Obsessed with nihilism and a desire to end the universe, the five Thanosi – called X; Mystic; Warrior; Armor and Omega – attempt to kill the original Thanos by creating a black hole in space.

X then impersonates Thanos and directs character Pip the Troll to kidnap a recovering Adam Warlock on an alien planet.

X requires information from Warlock, who previously made contact with an entity called the Anchor of Reality.

The female mercenary Gamora locates the real Thanos, and with the aid of Warlock and heroes Doctor Strange; Spider-Man; Captain Marvel and Moondragon the Titan neutralizes four of the five clones.

Thanos transports the heroes back to Earth, and then has a fleet of alien mercenaries destroy the planet, killing the final clone.