Thanos and Captain America made dreams come true for Marvel fans with their showdown in Avengers: Endgame. And to pay tribute (or throw some friendly shade) a DC Justice Leaguer just recreated Cap’s greatest moment by standing tall against Darkseid… and getting killed in seconds.
The idea of comparing Marvel’s Thanos to DC’s Darkseid recently took over social media, with creators and fans on both sides weighing in to back their favorites. So it’s either total coincidence, cosmic destiny, or a completely intentional tribute that in the pages of DC’s own Justice League universe, the iconic Infinity War standoff between Captain America and Thanos has been eerily recreated. The difference? This is Darkseid we’re talking about–which means DC’s most courageous hero only earns herself a quicker death.
By now even casual Marvel fans know that the MCU’s Infinity War is based on Jim Starlin’s Infinity Gauntlet miniseries, in which Marvel’s heroes unite against an Infinity Stone-powered Thanos. But since the movie version saw the core Avengers divided into two groups, Captain America only had a passing encounter with Thanos. And by that time, the villain was already done talking. Sure, seeing Captain America hold back Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet was a cool moment, but for comic fans who dreamed of seeing Cap stand against Thanos all by himself, it was a letdown.
Fortunately Avengers: Endgame made up for it and then some, taking a moment in the battle to have Steve Rogers stride up to stare Thanos down–along with his entire army. And with Jim Starlin’s iconic Thanos war back in the spotlight, it seems Darkseid and the Justice League are getting in on the tributes. As further proof that Thanos and Darkseid are destined to walk similar paths (after Jack Kirby returned to Marvel and fashioned Thanos after his New God), the DC villain has been on a mission of his own to gain the cosmic, godly power he believes to be his birthright. And to do it, he’s relied on the stars of Justice League Odyssey, starting Cyborg, Starfire, Azrael, and the Green Lantern of Earth, Jessica Cruz. And for those with Starlin’s Infinity Gauntlet fresh in their minds, it’s impossible not to feel the overlap between Darkseid’s new ascendance to godhood, and that of Thanos.
Obviously some of those similarities are unavoidable: Darkseid facing DC’s Justice League and defeating one hero after another will resemble Thanos doing the same, no matter what. And Green Lantern is the only hero left standing, having watched all of her teammates fall, her words are just as defiant as Captain America’s. But seeing the perspective shift to a 2-dimensional view of Darkseid marching up to Green Lantern, and seeing Jessica’s power ring take on the momentary appearance of a circular shield upon her arm… coincidence becomes harder to believe.
As the climactic confrontation continues, it’s a compliment to both Jessica Cruz and Steve Rogers to say they embody the same noble willingness to die, unable to surrender in the face of a tyrant who thinks himself God. For Steve, in the comics as in Endgame, Thanos responds by battering Steve’s shield from his arm, exposing him as a mere mortal. Darkseid doesn’t need to, merely noting that Jessica’s own ring-powdered shield is about to die without power. Both heroes respond in the same fashion… getting the same results.
Steve leaps up to give Thanos a full-powered punch across the jaw, having his hope and courage rewarded with absolutely no effect, and getting swatted away by a single swipe of Thanos’s hand. For Jessica, her own punch is a bit more dramatic–thirty years of comic art and a Green Lantern ring will do that–but is just as ineffective. And as she is tossed aside with a nearly identical god-given slap, both Marvel and DC fans are more likely to feel the familiar tingle of deja vu. Of course, Darkseid isn’t one to dismiss such an impudent attacker… choosing to finish the job instead. It’s always a bit of a disappointment for Marvel fans to remember that Captain America’s iconic moment of defiance is followed up with three small panels of his defeat, before Thanos uses the Infinity Stones to just disappear him and the other heroes. Especially compared to how Darkseid reacts, ending the fight in decisive fashion and killing the Green Lantern leaving only dust and bones behind.
The comic book fans looking for Marvel/DC competition may note this similarity, overlap, or quiet tribute as a jab–with Darkseid demonstrating true power or malicious, killer instinct. But more likely, any chance to acknowledge or deepen the decades-long rivalry between Thanos and Darkseid is hard to pass up. And as always, it’s the plot of Justice League Odyssey and this reborn version of Darkseid that’s being served first (with a wink playfully thrown to Marvel) and not forced to become the actual point of the comic at all.
We can only hope that this recreation will lead to renewed debates, of whether Captain America would’ve been killed as easily as Green Lantern, or whether Thanos would have stood a chance against a DC power ring. Those disputes may never be settled, but fans who wish to see this tribute will need to pick up their own copy. Check out the official details and plot synopsis below:
- JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #12 (2019) Written by: Dan Abnett Art by: Will Conrad Colors by: Rain Beredo Cover by: Will Conrad with Ivan Nunes Variant Cover by: Lucio Parrillo The new reign of Darkseid begins in the Ghost Sector! With the death of the New Gods, he plans to use the Sepulkore to rebuild a new army, but even the great Darkseid couldn’t enslave and control the Ghost Sector alone. He’ll require the help of the New Gods’ newest heralds: Cyborg, Starfire and Azrael!
Justice League Odyssey #12 is available now from your local comic book shop, or direct from DC Comics.
MORE: Darkseid & The Female Furies Confirmed For New Gods Movie
