Is Thanos After The Phoenix Force?

Today, Marvel Comics announced a new Thanos series from writer Jeff Lemire (Extraordinary X-Men) and artist Mike Deodato (Invincible Iron Man). With the announcement came a teaser image for the issue. The image, from artist Jeff Dekal, is a close up of the Mad Titan's face with what looks like smoking cosmic energy smoke rising from his eyes. Look closely enough and you may notice a fiery, birdlike shape gleaming from Thanos' pupils.

Such a symbol should be an instant flag for Marvel fans. There is one fiery, birdlike entity of note in the Marvel universe and that's the Phoenix Force. The Phoenix Force is best known for replacing Jean Grey during the events of the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix Sagas, but has returned time and time again, most recently during the events of Avengers vs. X-Men.

In ComicBook.com's interview with the Thanos creative team, Lemire was coy about what Thanos' new goal is, saying, "I'm not spoiling that because Thanos' mission comes as a big reveal in issue 1. I will say that the cosmic cube is NOT involved." The cosmic cube is the object that brought Thanos to Earth during Civil War II. With that plan having failed, perhaps he's set his sights on another source of cosmic power. If Lemire is teasing a big reveal in issue #1, he'd be hard pressed to go bigger than having the biggest villain in the Marvel universe seeking out one of the universe's most powerful cosmic entities.

Fans will then have to wonder what Thanos' plans for the Phoenix Force are. Most villains would seek to control it and harness its powers, but that may not be Thanos's style. The Phoenix Force, while destructive, is a force of life and rebirth in the universe. Thanos, on the other hand, worships death and, since returning from the void outside the universe after Secret Wars, nothingness itself. Perhaps he's not looking to control the Phoenix Force but to kill it, assuming such a feat is even possible.

Thanos #1 goes on sale in Fall 2016.