Death

Overview

Often taking the form of a woman, Death is the personification of death. She came into existence with Eternity, Infinity and Oblivion at the start of all existence. Like her 'siblings' she is nearly omnipotent.

Death rarely speaks, usually deploying servants to speak for her. She can release a soul from its body and send them to their final destination. She can also bring souls back, if not already in the possession of another (for instance, a god would have rightful ownership to a devout worshiper). In fact, the only souls out of the reach by death are those claimed by others, such as those who have contracted their souls to Mephisto.

There are also others who have a level of immunity to Death's 'gift', such as immortals. Still others have been refused Death's gift personally, like the Elders of the Universe one of their own, the Grandmaster swindled her in a contest.

Infinity Gauntlet

Death has also garnered her own followers, notably Thanos. She brought Thanos back to life because she sensed an imbalance in the universe and because of Eternity and Galactus trying to override her power and the actions of the In-Betweener. She believed that the populations of the universe continue to climb that they will all end in disaster, giving her more souls then her power can handle. She tells Thanos to kill fifty percent of the universe's population. He eventually becomes infatuated with her.

Thanos gains the permission of Death to seek out the Infinity Gems to help him achieve his task. Through this she is able to get her revenge on the In-Betweener, when Thanos steals the soul gem from him and leaves him at the further mercy of his enraged masters. He obtains the final five gems and returns to Death. He claims his love for her and believes that they can rule at each others side now. She creates him a throne next to her, but she will still not speak with him. When he questions this, he is told that he is now her superior and they are not equals.

When Thanos gets the Infinity Gauntlet he planned to rule all the universe with Death by his side. Yet no matter what he did she was not impressed. With a snap of his fingers he killed half the life in the universe. She still did not show any interest. Thanos finally becomes angry and sends a devastating shockwave across the universe. To spite her further, Thanos creates a companion for himself named Terraxia and tells Death he does not require her love any longer. This is just a plot for his love for her is undying.

Death eventually turns on Thanos and joins the cosmic beings in their attack on him. Thanos is deeply hurt by this. He still cannot obtain her love even with all the power in the universe.
 

A Consort

Death soon found what she didn't see in Thanos in the Silver Surfer. She had chosen him for his ability to bring death to untold billions. She plagued his mind with dreams of the deaths he had caused. She tried to make him her consort by force, but her minions were no match for the Surfer. Seeking information, the Surfer sought an unlikely ally - Thanos. Thanos agreed to help the Surfer but was outraged that the Surfer would be chosen as consort instead of himself. Through trust, he captured the Surfer and took him to Death's realm. 
 
Thanos made his last appeal to be by Death's side and offered the Surfer to her. She accepted, but Thanos wished to be her love in exchange for his gift. Once again he has shown Death that he does not wish to serve her but to barter with her. She refuses Thanos once again. Angry, Thanos frees the Surfer and they work together to defeat Death's minions. 
 
Before they escape, Death lets it be known that Thanos is forever barred from entering her realm ever again and he shall live forever.