Thanos, according to many, is perhaps the best villain in the history of the MCU. However, not everyone agrees with that sentiment. Kevin Smith, being a contrarian, has an argument for why the Mad Titan is actually a hero.
During a recent episode of his Fatman on Batman podcast, Smith and co-host Marc Bernardin were asked by a fan to create their ultimate hero and villain teams. Five of each to do battle. While some of their choices for villains and heroes were pretty colorful, it was Smith’s choice of Thanos for Team Hero that was interesting.
“Controversial choice, Thanos. From a certain perspective he’s a hero,” Smith said. “He could have literally wiped out everybody with one snap. I call that mercy.”
The idea that the Mad Titan is a hero is an interesting theory, in the context that Thanos was trying to save the universe from the consequences of overpopulation. However, Smith’s explanation doesn’t appear to consider that at all. Instead, his argument is that Thanos could have killed everyone with the snap of his fingers, and by killing only half, he was being merciful.
Infinity War co-director Anthony Russo seems to agree with him, having admitted that there’s a nobility to the character.
“That’s I think, one of the most unnerving things about Thanos, is that there is a nobility in him, you know?” Russo said on the director commentary for the home release of the film. “It’s not ego, it’s not power. He basically looks at himself as a servant and when he’s finished with his service, he rests.”
Of course, even with the various explanations for Thanos, he’s still not exactly a good guy from the perspective of many fans.
Source: Fatman on Batman Podcast
