This is a bold conclusion to a super-hero crossover series in that the story culminates in a rather length conversation about a god's inability to find purpose in life. The epic saga of the eradiction of an entire universe ends not with a bang, but a whimper, and one has to give Starlin credit for such a quietly ambitious and character-driven ending. The problem: we've been here before. I'm reminded of the endings of other Starlin-scribed Thanos stories, and nothing new about the character is really brought to light.
Not only have super-heroes from throughout the galaxy come together to oppose the now omnipotent Thanos, but the cosmic entities who keep existence itself running pitch in on the effort as well. Sadly, Thanos's power is beyond all of them, and within moments, he is all that is left of reality. Regret quickly comes to him, as does a face from his past who points out what the mad Titan has known for years: there is something inherent in his character that sets him up for defeat, even in the midst of victory.
The opening few pages, in which a multitude of coloful character attack Thanos, spotlights the inherent fun in a shared super-hero universe. Picking through the various characters is a bit of a guilty pleasure, to be honest. But what impresses me is that in an issue that's made up primarily of talking heads, Starlin still manages to keep things moving. The simple designs for Thanos and the individual with whom he debates here are quite striking.
One of the problems with this script is that it calls upon the reader to be pretty familiar with Thanos's background. In other words, it's not the most accessible of stories for new readers. The Infinity Gauntlet is something of a requisite here, as is subsequent stories such as Warlock and the Infinity Watch. Furthermore, it doesn't hurt to be aware of Thanos's 1970s origins as a disciple of Death.
For those of us who do remember those stories, though, it's not as satisfying a read as it could have been either. Starlin doesn't say anything new about Thanos here, and it makes for an anti-climactic ending for the Man Who Would Be God. Still, Starlin manages to bring an omnipotent alien down to earth by exploring his insecurities and fears. The theme here is fallibility, and the message is that there's triumph to be found in simply knowing oneself.
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