Why does the Collector want the Infinity Gems and where does Thanos fit in?

Do you watch Marvel Comics movies and find yourself confused? Can’t say I blame you. There are over 50 years of modern continuity to sift through and sometimes it even confuses this longtime reader. I am here to help explain the finer points of the Marvel Universe. Keep in mind that the movie continuity can diverge from what happened in print so while I will be filling you in on what happened in the comics, it could differ from what you see on screen.

Why listen to me when you could just look it up on Wikipedia or whatever? Sure, you have online resources at your fingertips. What you don’t have is the memory of someone who has a massive collection of Bronze and Modern Age comics, including a near-complete collection of the essential 1985-86 edition of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition.

Our first question comes to us from longtime reader Christie, who asks: Who is the Collector who appeared in the credits in Thor: The Dark World and why does he want the Infinity Gems?

Here is the long answer. The Collector is one of the Elders of the Universe, a group of vastly powerful aliens, each of whom represents a single aspect (there’s a Gardener, a Grandmaster who loves games, etc.). The Collector originally captured the majority of the Avengers’ roster during the 1970s Korvac Saga in an attempt to protect the Avengers from Michael Korvac. Korvac, who was even more insanely powerful than the Collector (and was also involved with the Collector’s daughter Carina), vaporized the Elder of the Universe, feeling the Collector to be a threat.

The Collector later returned to life, or perhaps he was never dead at all. One thing you will learn in this series is that death is almost never permanent in the Marvel Universe. Literally only three major characters have died and stayed dead.

The Collector would be after the Infinity Gems (or jewels or whatever they called them in the movies) because a complete set would render him omnipotent. There are six of these gems and each grants the bearer complete control of a certain aspect of reality: there’s a time gem, a soul gem, a space gem, etc. Seeking out the gems will probably bring the Collector into conflict with Thanos, who was teased in the Avengers credits and will probably appear in the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thanos is one of the Eternals, an evolutionary offshoot of humanity whose names and powers closely correspond to the Greek gods and who hail from Titan, a moon of Saturn. He is completely obsessed with death. He actually tried to have a relationship with Death, like the actual female embodiment of death in the Marvel Universe — a woman in dark robes and everything. Thanos killed half the population of the universe (not permanently — see above) in a bid to impress Death. She wasn’t buying what he was selling and still just wouldn’t go out with him. Women, amirite?

Anyway, Thanos retained possession of the Infinity Gems, wearing them on a gauntlet on his hand (the titular Infinity Gauntlet). He used his omnipotence to destroy most of the Marvel heroes who opposed him. They were later resurrected and defeated Thanos by taking advantage of his fatal flaw: Not hubris but low self-esteem. He knows he is not worthy of the infinite power in the gems and allowed the heroes to defeat him.

Got all that? Next week: Who are the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver?