Depiction of Philosophy in Marvel Comic Books: The Case of Thanos

Abstract

This work is about the representation of philosophy in Marvel comic books, dealing with the character of Thanos as a case study. Marvel comics gained huge popularity globally, attracting readers with their fascinating stories and interesting famous characters, However, between these creative pages, various philosophical mindsets are represented and embodied and included within the stories, inside the fictional characters. At first, This dissertation introduces an overview of philosophy and comics, including Marvel and Thanos, then it analyzes Thanos’s character, actions, and mindset through a philosophical lens. The process of this research was done by using reading and textual analysis of Marvel comic books as primary data specifically the issues where Thanos appears, supported by a comparative analysis with philosophical concepts, aiming to find the philosophical reflections and roots within Thanos’s characteristics. This work has great importance because the results of this research shed light on the interaction of philosophy in Marvel comic books, highlighting the value of such a genre of books and entertainment tools as a platform for philosophy to readers.