Thanos (2024 series) #4

Death has been living life as mortal Roberta Marshall, an identity created for her by the Illuminati in the image of dead Marie Collins, whose mother Christine also lives in Fresno. She didn't remember she was Death until her ex-devotee Thanos forced her to, killing Christine along the way.

Now she's mad at him as he continues to protest that he did it for love of her. But now he realises that she's become corrupted by her mortal life so he fights back. And it's a fight to the death with the Illuminati (Blue Marvel, Dr Strange, Emma Frost, Iron Man and Mr Fantastic) plus Hulk watching on. They worry what would happen if Thanos killed Death, but Stephen Strange is more concerned about Thanos dying. The last time that happened his energy merged with that of Death to create the Rot that almost consumed the universe (see Avengers: Celestial Quest). So they decide they have to protect him.

Blue Marvel attacks Death directly but she swamps his mind with cold darkness. DrS intends to magic them both away to separate places, but MrF says their space-time abilities mean they'll just find each other again. At least here the heroes will know where they are, and Fresno has been evacuated. Strange tries to intervene between them but Death gives him visions of his life and death(s). Reed Richards pushes Thanos out of the way of a Death blast but the Mad Titan doesn't appreciate help. Death has the MT on the ropes until Hulk smashes her. She knows he's immortal but she still breaks his mind. Emma Frost and Tony Stark comment on their current partnership (see the current Iron Man series' part in the Fall Of X event) before taking the plunge. IM distracts Death while Emma enters her mind to heal her pain. But Death shows her what it really means to be Death.

Thanos beats a strategic retreat but remembers his time in a Black Hole (between Guardians Of The Galaxy (2019) #6 and the 2021 Eternals series). And suddenly Death is overwhelmed. She remembers Christine at Marie's deathbed but she replaces Marie. Then she 'awakes' in a dark place with Thanos. He explains that in the Black Hole he forged a new dwelling which will now be her prison. She protests that the cosmos won't allow this. But we now see him with a gemstone in his hand, and Death within it. He assures the Illuminati that people will continue to die (we know that Marlo Chandler is Death's replacement), but he will take the stone to study. He may find a way to destroy it and Death, or he may find a way to control it. And he teleports away with an evil grin.

Mr Fantastic reminds the others how Death told them the end of the world was nigh, and promised to tell them how it would happen in exchange for them making her mortal. They still don't know the answer and he wonders if Thanos might be involved.