Death (Marvel Comics)

Death
Death on the cover of graphic novel The Death of Captain Marvel (1982). Art by Jim Starlin.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Captain Marvel #26 (June 1973)
Created by	Mike Friedrich Jim Starlin
In-story information
Notable aliases	Mistress Death
Abilities	Nigh infinite power and knowledge

Death is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #26 (Jun. 1973) and was created by Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin.

The entity appears in the title War Is Hell and forces soldier John Kowalski to undergo a number of lives and deaths as punishment for doing nothing to prevent the invasion of Poland, with Kowalski eventually becoming an aspect of Death; in the title Ghost Rider posing as "Death Ryder" to test Johnny Blaze and becoming fascinated with the Titan Thanos, and the mercenary Deadpool.

Death is an abstract entity, the embodiment of the end of life in the Marvel Universe, and the opposite of Eternity, the embodiment of the universe. Death is predominantly depicted as a skeleton cloaked in a black or purple robe, and at times appears as a Caucasian human female. An elaborate storyline in the title Captain Marvel showcases Thanos's scheme to conquer the universe, as the character becomes determined to prove his love for Death by destroying all life. Although Thanos obtains the artifact the Cosmic Cube and succeeds in taking control of the universe, Death abandons the character when he is defeated by the combined might of Captain Marvel, Drax the Destroyer and the Avengers. Two Marvel Annuals feature Thanos as he tries to "woo" Death back (courtesy of the Infinity Gems with which he plans to extinguish every star in the galaxy), but the character is killed in a final battle with the Avengers, Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock. When Captain Marvel is dying from cancer, Thanos returns to the character in a vision and introduces him to the entity Death. Marvel willingly surrenders his life and embraces the entity.