Who was the villain at the end of The Avengers?

[Below, you can find out who the villain should be for Avengers 2, over here we talk about who the newest members of the team may be and who they definitely won't be - here in this post.]

After watching The Avengers (my review here), some friends and I were hanging around for the end of credit scenes that always follow in this series. The shot zooms in on a rock island in space with the unknown and unnamed ultimate villain behind Loki's attack on Earth listening to a report from his underling.

The Chitauri leader, dubbed as "The Other" in the script, complains to the unseen commander on the throne that an attack on Earth now will "court death." The unnamed evil mastermind turns to reveal a sinister smile. Here's a YouTube clip of the scene (until Marvel and Disney take it down).

Some thought it was Red Skull, Captain America's primary enemy. I felt certain that it was Apocalypse, a galactic antagonist of the X-Men and occasionally other Marvel characters, including the Avengers.

It seems that both of those answers are wrong and once again, you can follow the tiny hints in The Avengers and previous movies to find the real villain.

The obvious clue is in his response to the warning of the results of a war against Earth. It will bring destruction. Specifically, it will "court death." Normally, that phrase wouldn't mean much beyond just "invite death," but court also has a different meaning. It can also mean woo or attempt to engage in a relationship with.

The other clue is a brief glimpse of a famed weapon in the Marvel universe. Just like Captain America's shield appears briefly in Tony Stark's lab, in Thor a jeweled gauntlet is barely shown in Odin's trophy room. Marvel let it be known that they were including the Infinity Gauntlet in Thor.

When you combine someone who wants to court death, on both levels of the word and an appearance of the Infinity Gauntlet with the brief glimpse we have of the villain in The Avengers, it seems that the team will be forced to assemble again - this time to fight the death-obsessed Thanos.

Born on a moon of Saturn, Thanos is a mutant superhuman who becomes nihilistic and falls in love with Death, as in the female personification of Death itself in the Marvel Universe. To prove his love for her, he commits genocide on his own people, killing millions of them in a nuclear attack.

In the comic series, The Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos wields the glove with the Infinity Gems. Each gem controls one aspect of the universe: times, space, mind, soul, reality and power. The gauntlet, essentially gives the wearer omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. In an attempt to woo Death, Thaos uses the glove to kill half of all life in the universe, including numerous superheroes with a snap of his fingers (well before he is defeated and everything is set right).

Needless to say, Thanos should prove to be a worthy adversary for the Avengers, including any new members they may recruit between now and Avengers 2. Think about the possibilities, then look at this and tell me you aren't already excited for the next one.

By all accounts, it seems to be Thanos. You can read more discussion here and here. Is there anyone else that it could be? Do you think it's Red Skull, Apocalypse, Thanos or someone else in the Marvel Universe?

For more Avengers information, including talk of Joss Whendon and the numerous "Whedonism" in the film, plus a photoshop explaining what Hulk & Thor have better than Twilight, read my post: "Avengers assemble into one of the best comic movies of all time."

If you want a discussion of possible members of the team in Avengers 2 read my "Top 5 comic heroes not rumored to be in Avengers 2." It's a look at some odd ball super heroes who have no chance of making the cut, plus a legitimate discussion of those who may be included in the next team.

Like The Wardrobe Door on Facebook!