Thanos' Inspiration Is a Better Villain (& Even Marvel Says So)
The ultimate villains in the DC Comics and Marvel Comics Universe are closely connected, as Thanos' look was partly inspired by Darkseid. While the two big bad guys of their respective universes will always be tied together for several reasons, when the Avengers confronted the ruler of Apokolips in the JLA/Avengers crossover, they noted that he «looks worse than Thanos.» The moment revealed that Earth's Mightiest Heroes saw Darkseid as an even better (and worse) villain than the Mad Titan.
The more powerful villain between Thanos and Darkseid has long been a conversation among comic book fans. Their similarities and attempts to rule their universes with incredible reality-shaping weapons (the Infinity Gauntlet vs. The Anti-Life Equation) have made them quite comparable. However, Thanos, contrary to popular belief, wasn't solely based on Darkseid but instead the all-seeing Metron from the New Gods. But, Thanos' received a bulkier look that Darkseid inspired after editor Roy Thomas told the villain's creator Jim Starlin, «If you're going to steal one of the New Gods, at least rip off Darkseid, the really good one!» As a result, the Mad Titan gained considerable mass after his first appearance in Iron Man #55, where the villain appeared much skinner than how readers know him today.
Related: Thanos' Black Order Are Hiding a Dark Rivalry MCU Fans Never Got to See
In the epic JLA/Avengers crossover by Kurt Busiek and George Perez by Marvel Comics and DC Comics, heroes from both universes end up on Apokolips in front of Darkseid, who has acquired Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet. Hawkeye can't believe what he's seeing as the New God wields the Infinity Stones, as he admits Darkseid is «worse than Thanos if that's even possible.» The
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