Thanos (2017) # 17

Cover Art: Geoff Shaw

Published: May 2018
Original Price: $3.99

Title: "Thanos Wins, Part 5"
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Colorist: Antonio Fabela
Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor-in-Chief: Axel Alonso

SYNOPSIS
The Silver Surfer, now armed with the hammer Mjlonir, attacks Thanos, Old King Thanos, and Cosmic Ghost Rider, sweeping all of them aside.  When Ghost Rider attacks, stating that the Surfer isn't the only Herald of Galactus there, the Surfer kills him, smashing him to pieces with his hammer.  The Surfer is then attacked by an enraged Hulk, who is calmed by the Surfer's voice and reverts back to Bruce Banner.  King Thanos then stabs both of them in the back with the flaming sword of Surtur, killing Banner.  The two versions of Thanos then beat the Surfer mercilessly, eventually killing him.  Now that they are the only two living creatures in existence, Death appears outside, dressed for a wedding.

ANNOTATIONS
Despite his death in this issue, Cosmic Ghost Rider goes on to make further appearances, showing up next in Thanos (2017) Annual # 1.

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REVIEW
Cosmic Ghost Rider meets his end at the hands of the Silver Surfer in the fifth chapter of "Thanos Wins".

I can't imagine that Cates and Shaw had any idea how popular Cosmic Ghost Rider was going to become when they debuted him at the start of this arc, it's actually pretty surprising how quickly the character caught on with fans.  I'm assuming that, even with all the time the creators spent building up CGR's backstory and the mystery of his identity, that his fate in this issue was likely meant to be the end of him.  It perhaps explains why he's dispatched so easily, even though he's definitely the undercard fighter in comparison to Thanos (either version of him).

The Silver Surfer's fate is bleak as well, presented as the last hope of the universe and then beaten so savagely by his enemies.  I'm not surprised, considering the name of the story is still "Thanos Wins", but it's immensely depressing.  It's fitting that it came down to Thanos versus the Surfer, considering the history between those characters, and all of the character touches along the way just make the end result even more depressing.  The wielding of the hammer, his connection with the Hulk, and his determination even after getting his arm sliced off all make the Silver Surfer one of the most tragically doomed characters in this whole story, and that's really saying a lot consider what's come before.

Geoff Shaw's artwork captures all of that emotion and brutality perfectly, producing one of the most severe and unrelenting beatdowns I've seen in comics in quite a long time.  He gives the Silver Surfer's face, particularly his eyes, an appropriately alien look that seems humanoid but not at all human.  He also gives Cosmic Ghost Rider both a great entrance page, with him on the fiery surfboard, and an epic death by god hammer.

I won't be reviewing the last chapter of this story, since Cosmic Ghost Rider doesn't appear again, but I implore everyone to pick up the collection and read "Thanos Wins" in its entirety.  I think it's going to be held up as a Marvel classic, it's that damn good.

Grade: A+