Spider-Man: Brand New Day Weighs In on 'Thanos Was Right' Debate
It might seem like a lifetime ago now, but there was a time when Doctor Doom wasn’t the biggest threat to the MCU. Instead, it was Thanos, otherwise known as the Mad Titan.
The Infinity Saga concluded with a thrilling two-part cinematic event, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and Thanos was at the helm. The supervillain had an axe to grind with overpopulation, so much so that when his planet Titan faced extinction, he proposed the totally 'reasonable' idea of genocide. Or, more specifically, killing half of the population. The rest of the Titans (unsurprisingly) thought he was a weirdo and rejected him. However, when Titan eventually fell, Thanos felt more than ever that his logic wasn’t just right — but the only way forward for the entire universe.
So, while the Avengers were out there saving lives and accidentally destroying cities, Thanos put his plan into motion. By Infinity War, he had managed to obtain all the stones for his Infinity Gauntlet. With the snap of his fingers, half of the universe's population disappeared. Although this was later reversed and Thanos was defeated in Endgame, viewers were left with one burning question: What if he was actually right? Enter the latest film entry into the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has something to say on the controversial matter.
The ‘Thanos Was Right’ Theory, Explained
Some have argued that Thanos was right to snap half the world away. While there have been plenty of memes playing devil’s advocate in this way, one Redditor made an especially convincing argument, noting how, in Endgame, people’s lives actually seemed better following the snap.
“Cap tells Natasha that when he was out for a walk, the water at the docks was much cleaner because there were less boats,” they explained. “Tony Stark, the man who, up until this movie, could not stop worrying about the incoming threats, is now so relaxed that he has a calm life with his wife and kid in a home away from the city.”
They continued: “Bruce Banner is the clearest and best example of all of this because after being so terrified of everything and everyone, especially Thanos, he is now one with Hulk. He has nothing to fear and nothing to be angry about because of how calm everything has gotten. Bruce Banner has accomplished something that no one ever thought was possible; he is the Hulk now.”
Another Redditor pointed out that Thanos did what he did “to save resources and help the living half live in luxury.”
“He picked the half of the universe completely randomly; he did it so it was painless for them, and at the beginning of Endgame the governments had nearly organised everything and taken a census,” they added. “A little more time - five years, say - and they would have been back on their feet again.”
The Real-World Philosophy Behind Thanos' Belief
In philosophical terms, it can be said that Thanos was working from a utilitarian framework. This means that he is focusing on the best outcome for the most number of people. It’s kind of like the Trolley Problem: if you pull the lever, one person might die, but if you don’t, five people will. In a similar vein, losing half the universe's population is arguably a lesser evil than the whole universe imploding. Again, it’s the greatest outcome for the greatest number of people.
It’s also arguable that he was essentially spearheading an extreme version of Malthusianism, a philosophical school of thought which argues that while population grows exponentially, agricultural production grows linearly. Because food and resources can’t keep up with the growing population, the philosopher Thomas Malthus predicted that there would be a ‘Malthusian crisis,’ wherein the world basically collapses in famine and war.
While Malthus’ theory and solutions are considered radical, I imagine that even he would be shocked by Thanos’ solution. But given Thanos’ theory is rooted in actual philosophy, it is easy to see why some might be swayed.
How Has This Played Out Post-Endgame, and How Is It Referenced In Brand New Day?
“Thanos was right” is a term that was widely popularised on social media by Marvel fans, with countless memes and thinkpieces debating this point.
The MCU has made a nod towards this discourse in the past in Hawkeye. As well as “Thanos was right” being scrawled on top of a urinal, the slogan was also emblazoned on a mug in the show. This suggests that Marvel bosses at least believe that some people in the MCU sympathised with Thanos’ perspective.
However, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Feige and Co. showed the other side of the coin. While Bruce Banner was teaching a college class, a student asked: “If Thanos was so worried about overpopulation, why didn’t he use the magic glove to make more food?”
This suggests that, while Thanos had his supporters, some found his logic flawed. By showing both sides of the argument, it’s inaccurate to say that Marvel has given its official stance on the matter. At the very least, though, it shows that the company is aware of the debate and is making that known to the audience.
