Who Is Starfox?

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He’s an Eternal. He’s charming, he’s a womanizer, and he’s… Thanos’ brother? Eros, also known as Starfox, was first introduced to the Marvel Universe in 1972 by powerhouse creator Jim Starlin. Originally, he went by the name Eron, but due to his interest in girls at a young age, he was rechristened as “Eros.” From then on, Starfox has had multiple lovers, (his most consistent relationship being with Heater Delight), and quite an action-packed journey. Have you been keeping up with his history? Don’t fret if you haven’t—we’ve got you covered! Here are the most pivotal comic pulls from the extraordinary life of Starfox, and you can read all of them right now on Marvel Unlimited!

IN A FLASH(BACK)

Starfox appears in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it flashback in IRON MAN (1968) #55. Drax the Destroyer is telling Iron Man about Thanos, and he mentions that he has a brother named Eros, who rules Titan along with his father, Mentor. Although Eros doesn’t have a speaking role in his first appearance, (and is very purple), he absolutely makes up for it in later appearances.

FIGHTING AGAINST THANOS

Just because Eros and Thanos are related doesn’t mean they get along, and Thanos attacking Titan really didn’t help their relationship! In CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #27, Eros and Mentor are the last resisting forces on Titan and team up with the Kree Mar-Vell (in the body of Rick Jones) to combat the unhinged Thanos. As if Thanos couldn’t be a worse brother, it is revealed in issue #33 that during his first attack on Titan he killed many of his own people, including their mom, Sui-San. (The bar for being a decent person is literally on the ground, and Thanos just snaps it in half.) Eros, however, would get the last laugh as he, Captain Marvel, Drax, and the Avengers defeated the Cosmic Cube-powered Thanos.

BECOMING AN AVENGER

Eros must have been very impressed by the Avengers during their battle with Thanos because he appeared in a spaceship right in front of Avengers Mansion looking for the team in AVENGERS (1963) #231. He requests membership and officially becomes an Avengers trainee, earning the codename “Starfox” in issue #232. According to Janet Van Dyne, AKA Wasp, the President of the United States was wary of his regular name and preferred one that was “less provocative” for public use. Of course, Starfox isn’t all business. He has time to woo his teammate Jennifer Walters, also known as She-Hulk. While some of the Avengers are on Battleworld in the crossover event SECRET WARS, which is a whole other story, Starfox is promoted to a full-fledged Avenger by Vision in AVENGERS #243!

HE’S AN UNCLE?

Starfox’s stint as a full-time Avenger would be cut short. Why? Because of a space pirate named Nebula. During an attempt to capture her on Thanos’ ship in AVENGERS #260, Starfox found out that they’re related! Thanos having a granddaughter, adopted or not, comes as a major shock. Nebula is erroneously teleported by the Beyonder, who completely misunderstood what was transpiring. Struck by wanderlust and wanting to know more about her, Starfox became an inactive Avenger and left the team in the next issue to search the cosmos for her—Firelord tags along. He would later find his troubled grandniece in WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) #48 gathering large, mysterious stones from a random planet. Wonder what she’ll use them for…

A BROTHER’S “BETRAYAL”

Since issue #1 of THANOS (2016), Starfox had enabled his nephew Thane, son of Thanos, in eliminating his father. But once Thane acquires an unlimited source of power in the Phoenix Force, Starfox realizes the error of his treachery. So, Starfox, Nebula, and Champion of the Universe: Tryco Slatterus come looking for the one being alive who can save the cosmos: Thanos. There’s only one small problem... the Mad Titan is dying.

THE DARK GUARDIANS

Thanos is dead. That should be it, right? Not quite. When Starfox brought his brother’s body back to his ship, The Sanctuary, he found a will that stated that Thanos will be resurrected in an unknown person. That person is believed to be Gamora, Starfox’s other niece and the main reason why Thanos is dead in the first place. In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2019) #2, Starfox formed a team called the Dark Guardians with Gladiator, Nebula, Wraith, and Cosmic Ghost Rider to kill Gamora, and by default, stop Thanos’ resurrection. Hela, Asgard’s Goddess of Death, revealed to the Dark Guardians in issue #5 that the body Thanos chose was none other than Starfox. Uh oh! Thanos seized control of Starfox’s body and mind and just needed to be reunited with his own body. To try to halt the process, Gamora stabbed Starfox with a sword and apologizes to him. Her action doesn’t completely stop Thanos—his mind is broken—and Starfox, sadly, dies in the sixth issue.

Fun-loving and hungry for adventure until the very end. Did you enjoy Starfox’s history? Every issue mentioned is available to read on Marvel Unlimited. Download the app for iOS or Android devices today.

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