Avengers: Infinity War: Five Things We Want To See

Marvel Character Pantheon

While only the characters in the Avengers franchises have appeared together on-screen, the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes way deeper than that. The Guardians of The Galaxy have yet to crossover with their Earth-bound friends, The Defenders (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist) and The Punisher have yet to sneak out from under the Netflix umbrella, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is on its own over at ABC. These franchises have all mentioned each other at one point or another but, much to the dismay of comic fans, they have yet to truly come together. The hope for Infinity War is that this finally changes.

It's inevitable that the Guardians will play a role in the destruction of Thanos, the battle is in their backyard. While this is is kind of a given, the prospect of seeing Peter Quill and Tony Stark go back and forth sounds too perfect to pass up. As far as the other characters, they may have a harder time fitting into the story.

The one thing going for all these other properties is the fact that many of the studio's actors have been posting pictures of every single MCU character together, under the heading "Infinity War". Vin Diesel, who voices Groot, is the latest star to release this cryptic message. Is there any weight to these ideas? Or are our favorite heroes just finding new and devastating ways to tease their fans?

Hulk, Hulk, and more Hulk

Bruce Banner and his alter ego, The Incredible Hulk, have been missing from the MCU since Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. At the end of the film, Bruce runs away from the rest of the team, fearing that he will end up hurting someone else. Not much is known about his whereabouts at this point, but it has been revealed that he will play a major role in the upcoming Thor sequel, Ragnarok.

Taking pieces of the Planet Hulk story-line, Banner will join Thor on Asgard when the film is released. In addition to the news, photos have been released showing the gladiator armor worn by Hulk in the popular comic series. There's no doubt he is now in space, so it's all but confirmed that he will appear in Infinity War.

What isn't so clear, however, is which Hulk will we be seeing in 2019. Up to this point, we've only seen the Jekyll and Hyde version, where Hulk is an uncontrollable beast. In the Planet Hulk story, Banner and Hulk actually come to an agreement that allows them to remain in Hulk form, while keeping all of Banner's intellect. This is what allows Hulk to eventually conquer the planet, and this is the version of the character that most fans are dying to see.

Death: Love of Thanos

Thanos is terrifying villain for one enormous reason; he doesn't have many weaknesses. It's already clear by his floating space-chair that his power is beyond our comprehension, and it leaves many wondering what can actually harm him. While no kind of physical weaponry seems to ail the giant, it's the emotional ties that keep him from being completely unstoppable. That's right, Thanos has a love interest. It sounds touching and all, but the lady of his choosing is much different than you'd think.

Thanos has always been in love with one "woman": Death. The physical embodiment of death has plagued Thanos' heart for centuries, and his need to please her destructive appetite eventually leads to his downfall. Some of the best scenes from the comics have been Thanos talking to this mysterious woman, and this is one plot point that fans are hoping stays true to the books.

The best way for a villain to seem vulnerable to an audience is to play with their hearts on-screen, so it would be a shame if we didn't get to see the tantalizing methods of Lady Death. There's a chance she could just appear as a voice in Thanos' head, but fans everywhere would love to see the physical interactions between the two villains. Not only would it add another layer of depth to the story, but it would also go a long way in adding to the terror of Thanos.

Adam Warlock

It's no secret that Tony Stark and Steve Rogers have always lead the Avengers into battle, but it's actually another character that spearheads the attack on Thanos. Adam Warlock is a space-dwelling magician, and he's one of the more powerful characters in Marvel comics. It's he who leads Earth's Mightiest Heroes against their ultimate enemy, and he is one of the main reasons Thanos is able to be defeated.

The only hang-up here is that we haven't actually seen Adam appear in the MCU. Well, that's only half-true. Remember that big cocoon hanging out in one of The Collector's exhibits? The cocoon is actually housing Adam Warlock as he is readying his rebirth. I know that sounds a little out there, but it stands to reason that there was enormous purpose in Guardians of The Galaxy showing that particular piece.

Could we see Warlock in Volume 2 of the popular space franchise? It's doubtful with an ever-growing cast of new characters. However, Warlock's cocoon hatching would make for one epic after-the-credits scene. While many of the Avengers could probably rally the troops in the war against Thanos, fans would give anything to see Warlock on the front-lines.

Nebula: The Hero

At the conclusion of Guardians of The Galaxy, Nebula flew off into the distance, escaping her sister Gamora. While she's been a villain in the MCU so far, the Infinity Gauntlet comics actually turn her into the eventual hero.

When Thanos has succeeded in killing almost everything in the universe, he takes it one step further by embodying the universe itself. This act leaves his body unprotected, Nebula (who's actually one of his daughters in the film) takes advantage of it. By removing the gauntlet from his hand, Nebula strips him of his power and uses it to restore order to the universe. This ending satisfied fans of the comics, and it would have the same effect on audiences across the world.

There has been plenty of uproar over the last couple of years about the treatment of female characters in comic movies, and sticking true to this ending might be one of the best ways for Marvel to show fans that they're listening. To see a female go full circle, from a hero to the universe's greatest hero, would be an incredible feat for the studio. Comic fans would love it, movie fans would love it; it seems like a win-win.

What would you like to see in Avengers: Infinity War? Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below, or over on our Comicbook.com Facebook page!