Through Eternals, Marvel may be about to introduce a superhero who could have handled Thanos (Josh Brolin) all by himself if he were around in Avengers: Infinity War or Avengers: Endgame. The character in question is Gilgamesh, who will be brought to life on the big screen by Korean actor Ma Dong-seok, who is known to Western audiences as Don Lee.

Gilgamesh is a member of the Eternals, a race of cosmic-powered, immortal superhumans who have lived on Earth for thousands of years. They were created by god-like beings called the Celestials, who are even more powerful than them. All this time, the Eternals have managed to keep their existence a secret from humanity. However, the status quo may be threatened by the events of the upcoming 2021 film, which is expected to pit them against the Deviants, who in Marvel Comics are a failed genetic offshoot of humans and the grotesque, monstrous cousins of the Eternals. Among the Eternals who may have to rise up against them is Gilgamesh, who is one of ten members of their species confirmed to have a presence in the movie.

Related: Marvel Phase 4 Will Change How Powerful You Think Thanos Was

If Gilgamesh is anything like his comic book counterpart, he could join the ranks of Marvel’s strongest heroes, which already includes powerhouses like Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). The character who is currently counted as the MCU’s most powerful superhero is Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), but that may no longer be the case after Marvel’s Eternals movie, which is set to introduce two of the most formidable characters in the Marvel Universe, Gilgamesh and Gemma Chan’s Sersi. Gilgamesh in particular may stand above them all. In fact, it’s possible that he could have defeated Thanos alone.

Gilgamesh In Marvel Comics Explained

Gilgamesh Captain America

The Eternals share a set of superpowers. Every member of their species possesses super strength and is capable of flight through levitation, shooting rays of energy through their eyes and hands, telepathy, and manipulation of matter. But that’s not to say that all Eternals are the same. By channeling their cosmic energy, they can focus on improving certain powers. For this reason, the levels of their abilities vary from Eternal to Eternal. For instance, Makkari is Marvel’s fastest speedster because he focuses on improving his speed, while Sersi is better at manipulating matter than other members of her kind. As for Gilgamesh, he’s the strongest of the Earth-based group, just like Thanos is the strongest of the Titanian Eternals.

Gilgamesh has a complex relationship with his fellow Eternals. Long ago, Gilgamesh went against the rules of his people by involving himself a bit too much in the affairs of humans. By using his powers to help humans with their problems, Gilgamesh angered their leader, Zuras. As a result, he was banished and made an outcast. When his true name - which remains a secret to this day - was forbidden to be spoken, he became known as “The Forgotten One”. In the modern era, circumstances forced Gilgamesh back into conflict with the Eternals and made him both an ally and an enemy to their people. While many of the Eternals still resent him for his actions, other heroes in the Marvel Universe have treated Gilgamesh quite differently. For a brief time in the 1990s, he was counted as a member of the Avengers and is one of only three Eternals to be on the team.

Why MCU's Gilgamesh Could Be Stronger Than Thanos

Thor fighting Eternal

Set photos of Richard Madden as Ikaris and Gemma Chan as Sersi provide evidence that Eternals is being faithful to the comics when it comes to their powers. That means Marvel may keep all of the Forgotten One’s powers. If that’s true, there’s a good chance that the MCU’s Gilgamesh outclasses Thanos himself. To understand just how powerful he really is, it’s important to note first that his strength is about even with Thor and Hercules. This has been stated clearly in the comics, and his fight with Thor in the late 1970s did prove that his strength matched that of the God of Thunder. This was a realization that shocked Thor and Hercules considerably.

Related: Predicting The Eternals' Future In MCU Phase 4 & 5

Of course, being as strong as Thor on its own wouldn’t be enough to put Gilgamesh above Thanos. After all, audiences know from Thor’s fight with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame that though Thor is certainly capable of posing a physical challenge to him, he isn’t superior to the Mad Titan. But, Gilgamesh has powers that Thor lacks. As previously pointed out, Gilgamesh can project potent forces of cosmic energy from both his eyes and his hands. This, and his ability to manipulate matter give him extra tools to use in combat that Thor and others never had. In addition, the Forgotten One has amazing durability. He has shrugged off direct blows from Mjolnir. Also, he seemingly possesses enhanced speed and pinpoint accuracy, as he was once able to blast a bullet out of the air with his eye beams.

On top of all these powers, Gilgamesh is highly skilled in combat. As someone who is even older than Thor, he’s been around for thousands of years learning various fighting styles and mastering different types of weapons. The comic book version of Gilgamesh narrowly lost to Thor at a time in his life when he was without his eyesight. If he wasn't blind, he may have won. With everything that he brings to the table, it makes sense that he may have what it takes to defeat Thanos in a one-on-one showdown. One hero being able to beat Thanos isn’t completely unfeasible, considering that Scarlet Witch nearly did it herself in Endgame. As a character whose powerset makes him a lot like Superman, Gilgamesh would fight Thanos in a much different way than Wanda did, as he would use a combination of brute force, his knowledge of fighting, and his other Eternal abilities.

Why Gilgamesh Didn’t Fight Thanos In The MCU

The Forgotten One being this strong raises questions about why he wasn’t around when the world needed him most. Gilgamesh, not to mention the rest of the Eternals, could have been a big help if they had showed up for the fight with Thanos’ army in either Infinity War or Endgame. The reason why they didn’t is likely the same one they had for staying out of human affairs in Marvel Comics. To appease the Celestials, the Eternals had a non-interference policy. That would explain why, as a race, the Eternals chose to do nothing when Thanos attacked Earth, but it doesn’t explain why Gilgamesh stayed out of the conflict.

He’s an Eternal too, but he’s never acted in solidarity with them. It’s contrary to his character in the comics for him to obey the rules of the Eternals. He earned the mantle of “The Forgotten One” because of his refusal to follow their ways, but for some reason, he still didn’t take part in the fight. It could be that it wasn’t by his own choice that he wasn’t there. In the comics, the terms of his banishment included him being confined to a certain area in the Eternal city of Olympia. If this the same direction that the MCU takes with Eternals, it could be revealed that he was prevented from getting involved.

More: MCU Theory: The Eternals' True Enemy Is Oblivion

Key Release Dates