Thanos was still courting Death...sort of

What is Thanos' true motivation?

There's no doubt that Avengers: Infinity War was universally acclaimed, but some fans had issues with how Thanos was brought to the silver screen. In The Infinity Gauntlet, the comic on which this year's biggest blockbuster was based, Thanos' ambition is a little different to what we see in the film. While Josh Brolin's Thanos is trying to bring balance to the universe, the comic counterpart of the character is in fact romantically motivated.

Creator Jim Starlin's original take on the character still had Thanos wipe out half of all life in the universe, but he actually did this so he could gain the attention of Lady Death, embodiment of demise. This Thanos had little concern for the state of the mortal world, with The Infinity Gauntlet being more of a tale of the gods than an Avengers-centric superhero story. 

Thanos promises Death half the universe

Die-hard fans of the source material were irked by the absence of Death in the live-action adaptation, but watch the film again and you'll find that her presence can in fact be felt throughout the film. Many have pointed out that Thanos had a whole load of other options to bring balance to the universe. With a snap of his fingers, he could ensure that every living being would have homes and enough food by increasing supply rather than reducing demand.  

Instead, Thanos was fixated on killing. The objective of balancing the universe was simply a mask, behind which lay his true goal of bringing death to the world on a massive scale. When he sacrifices Gamora, it is made clear that Thanos' one true love is death, be it the Mistress we see in the comic book or simply the abstract concept. 

The Mad Titan's efforts are in vain

It can be argued that this is a greater depiction of Thanos' desire. Those who kill will often attempt to justify their act - but perhaps, without consciously realising, they really just take pride in the act itself? In an age where terrorism and war are omnipresent in the media, this makes Thanos an incredibly relevant antagonist and adds to the strength of the brilliant film that is Infinity War.

You can follow Thanos' quest again in Avengers: Infinity War, now available in home video format. Also, check out The Infinity Gauntlet on Comixology or anywhere comics are sold.