MovieChat Forums > Avengers: Endgame (2019) Discussion > When did "Finger Snap" became a necessit...

When did "Finger Snap" became a necessity?

posted 3 years ago by mrbnk (408)
12 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if this was discussed before. In the previous movie, Nebula says something like "if Thanos gets all the stones, he can destroy the universe with a snap of his fingers". This was not to be taken literally, it just meant that Thanos would have on his possession an omnipotent, godlike power. He didn't really want to destroy the universe, nor did he need to actually, physically snap his fingers to do so. But later on, this was taken literally, and at one point they are literally trying to stop him from snapping his fingers and stuff!
I'm not deep into the comic book lore. Was destroying half the universe Thanos' real plan in the comics? Was it his original plan in the first MCU movies? And was it actually, really necessary for him to snap his fingers to trigger whatever he wanted the stones to do?

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 3 years ago

In the comics, the gauntlet was only a means to keep the stones in one place and served no other function. He snapped his fingers just for dramatics.

Also in the comics, Thanos did use the stones to kill half the living creatures in the universe but his motivation was different. He was in love with Death, literally. Since there are more beings alive now then have ever died (I heard this is a true statistic at least as far as humans on Earth are concerned), he decided to do this to impress her. She rejected him.

[–] Moonglum9 (10731) 3 years ago

Talk about high maintenance! And he still strikes out!

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7428) 3 years ago

Yeah. In the original comics story, the Goddess Death rejected him even after he'd killed off half the universe. Then he foolishly makes himself one with the Universe after Death rejects him and his daughter Nebula takes the gauntlet and undo everything he did.

[–] AP (5259) 3 years ago

Nebula was his grand daughter in the comics, not daughter.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7428) 3 years ago

Doh. You're right. It has been a while since I read the story.

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Goliard (1413) 3 years ago

"In the comics, the gauntlet was only a means to keep the stones in one place and served no other function. He snapped his fingers just for dramatics."

True.

"Also in the comics, Thanos did use the stones to kill half the living creatures in the universe but his motivation was different. He was in love with Death, literally."

Also true.

"Since there are more beings alive now then have ever died (I heard this is a true statistic at least as far as humans on Earth are concerned)"

HILARIOUSLY false.

Just think about it, dude. That estimate would Have to be off by a COUPLE orders of magnitude.

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 3 years ago

That was what he said in the comic story about the entire universe.

I've been trying to find where I read that particular stat but can't find it now. (It was years ago back when the story was written so I could be remembering it wrong) I did find a reference that says the world only reached a billion about two hundred years ago. Now we're approaching eight billion. So it may not be orders of magnitude off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population_milestones

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 3 years ago

My apologies.
According to this I am wrong but apparently the recalculation was only done in 2002. Before that it was believed that was true. The original Infinity Gauntlet story was published in 1991. Helps to keep up to date:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-living-outnumber-dead/

[–] Goliard (1413) 3 years ago

Cool article. Yeah, like I said: an entire couple of magnitudes of order off.

I used to have a subscription to SA, but it lapsed many many moons ago. One thing I remember is comparing the stuff I picked up in there with the sci-fi & comics I was reading. I quickly became aware that stats/science/claims made in comics are more often than not Hilariously Wrong.

The last time I let it bother me was reading "Flash Facts," when they "explained" how Barry could vibrate through solid objects. The comparison they drew was to a straw in a hurricane going through a solid block of wood. I remember throwing the comic across the room, in annoyance.

Ah well. Still have more comics than anyone. . .

[–] FilmBuff (6707) 3 years ago

My understanding, and this was never spelled out in the film, but seemingly implied-- is that the gauntlet is built as a sort of control and containment unit for the stones. In order to use one, the wearer has to touch it, or somehow select it. We see Thanos do this a couple times, most clearly when he uses the time stone. He seems to click something, then turn his wrist. Presumably, the snap motion is more of an "activate all six at once" maneuver than it is some built-in aspect of the stones themselves.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

"This was not to be taken literally"

Says who? She could have said it because it's something he already said he'd do.