Let’s be honest: Thanos might be one of the most terrifying villains in the Marvel universe, but even the so-called “Mad Titan” has weak spots. Sure, he snapped half the universe out of existence, but comics (and even the MCU) have shown us time and time again that there are plenty of characters who could flatten him if given the chance. From cosmic deities to a teleporting bulldog, these are 15 Marvel characters that can defeat Thanos, sometimes in the most surprising ways.
15. Wolverine – Claws vs. Gauntlet
Logan might not be the first hero you’d pick against a cosmic warlord, but don’t underestimate him. In a wild “What If?” storyline, Wolverine actually gets close enough to Thanos to slice off the arm holding the Infinity Gauntlet. It’s proof that sometimes strategy (and adamantium claws) can succeed where brute force fails.
14. Thor – Go for the Head
The Thunder God has battled Thanos on several occasions, most often with painful consequences. But in Thor Vol. 2 number 25, with the power of Odin and the Belt of Strength, he bludgeons Mjolnir into Thanos’s head and demonstrates he can get it done. If only he’d applied that lesson in Infinity War.
13. Hyperion – Marvel’s Superman
Squadron Supreme leader Hyperion is basically Marvel’s Superman. He has almost limitless power, and he can even consume cosmic energy, making him one of the few beings that could match wits with Thanos, even if the Gauntlet is involved.
12. Ka-Zar – Outwitting the Titan
Ka-Zar, the master of the Savage Land, may not possess cosmic abilities, but he possesses brains and guts. Once, he outsmarted a Thanos clone and sent it into a volcano, demonstrating that there are times when brains are superior to brute force. Whether or not it was the “true” Titan is irrelevant; it remains a W in the annals of history.
11. Adam Warlock – Thanos’s Eternal Rival
If Thanos has an archenemy, it’s Adam Warlock. In the Infinity Gauntlet classic storyline, Warlock not only tricked Thanos into relinquishing his power but also stole the Gauntlet for himself. And in Marvel Two-in-One Annual number 2, he actually petrified Thanos, benching him for decades.
10. Mar-Vell – The Original Captain Marvel
Before Carol Danvers, Mar-Vell. In Captain Marvel Vol. 1, number 33, he disassembled the Cosmic Cube, robbing Thanos of godhood in the bargain. So complete was the triumph that even Lady Death turned her back on Thanos, deeming him unworthy. Savage.
9. Sentry – Power of a Million Suns
Robert Reynolds, also known as the Sentry, is Marvel’s most volatile heavy hitter. Packed with energy from a million exploding suns and a frightening alter ego (the Void), Sentry is powerful enough to tear gods in two. Were he to ever meet Thanos, the Titan might not even have a moment to blink.
8. Dormammu – Dark Dimension Master
Thanos is powerful, but Dormammu is on an entirely different level. As lord of the Dark Dimension, he warps reality itself. Against a creature who is his own dimension, Thanos would be hopelessly out of his league, even with the Infinity Stones.
7. Mephisto – Marvel’s Devil
Mephisto lives on manipulation, lying, and infinite agony. He once nearly deceived Thanos out of the Infinity Gauntlet and could simply ensnare him in a game of endless suffering. Thanos would have no chance if Mephisto became serious.
6. Ego the Living Planet – Bigger Is Better
Kurt Russell’s MCU iteration was merely scratching the surface. Comic-book Ego is a Celestial-level force who has mastery over matter, energy, and regeneration at his fingertips. He’s battled Galactus and survived. Thanos? Just a snack.
5. Scarlet Witch – Reality-Bending Power
Wanda Maximoff was this close to slaying Thanos in Endgame, and that wasn’t even at full strength. In the comics, her reality-altering powers enabled her to delete almost every mutant from existence with a few words. If she really let loose her House of M-level powers, Thanos would be gone with a whisper.
4. Phoenix Force – Cosmic Firebird of Doom
When bonded with Jean Grey (or Rachel Summers), the Phoenix is unbeatable. It can annihilate entire star systems and warp reality to its command. Thanos may refer to himself as “inevitable,” but to the Phoenix, he’s merely another heap of cosmic ash in the making.
3. Lockjaw – The Goodest Boy
Never underestimate the dog. Lockjaw, the Inhuman giant teleporting bulldog, is able to travel through dimensions, control energy, and perceive shifts in reality. He teleported the Hulk once, right in the middle of a rage. Against Thanos, he might simply deposit him into a black hole, or somewhere significantly worse.
2. Thane – Son vs. Father
Thanos’s own son, Thane, possesses powers even more terrifying than his old man. With one hand, he can deliver death itself; with the other, he can immobilize enemies in a state of “living death.” He once put Thanos in an amber prison and left him alive but frozen forever. That’s some family drama.
1. Squirrel Girl – The Unbeatable Underdog
Yes, really. Squirrel Girl, aka Doreen Green, has canonically defeated Thanos, Doctor Doom, MODOK, and yes, Galactus himself. In GLX-Mas Special number 1, she and her squirrel sidekick, Tippy-To, laid low the Mad Titan so conclusively that even the Watcher verified it was legitimate. Sometimes the joke is the punchline, and that’s why Squirrel Girl is unbeatable.
Thanos may prefer to remind us all that he’s inevitable, but Marvel history has shown us otherwise. From cosmic deities to unlikely underdogs, there is no shortage of heroes who could (and have) humbled the Mad Titan. If you ever find yourself facing off with a purple giant with a gleaming glove, maybe don’t call the Avengers, call Squirrel Girl.