Avengers: Infinity War - 9 Reasons It's The Most Important Marvel Movie Yet

3. Thanos Actually Went THERE

In the run up to Infinity War's release, fans had speculated as to whether or not any moments from the original Infinity Gauntlet comic would make their way into the film. One moment in particular, however, held a unique level of interest amongst the Marvel faithful: the one where Thanos snapped his fingers, and proceeded to obliterate half the life in the entire universe.

Heroes old and new perish in the resulting fallout, with Nebula the one to eventually reverse the effects of the snap and return the universe to its prior state. For the films, however, such a feat just seemed inconceivable - how could Disney even contemplate killing off so many iconic characters, and delay their true fate for a whole other year?

Infinity War references this moment on no less than two occasions - the first coming from Gamora as Thor debriefs the Guardians, and the second coming from the Mad Titan himself - but it always felt as though it would lie beyond Thanos' grasp. When the tide seems to be turning in Wakanda however, with Scarlet Witch having managed to destroy Vision and the mind stone with him, Thanos shows up and utilises the time stone to reconstruct Vision and pluck the gem from his head, killing the android instantly.

A brief glimmer of hope occurs when Thor strikes the Mad Titan with the newly forged Stormbreaker, but it's too little too late. Thanos snaps his fingers, and the change is set in motion, bringing to life every fan's worst nightmare as Earth's Mightiest Heroes crumble into nothing. One by one. Bit by bit.

It's remarkably brave, and while the effects of the snap are likely to be reversed in Avengers 4, nothing will erase the image of Bucky, Spider-Man and all the others collapsing to the floor, mirroring the pained expression every fan had as Thanos managed to achieve the once unthinkable - all in the blink of an eye.