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From Korg to Tony Stark, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen its fair share of comic relief.

Few, however, have carried a franchise’s comedic wits as much as Dave Bautista’s Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. An oafish brute with a heart of Gold, Drax is as clueless as he is deadly. However, when push comes to shove, he’s someone you want on your side in a battle. Some eagle-eyed fans on Reddit recently spotted him offering unnoticed support in Endgame. 

Who is Drax? 

Drax was introduced in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film as a man whose family was violently murdered during a bloody intergalactic war at the hands of Thanos. However, while some characters like this use it to live a life of increasingly debilitating despair, Drax was different. While his past is dark, he’s also a lighthearted character whose charm made him a fan favorite. 

While hardly the main character of his franchise, Drax’s aloofness combined with his soft exterior make him equal parts frustrating and funny. It’s the exact type of misfit humor that has made the Guardians films stand out among the rest inside the MCU. If you ask Bautista, however, the character is ripe for his own adventures. 

“I really pushed and fought for the Drax standalone film but I don’t think it’s ever going to happen,” Bautista said about his fight to let Drax headline in a quote collected by SyFy . “I really wish they would because I think there’s a story to be told there and I think the fans would really love to see that story even if it’s not me portraying Drax, I just think it is an interesting story to tell.” 

As of now, this hasn’t happened. Bautista floated the idea of leaving the series when James Gunn was briefly let go from the upcoming third film in the franchise but appears to be on board with Gunn’s return. While Drax’s comedy and strangeness often dominate the character, deep down, he’s still a destroyer.

Drax, the Avenger

The Guardians of the Galaxy were among the last to join up with the Avengers despite going back several years. After running into Thor as he floated aimlessly through space, the Guardians found themselves entrenched in the battle against Thanos. During this battle, Drax snuck into the background like several other Marvel superheroes. 

Had anyone seen Infinity War or Endgame,  they’d likely focus on moments of his comedic beats, as collected by ScreenRant,  while forgetting about his impact on the battle. These people are not alone. With dozens of superheroes, Drax was never going to be a significant part of any Marvel battle. However, given his character’s baggage and his reputation as a destroyer, one shot in Endgame may paint a different story. 

An unexpected cameo

The cast and crew of Avengers: Endgame
The cast and crew of Avengers: Endgame | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
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After a Reddit user posted a screenshot of Drax appearing to stand to the wayside while the other Avengers fight Thanos in the thrilling finale, some fans took the time to poke fun at the conflicting image. As u/cloobydoobydoo said, “It almost looks like Drax is just hiding so he can avoid fighting Thanos.”

U/Interceptor88LH likened it to an overmatched video game player, saying, “When your entire story is about your character getting revenge against the final boss, but you get to the final battle way too early and he has thrice your level.”

U/Imbrown2 saw a logical explanation. 

“At this point everyone except Strange is meant to be hiding waiting to ambush him,” they wrote. 

Whatever the case, Drax’s blink-and-you-missed-it cameo during the battle is perfectly in character whether someone reads it as him waiting in his place as a strategy or letting the others do the work. It’s the sort of event that makes the MCU thrive. After all, as much as someone knows about the movie, sometimes a new detail hides in front of them. 

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