Summary

• Marvel's afterlife is revealed to have multiple options, including judgement and reincarnation, making it more complex and reflective of different attitudes towards death.
• Thanos' love for Death takes on a new layer of meaning, as he continues to choose Death despite other options in the afterlife, making him appear almost cowardly.
• The Resurrection of Magneto #1 provides a fresh perspective on Thanos' obsession with Death and adds depth to the character's motivations.

Warning: contains spoilers for The Resurrection of Magneto #1!Thanos’ love of Death is redefined as Marvel drops one of its biggest cosmic lore reveals ever. Since his first appearance, the Mad Titan has been devoted to Mistress Death, even going as far as to wipe out half the universe’s population for her. Now, in The Resurrection of Magneto #1, the full extent of Marvel’s afterlife is revealed, and it puts Thanos’ love of Death in a new context.

The Resurrection of Magneto #1 was written by Al Ewing and drawn by Luciano Vecchio. Magneto is in trouble in the afterlife, and he manages to make a distress call to Storm. Entering the next life, Storm is confronted by several different possibilities for what happens next. Among the options are Lady Death, symbolizing the true death, the Living Tribunal who represents judgment, as well as a snake and a wheel, which are stand-ins for reincarnation.

Storm is presented with other symbols as well, whose meaning has not been revealed.

Thanos' Obsession with Death Has Driven Some of Marvel's Best Stories

Thanos Just Can't Get Over Death

Death, briefly glimpsed in this issue, has been the prime motivator for Thanos in the comics. The personification of an abstract concept, Death is almost always depicted as a woman, and one with whom Thanos is smitten. Thanos’ numerous campaigns of terror and death, including his actions in The Infinity Gauntlet, have been in Death’s name. Currently, in the Thanos miniseries, he is searching for Death’s latest incarnation, his love for her seemingly rekindled. While he searches, his love for Death gets a new layer in The Resurrection of Magneto #1.

Prior to this issue, Marvel’s afterlife was depicted in a nebulous fashion, often shifting to reflect the belief systems of the recently deceased. It was generally assumed that all souls would travel to Death’s realm, but The Resurrection of Magneto #1 upends that, by revealing there are multiple options and paths one can take in the afterlife. Judgment and death are but two, with reincarnation and others on the table as well. This reveal makes Marvel’s afterlife more complex and richer, and truly reflects the many attitudes that exist towards death.

Marvel's New Afterlife Puts a Less Flattering Spin on Thanos' Love of Death

It Makes Thanos Look Like a Coward

Marvel’s new afterlife also gives new meaning to Thanos’ love of Death. Thanos has died many times in Marvel continuity, and thus should be aware of the many options awaiting him in the afterlife, yet he continues to choose Death. Judgment is also available to him, yet he shuns that option repeatedly, as if scared of what might happen if he chooses it. In light of these new reveals about Marvel’s afterlife, Thanos’ actions seem almost cowardly, as if the Mad Titan is scared to accept responsibility for his actions.

The Resurrection of Magneto #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!