Warning! This post contains SPOILERS ahead for A.X.E: Starfox #1In the latest tie-in issue to Marvel's Judgment Day crossover event, Thanos' brother and the new Prime Eternal Eros reveals why he prefers to be called "Starfox" (and no, it has nothing to do with the Nintendo character). While the moniker was originally his codename when he was briefly an Avenger, the Eternal from Titan kept the name going forward as he adventured through space. However, the Progenitor Celestial's global judgment of Earth has motivated Eros to take a hard look at his life and legacy as the brother of the Mad Titan.
While Thanos was the firstborn son of A'Lars and Sui-san of Titan, his status as an avatar of death and destruction motivated Sui-san to wish for another child to redeem Thanos' growing dark legacy. As such, Eros was conceived as an avatar of love itself. Despite being the first Eternal of Titan to be integrated with the Eternals' Machine that is Earth, Eros refused to be the hero and redeemer his parents wanted right away, choosing instead to live his life and use his powers of love largely for himself. However, Thanos' first attack on Titan and the death of their mother motivated Eros to start taking his life more seriously, ing the Avengers in their first true defeat of the Mad Titan.
In the new A.X.E: Starfox #1 from Kieron Gillen and Daniele Di Nicuolo, Eros confirms why he chose the new name "Starfox" during his years living for himself. While it later became his codename when Starfox fought with the Avengers, it represents a free name that doesn't have any destiny or responsibly attached to it. Eros had to be the redeemer and the one meant to counter his darker older brother, while Starfox could just sit back, relax, and watch the galaxy go by.
"Starfox" Is So Much More Than An Avengers Codename
Even when Eros started becoming more of a hero, the Starfox name still stuck. However, Starfox has finally ed Earth's Eternals in earnest as Eros was always meant to, becoming their leader as the Prime Eternal in an attempt to convince the Progenitor that the planet deserves a second chance. While the Celestial still chose to judge and burn the world regardless, Eros' new role is still quite significant (even if he's already cut a deal to give the title back to Zuras when and if Earth survives). It shows he's potentially ready to take a more active role as a cosmic protector. It's also fitting that Eros has become the Prime Eternal so soon after Thanos forcibly took the role for himself in recent issues of Eternals, effectively countering the Mad Titan's actions just like their parents always wanted him to.
At any rate, the name Starfox is quickly becoming the man Marvel's new Prime Eternal once was. Now, it seems as though Thanos' younger brother is finally embracing his birth name and all that comes with it. That being said, Marvel fans probably shouldn't expect him to ditch the Starfox name anytime soon. After all, it's still one of the coolest codenames there is. A.X.E: Starfox #1 is on sale now.
