He is Marvel Comics #1 cosmic threat, give or take a Galactus or two. And this year, after six years of teasing in various films, Thanos will finally make his move against the Earth in Avengers: Infinity War. But who is the so-called “Mad Titan” really? It makes sense that since he’s obsessed with Death (the literal embodiment of death, not just the concept) he calls himself Thanos, since it evokes the words Thanatology, the study of death. But the purple guy wasn’t born with a mad crush on Death, so what was the name on his birth certificate?

It turns out, as revealed in Comic Book Resources, that in last week’s issue of  the Thanos ongoing series, issue #14, creators Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Antonio Fabela and Clayton Cowles delve deep into the history and backstory of Marvel’s “Big Bad,” including his birth on the planet Titan, his many battles with the likes of the Avengers and the X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and more. When referring to Thanos’ youth, the issue tells us that the big purple lug had a different name at birth, when his Mama decided to simply call him ….George.

Ok, ok, I’m kidding. His true name isn’t George, even though I wish it was something as normal and basic as that. Turns out, after meeting a version of himself from a million years in the future, older Thanos tries to have a moment with his younger self, and reminds him that his mother Sui-San had, before she died, named her little purple baby Dione.

Yes, give or take an extra N, the biggest villain in the galaxy shares a name with the singer of “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” and Alicia Silverstone’s best friend from the movie Clueless. Not bad company, really. You can see the panel where the reveal is made above.

Will Thanos utter his true name in the movies, and will it have an impact on future comics and movies? Who’s to say? If the MCU does end up calling him something like George or Larry, though, that would violate continuity in a pretty big way. Just keep it in mind, Kevin Feige! Don’t mess with our boy Dione.

What do you think of the Thanos reveal? Let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics / Marvel Studios

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