Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Thanos: A God Up There Listening #4 Synopsis by
Rob Johnson
In the past Thanos and his fleet attacked Ego The Living Planet but now he and some of his crew are at the mercy of Ego. In the present Thanos' son Thane has been experiencing the event thanks to the alien Trynka who has (much of) Thanos' life recorded in his DNA. But the pair are being hunted by armoured cops for the deaths of patrons of Sclerosis Syd's bar.
As Trynka drags Thane away the Inhuman keeps asking for Ebony Maw who brought him here (but Maw was invisibility-cloaked most of the time). The alien says Maw died on Ego, but Thane counters that he saw *Trynka* dead there, which of course the alien says is impossible. He wonders if someone is tinkering with the visions he's been showing his companion. The cops corner them and order them down on the ground. But Thane just stares past them because he sees Ebony Maw behind them. He activates his killing hand and the cops open fire.
In the past on the Living Planet, Ego has created simulacra of all the people Thanos has killed (he read the Titan's mind), including his own mother. But if this is meant to drive Thanos mad with remorse it doesn't work. But then Ego brings forth another creation simulating Thanos' love Death (in the young woman form from Thanos Rising and Thanos vol 3). For the 1st time the Titan is able to touch *her*, and Thanos' prayer is answered as they kiss. Ego drags them both down again into the flaming acid of his 'stomach'. Thanos is prepared to die. But then 'Death' crumbles in his arms ...
... and the Titan rises enraged carrying the engine that Galactus had given Ego to power his way around the universe. And he uses it to blast the Living Planet. Ego screams and at last fears for his life. So he expels Thanos and his Black Order (Black Dwarf, Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight and Supergiant) on a lump of himself as an asteroid. Thane views this in the vision, but again Thanos sees him and speaks to him.
Back in the present the armoured cops lie slaughtered. Ebony Maw tells Thane that it was the legion of his father's victims that is the son's legacy. Trynka is praying to his gods to be delivered from his never-ending fear. Thane answers his prayer by killing him, but not before the alien repeats his theory that Ebony Maw is just in Thane's head. Later he returns to the ship he came on and asks Ebony if he was ever real. Maw asks if it matters, and Thane agrees it doesn't. But Ebony is still able to give him a small box with something golden in it. Than takes off his cloak and we now see his face encased in a golden mask to match the rest of his gold and black costume. And he says he's going forth to answer other prayers.