus views his fellow villain, but It’s also a subtle dig at one of the biggest retcons in Thanos’ long history.
2002 Infinite Abyss tried to erase Thanos’ biggest losses in Marvel continuity, but Squirrel Girl had the last laugh.
Galactus has every reason to hate Thanos
Thanos is one of the few to defeat Galactus (and he did it easily)
Galactus is one of the foundational forces of the Marvel Universe, but he was humbled by Thanos in the past. When Thanos Claimed the Infinity Stones in 1991 The Infinity GauntletGalactus and several other cosmic beings tried to stop him. Unfortunately, their energy barrage wasn’t enough, and Thanos trapped them floating above his throne, showing off his new level of power. Galactus he did manage to get revenge Thanos: Epiphanywhere he utterly destroyed Thanos in battle since the Mad Titan no longer had the Infinity Stones at his disposal.
So it’s no surprise that Galactus don’t like Thanos – in fact, when Squirrel Girl tells him about defeating the Mad Titan, he laughs and exclaims “What a tool” – but your word choice “to deceive” It’s still interesting. Thanos has had some major successes throughout Marvel’s history, but he’s also suffered some major defeats. Thanos’ plans have overtaken him many times, leading him to damage the fabric of reality and even confront a future version of himself who, despite killing all other life, filled him with shame.
Thanos’ longtime enemy Adam Warlock would likely agree with Galactus’ assessment of the Mad Titan, having argued in the past that Thanos subconsciously considers himself unworthy of victory and always provides his enemies with the tools necessary to defeat him because of from that. AND Although Thanos’ obsession with Death is imposing to mortals, long-lived beings see it as pathetic.with Thanos’ grandfather Ouranos criticizing him for “that strange schoolboy passion for his cosmic superiors.”
While Marvel fans are used to seeing Thanos portrayed as a terrifying force of nature, it’s interesting to see someone like Galactus treat him with disdain. Despite all his genius and power, Thanos has not achieved any of the goals that really matter to him, and is often defeated due to his own carelessness. – for example, transcending your physical form into Infinity Gauntlet and thus leaving the Stones unprotected. This insult is also more loaded than it seems, thanks to the real-life context of Squirrel Girl defeating Thanos.
Galactus’ Insult Is a Sly Nod to a Massive Thanos Retcon
Thanos’ Creator Erased His Biggest Defeats From Canon
Following Infinity GauntletThe late ’90s were not kind to Thanos, with some major losses for Thor, the Avengers, and even Marvel’s Tarzan-like character Ka-Zar. These stories were told by creators other than Thanos creator Jim Starlin, and when Starlin returned to Thanos in 2002 Infinite Abysshe ‘repaired’ the losses his character accumulated. The story reveals that Thanos cloned himself several times, creating the ‘Thanosi’ – less powerful versions of the Mad Titans who are ‘revealed’ to be the true beings defeated by the Avengers and Ka-Zar.
Fast forward to 2005 GLX-Mas Special (Dan Slott and Ty Templeton), and the issue includes a joke where the narrative cuts to Squirrel Girl, who has just taken down Thanos and “saved the entire multiverse.” The story also features the presence of the Observer, who explicitly confirms Squirrel Girl’s beat. “that, real Thanos, and not a robot, clone or simulacrum.” The joke is a tribute to Thanosi and Starlin’s attempt to erase Thanos’ past defeats.
2015 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4 can therefore be seen as rubbing salt into the wound, once again ratifying the fact that Squirrel Girl beat Thanos, and even having Galactus throw shade at the Mad Titan by branding him as a “to deceive.” While Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is definitely a comic that made fun its main focus, it was also an opportunity to show Galactus‘casual opinion of Thanos and confirm that despite their history of cosmic villainy, there is absolutely no love lost between them.