Avengers: Infinity War teased Thanos' father, A'lars, and now Marvel can properly introduce him into the MCU in The Eternals. The father of Thanos (Josh Brolin) was referenced in Infinity War when Thanos and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) visited Vormir in search of the Soul Stone. While there, they encountered the Red Skull (Ross Marquand), who identified the Mad Titan as "Thanos, son of A'lars".

Mentor aka A'lars first appeared in Marvel Comics alongside his two sons - Thanos and Starfox - in Iron Man #55 in 1973. He was introduced as an alien scientist living on the colony established on Saturn's moon, Titan. After Thanos grew into adulthood, A'lars realized the monster his son had become and looked for ways to stop him from achieving his goals. A'lars and his own father, Kronos, used science to create Drax the Destroyer, in the hopes that he could put an end to Thanos once and for all. Later, A'lars became an ally to Captain Mar-Vell and the heroes working to defeat Thanos in the 1970s. A'lars was also briefly associated with another cosmic hero, Silver Surfer, in the 1990s.

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Later comics revealed that A'lars and his family are actually Eternals, but of a different branch than the ones that will be explored in Marvel's upcoming Eternals movie. However, A'lars could still play a role in the film. Though A'lars isn't from the same group, he is connected to the story that explains why many members of their species have been on Earth for so long. In the comics, A'lars, his brother Zuras, and Kronos lived on Earth in the city of Titanos thousands of years ago. When Zuras was chosen to be Krono's successor, A'lars decided to break away from the Eternals and travel to Titan, where he would form a new colony. It was after their departure that Thanos and Starfox were born.

Marvel A'lars

A'lars parting ways with Zuras represents an important turning point in the Eternals' history, and if adapted to the MCU, it could help establish that Eternals live in other parts of the galaxy - not just Earth. When the movie dives into their origins and explains why they're on Earth, a flashback to thousands of years in the past could introduce A'lars, and show him making the decision to take a group of Eternals to Titan. How he'd be depicted visually, though, is hard to say. In the comics, A'lars was purple like Thanos in Iron Man #55, but he was drawn to look like a human in all other appearances, which made sense, considering that A'lars is from Earth.

A'lars appearing in The Eternals would give Marvel a chance to capitalize on its Avengers: Infinity War tease and provide an interesting connection to Thanos (without actually using him). By including A'lars, Marvel would also be setting up future opportunities for the MCU. If the Eternals are spread out across the galaxy, a sequel or a different MCU movie could delve into characters like Starfox and other branches of the Eternals.

More: The Eternals Could've Defeated Thanos (Without The Avengers)

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