THE END Vol. 6

This is the sixth volume in the series, corresponding to issue #6 of Marvel's six-issue limited series Marvel Universe: The End (2003). This volume covers the finale, "The Cure": after obtaining the Heart of the Universe, Thanos has become nearly omnipotent—yet he discovers that the universe he rules is on the brink of collapse because so many heroes keep dying and being resurrected. The cosmic gods and abstract entities (including Eternity, Infinity, the Living Tribunal, and others) gather the surviving heroes and cosmic beings for an all-out assault, but against a Thanos united with all things they stand no chance; they are swallowed one by one, and eventually the entire universe is absorbed into him as well. At this point Adam Warlock, who survived because he was outside the universe, appears and has a long talk with Thanos: he points out that Thanos has spent his whole life chasing power yet has never been satisfied, and that the only way to fix the universe's flaw this time is for Thanos himself to destroy and rebuild it—at the cost of erasing himself from existence. The goddess Death appears at the last moment, thanks Thanos for the first time, and gives him a kiss. Thanos makes the sacrifice beneath his hood; the universe is restored, and only Adam Warlock remembers this redemption that no one else knows about. The whole volume interweaves Thanos's self-narration with Adam Warlock's viewpoint, carrying a strong sense of fate and self-justification. Note: the exact editorial scope of the domestic collection may differ from the original single issues; this description is based on the original issue #6.