I read a lot of Marvel comics. When between books on my Kindle, I’m usually breezing through issues on Marvel Unlimited, checking one off the list every time I have 15 minutes free.

(This isn’t a paid advertisement. I wish it was.)

What this means is, every time I see the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster, my friends always patiently wait until all of the credits have finished… and then expectantly turn to me for an explanation of what the hell just got teased.

Hence, a few times a year, I leave my Marvel Television corner and tackle the post-credits scenes. I did Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, I did Spider-Man: Homecoming, and now it’s time for Thor: Ragnarok.

Spoilers for Thor: Ragnarok are ahead. If this is not what you are looking for, please check out our spoiler-free review of Thor: Ragnarok by Russ Milheim.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Source: Marvel Unlimited. Thanos #1. Art by Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom & Christie Steele.

The mid-credits scene is the important one here in setting up what is to come.

On the bridge of the Statesman, the large Sakaaran spaceship that is serving as temporary home for the refugees of the fallen Asgard, new king Thor Odinson has decided that the Asgardians will emigrate to Earth. His brother Loki asks if it is a good idea, and Thor replies that he is sure of it; the people of Earth love him. Loki rephrases: Is is a good idea to bring him, after the events of The Avengers? Thor responds that everything will work out fine.

As he says this, a much larger spaceship ominously looms in front of them.

Though the design varies from the comics, the implication is unmistakable: This ship is none other than Sanctuary II, the mobile base of end-game Big Bad, Thanos.

If you are counting, this is the third credits scene (including The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron) that teases the inevitable: Thanos is coming. We will see the full consequences of the Mad Titan’s wrath in Avengers: Infinity War and the still-untitled fourth Avengers film, to be released on May 4, 2018 and May 3, 2019 respectively.

It’s A Tie

Source: Marvel Unlimited. Thunderbolts #107. Art by Tom Grummett.

Thor: The Dark World had a mid-credits scene introducing The Collector, so Thor: Ragnarok fittingly follows the pattern and had a post-credits scene featuring his brother: The Grandmaster.

In this goofy vignette designed only to show off Jeff Goldblum’s improvisational chops, The Grandmaster exits his hiding place on Sakaar only to be confronted by a gang of Sakaaran rebels. To appease them, The Grandmaster congratulates them on their successful rebellion, and then congratulates himself for his part in it all — after all, you can’t overthrow a tyrannical leader without a tyrannical leader to overthrow. He then declares it a tie.

This scene doesn’t set up for anything, but I sure hope we get to see the Elders of the Universe together and interacting in Avengers: Infinity War and beyond.

Stay tuned for the next Marvel Studios release: Black Panther, releasing in a few short months on February 16, 2018!

See you next week as I cover the soon-to-be-newest addition to the Marvel family: The Runaways!