Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2

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Josh Brolin has played iconic characters in the two biggest superhero movies of the Summer - Avengers: Infinity War's Thanos and Deadpool 2's Cable - but which is better?

Brolin has been attached to play the Mad Titan in the MCU since 2014, while it wasn't until 2017 when Fox announced that the actor will also bring the time-traveling mutant Nathan Summers to the big screen. At first, it caused confusion, but as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige explained, since Brolin isn't contractually obligated to turn down any other comic book gig aside from Thanos, they don't have any problem with him stepping on the shoes of Cable.

While Thanos and Cable are very different characters, the actor - and their sympathetic-yet-antagonistic part in the plot - means comparisons are unavoidable. Today we'll look at which of the two roles was better.

Thanos Was Infinity War's Main Character - And Got The Better Arc

Thanos using the Reality Stone to create an illusion in Infinity War

Thanos’ and Cable’s motivations couldn't be any more different - they fall on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Mad Titan, who has been trying to acquire all six Infinity Gems so he can fulfill his supposed life’s purpose, was willing to sacrifice everything to save the universe from total doom. This was perfectly exemplified in his experience in Vormir, where he reluctantly murdered his adoptive daughter, Gamora, - the only thing he’s loved in his life - to get ahold of the Soul Stone.

Evidently, it was a difficult move for the intergalactic villain. His internal struggle made him more compelling than the usual one-dimensional MCU bad guy. It also made it clear that accomplishing his mission was his top priority. While his extremist logic and actions are questionable, Thanos’ determination is commendable. No wonder that, at the end of Avengers: Infinity War all, he’s able to defeat the Avengers.

Cable’s motivation, on the other hand, is purely self-serving. He travels back in time to prevent the tragic death of his wife and daughter at the hands of Russell Collins aka Firefist. This led him to cross paths with Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool, who already had contact with Russell at present time. It's straightforward and easily understandable.

Yet, despite Cable’s intention rooted on personal reasons, Thanos' arc was more emotional. Throughout Infinity War, audiences saw his anguish and internal struggle, to the point that some even feel for him. It’s especially ironic thinking that a purple CGI character is more compelling than a human-looking one like Summers. Chalk it up to Marvel Studios’ ability to create relatable characters regardless of how ridiculous their character design or origins is (i.e. Rocket Raccoon and Groot).

Cable Was Realized More Effortlessly In One Movie Than Thanos Was In Four

Deadpool 2 admittedly didn't dwell much time on Cable because he's not the headlining character of the movie. In fact, it's almost the second act when he first made his appearance. Despite that, Fox was able to introduce the character efficiently; once his motivations have been laid out, it was easy for people to understand where he's coming from. Not that he lacked the depth or substance - his Cable's comic book convoluted backstory shows otherwise - but compared to Thanos, it was easier to follow this on-screen iteration of Cable's trajectory.

Meanwhile, the Mad Titan ended up taking a majority of the screentime in Avengers: Infinity War - a packed movie with almost two dozen key players. Indeed, although Thanos had years of setup, it was mostly short appearances, vaguely ominous lines (which in hindsight don't make any sense now) and the promise that he'll eventually square off with Earth's Mightiest Heroes, with his backstory mostly crammed into Infinity War.

In terms of storytelling, Fox has done a better job conveying Cable's story than Marvel did with Thanos. Deadpool 2 cleverly streamlined Cable in a way that he can easily fit in the film's story without taking away from Wade's personal journey. Infinity War, on the other hand, had to craft the whole movie around the Mad Titan, which wasn't necessarily a mistake but revealed strain.

Page 2 of 2: Which Brolin Character Had A Bigger Cultural Impact?

Audiences Have Embraced Both Characters - But Thanos More

In terms of public reception, both roles have had its fair share of exposure. Thanos' has been dubbed as one of the best MCU villains. And, while some fans weren't initially keen on his new look - a lighter purple skin and no armor - when the movie came out, most were immediately captivated by the Mad Titan (partly because of the amazing CGI work on the character) - so much so that he has spawned countless online memes, becoming a pop culture icon in a matter of weeks. Somewhat surprisingly, a good chunk of the fandom even dubbed him "thicc" and a sex symbol.

Cable has also been positively received by the masses. Reviews have dubbed him (and Zazie Beetz' Domino) as new comic book movie favorites. Cable's measured expressions were a great contrast to Wade Wilson's over-the-top reactions and fans are already anticipating how their dynamic will evolve moving forward. Unlike Thanos who was purely CGI, Brolin really bulked up for his Deadpool role. The character's design looked intimidating with his short haircut, muscular figure and a slew of high-tech gadgets. However, there's no indication of how his popularity has gone beyond the comic book genre community yet.

Considering the broad reach of Thanos' popularity, the Mad Titan takes the point for this one. The latest Marvel bad guy is already one of the most iconic antagonists in cinema history, joining the ranks of Darth Vader and the Joker. After all, even those who aren't particularly interested in the MCU at least have an idea who he is given his presence online. Cable, on the other hand, is still waiting for the iconic moment that would endear him even to the general movie-going audience.

Conclusion: Thanos Wins (For Now)

Both Thanos and Cable are layered characters who are neither purely good or bad. Brolin did a tremendous job in both roles despite the stark difference in the process of bringing them to life (not to mention the crazy shooting schedule for Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2 which overlapped last year). However, at this point, Thanos gets the edge considering his introduction’s powerful impact to the whole MCU.

That said, this could change. Avengers 4 is presumably Brolin's last film, which doesn’t leave much time to develop his character considering that the movie will mostly focus on the heroes as they find a way to rectify the situation that Thanos dealt them with. Cable, on the other hand, still has multiple films still to come, meaning he’d be explored further allowing for his complex comic book background to factor in future Fox films. This could result in him possibly becoming the bridge between the ongoing X-Men series to Deadpool/X-Force, which could be huge in terms of establishing continuity in the Fox/Marvel franchise. Thanos wins, but only for now.

MORE: Deadpool 2 Breaks X-Men Continuity - And Then Fixes All The Timeline Problems

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