When Thanos wins, we all win.
There's no question that a villain as complex and nuanced as Thanos deserves his own solo series. But with writer Jeff Lemire and artists Mike Deodato and German Peralta telling a very complete story over the course of their 12 issues, it's enough to wonder if Marvel stands to gain anything by keeping the series around in Marvel Legacy. Thankfully, Thanos #13 serves as a resounding "Yes." If anything, this series looks to be on its way up thanks to the new creative team.
Thanos #13 marks the second time in as many weeks that writer Donny Cates takes the reins of a prominent Marvel title. And once again, he manages that tricky balance between honoring the tone of the previous creative team and still crafting something that feels new and original. It certainly doesn't hurt that he's joined by God Country co-creator Geoff Shaw for this book. It was pretty obvious reading that series that Cates and and Shaw are born to work on the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe.
The biggest similarity between Cates' work and that of Lemire is that both show a penchant for writing grandiose narration. But where that approach was sometimes a little too heavy-handed in Lemire's issues, Cates pulls it off here. He truly leans into the massive spectacle and terrifying force of nature that is Thanos. At the same time, Cates is able to keep the book on an even keel by offsetting the spectacle and drama with some goofy character humor. His clever take on an old Marvel favorite in this issue often threatens to eclipse Thanos himself. The humor and larger-than-life qualities combine to make Cates feel like the truest successor to Rick Remender we've yet seen at Marvel.
The critical difference in Cates' approach to the series is that he's exploring Thanos on the rise. Lemire brought the Mad Titan low over the course of 12 issues, only restoring him to full power at the very end. Cates builds on that, portraying Thanos as a villain whose very name haunts the most powerful beings in the universe. Clearly, building a sympathetic portrayal isn't the goal here. But that isn't needed, particularly as Cates introduces a new player that promises to keep even Thanos himself off guard in the months to come.
Shaw's gorgeous artwork immediately elevates the series to a new level. He crafts a hulking, imposing take on Thanos and a very surreal, even psychedelic vision of the Marvel Universe. Shaw's boisterous sense of energy and dynamic camera angles are a huge boon for the series, as are the rich colors of Antonio Fabela. There's no question as to whether this book is in the right hands.
The Verdict
Where Thanos was a decent (if flawed) addition to the Marvel library in its first year, the series is now on track to become one of Marvel's most exciting titles. Cates and Shaw once again prove themselves a talented creative team, and Marvel made a wise decision by keeping the two together as they make the jump from the creator-owned world to the Marvel Universe.
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