Drax the Destroyer

In Marvel Comics continuity, Arthur Sampson Douglas was killed during an attack by Thanos; the cosmic entity Kronos captured Douglas's spirit and placed it into a newly created, powerful body. Rechristened 'Drax the Destroyer', the being was given a single overriding purpose: to kill Thanos. This instrumental resurrection by cosmic beings frames Drax as a created champion within Marvel's cosmic hierarchy and is the origin described across canonical sources.

Descriptions across sources emphasize a large, powerful humanoid form; early creator commentary by Jim Starlin describes conceptualizing Drax as green and costumed ("Drax was going to be Thanos's kryptonite that's why he was green"), though visual details (exact coloration, markings, and costume elements) vary across decades and media adaptations. Film portrayals (portrayed by Dave Bautista) present a large, muscular humanoid appearance consistent with the character's warrior role.

Originally Drax possessed enhanced strength and resilience, flight, and the ability to project energy blasts from his hands as part of his design to combat Thanos. Published revisions in 2004 removed his flight and energy-blast abilities and reduced portions of his strength and resilience; nonetheless he continues to function as a powerful combatant and cosmic-level warrior in storylines such as Infinity Gauntlet and Annihilation. Behaviorally, Drax is driven by his created purpose to pursue Thanos and can react violently when that purpose or his memories are affected.