Josh Brolin’s new What If…? episode appearance doesn’t make fans of Thanos happy after the character’s fate in previous seasons.

Josh Brolin’s Thanos remains unbeatable as one of the best live-action villains in the MCU. Some even consider his role as one of the greatest villain roles ever. Thanos seemed like the ultimate villain to the Avengers in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. That was until other multiverse storylines post-Endgame started treating him like a joke.

Josh Brolin as Thanos in Avengers: Endgame | Credits: Marvel Studios

One of the harshest criticisms against the depiction of Thanos in Marvel’s animated series What If…? was the ease with which he was killed off in multiple episodes. It went against the sense of dread and invincibility built around the villain in the Infinity Saga, where Doctor Strange famously predicted only a 1 in 14 million chance of defeating him.

Josh Brolin’s Thanos will be back in What If…? Season 3 and fans are skeptical

Josh Brolin voices Thanos in episodes of What If…? | Credits: Marvel Studios

Josh Brolin managed to make Thanos as menacing and insane as possible in the Infinity Saga films. He took inspiration from Marlon Brando’s performance as Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now (via IndieWire). While Brolin’s efforts paid off, fans are not happy to see Marvel ruining his character’s reputation in What If…? storylines.

Not once during his several appearances did Brolin’s character affect the viewers as he did in the Avengers films. Interestingly, Brolin is coming back for another episode in What If…? Season 3. The third season premiered on December 22 and is slated to be the final season of the animated series.

While the episode in which Thanos makes an appearance is unknown, fans are already skeptical about the fate of his character. Fans still can’t get over how Thanos was easily killed off by other villains like Ultron or Killmonger in the earlier seasons of the series. He was also killed off by Gamora in a Season 2 episode, questioning his invincibility shown in the Infinity Saga films.

Fans expressed the same in their X comments, asking how Thanos would potentially be killed off this time. One fan even went on to suggest that Marvel should only use him sparingly to keep him powerful. Some of the fan reactions read:

Besides What If…?, Thanos will also return for another Marvel animated series. Fans would get to see a Zombie Thanos in the upcoming series, Marvel Zombies. Fans already saw a prequel of this series in one of the What If…? episodes.

MCU might bring back Josh Brolin as King Thanos in Avengers: Secret Wars

King Thanos, Cosmic Ghost Rider, and the Hulk as a guard dog in Thanos #15 | Credits: Marvel Comics

King Thanos is one character who has been long appearing in Marvel discussion groups now. This far more ruthless version of the Infinity Saga villain is rumored to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars. King Thanos is the Mad Titan from TRN 666, where he defeated and killed all the Avengers and mastered the Infinity Stones.

King Thanos has annihilated almost all of the life in that universe and keeps the Cosmic Ghost Rider, actually Frank Castle in this version, as his right-hand man. He also made the Hulk his personal guard dog. In Marvel Comics edition Thanos #15, King Thanos sends Ghost Rider to his past to bring back a young Thanos.

King Thanos wants to be defeated and killed by this younger version of him so that he can join Lady Death, his lifelong obsession. Instead of conceding to King Thanos’ demand, the young Thanos decides to go back in time and vow to never become King Thanos. His decision erases King Thanos and his sidekicks from existence.

If the rumors of King Thanos appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars turn out to be true, fans should be ready to witness some Marvel madness in the film. This version of Mad Titan could potentially encounter powerful characters like Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doctor Doom.

What If…? Season 3 Episode 1 is now available for streaming on Disney+.