She was terrifying. Seriously. When Proxima Midnight first stepped out of the shadows in Edinburgh during the early acts of Avengers: Infinity War, there was this genuine sense of dread that the MCU doesn't always nail. You’ve got Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two of the most powerful beings in existence—looking legitimately scared. That wasn't an accident. Proxima Midnight wasn't just another CGI grunt in Thanos' army; she was the tip of the spear.
Honestly, the way Proxima Midnight Infinity War handled her introduction was masterclass villainy. She didn't need a long monologue. She just needed that three-pronged spear and a snarl. Played by Carrie Coon (though mostly via motion capture and a distinctively icy voice), Proxima represented the physical threat of the Black Order. While Ebony Maw was the talker and the sorcerer, Proxima was the huntress. She was the one you couldn't run from.
But here is the thing: if you only know her from the movie, you’re missing about 80% of why she’s actually scary. In the comics, specifically during Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity run, she’s basically a god-tier combatant who once took down the Hulk. In the film? She’s tough, sure, but she eventually falls victim to the "power scaling" problem that hits almost every Marvel villain who isn't the big purple guy himself.
The Edinburgh Ambush and the Power of the Spear
The first time we see Proxima Midnight Infinity War version, she’s hunting the Mind Stone. It’s a dark, rainy night in Scotland. The atmosphere is thick. Alongside her husband, Corvus Glaive, she manages to do what almost no one else could: she sneaks up on a literal android and a chaos witch.
Her weapon is the real star of that scene. It isn't just a fancy pitchfork. In the lore, that spear was forged by Thanos using a star trapped in a pocket of distorted space-time. It acts as both a physical blade and a projectile of pure, lethal energy. When she throws it, it doesn't just hit you; it pins you under the weight of a collapsing star. We see her use it to suppress Vision’s phasing abilities, which is a massive deal. If you can take away Vision's ability to turn intangible, you've basically won half the fight already.
The choreography in that train station fight is frantic. It’s messy. Proxima moves with a weird, predatory grace that feels alien. She isn't a boxer; she's a predator. However, the tide turns when Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Sam Wilson show up. This is where fans often argue about her power levels. How does a woman who hunts gods get driven off by a guy with a vibranium shield and a world-class spy?
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The answer is teamwork. Proxima and Corvus weren't prepared for the Avengers' synergy. They were used to steamrolling planets, not fighting a coordinated tactical unit. It’s a recurring theme for the Black Order—they are arrogant. They think because they serve Thanos, they are untouchable. That pride is exactly what Black Widow exploits when she slides under Proxima’s guard.
Why Proxima Midnight’s Design Worked (and Why It Changed)
If you look at the concept art for Proxima Midnight Infinity War, you’ll see she went through a few iterations. The filmmakers wanted her to look "exotic but lethal." They kept the signature horn-like headgear from the comics but toned down the more flamboyant elements of her suit to make her feel like a soldier.
Carrie Coon’s performance is often overlooked because of the heavy CGI. That’s a shame. Coon provided the voice and the facial capture, bringing a cold, aristocratic cruelty to the role. She doesn't scream or rant. She speaks with a quiet confidence that suggests she has already envisioned your death.
"We have what they have," she says about the Avengers. "We have the will to act."
That line defines her. She isn't a nihilist like some villains; she is a true believer in Thanos’ cause. To her, the Avengers are just obstacles in the way of a "corrected" universe.
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Interestingly, her physical height was scaled up for the movie. She towers over Black Widow and Okoye, which makes the final showdown in Wakanda feel like a David vs. Goliath moment. But there’s a nuance there—despite her size, she’s faster than almost anyone else on the battlefield. She’s a glass cannon in some ways, capable of dishin out insane damage but vulnerable if you can actually get past that spear.
The Battle of Wakanda: A Warrior's End
The climax of Proxima Midnight Infinity War takes place on the golden fields of Wakanda. This is where she leads the Outrider army. It’s a suicide mission, basically. She knows it, and she doesn't care. She watches the barrier, waits for the gap, and then unleashes hell.
The three-way fight between Proxima Midnight, Black Widow, and Okoye is one of the most grounded, brutal moments in a movie filled with space magic and exploding moons. No superpowers. Just skill, metal, and sheer grit.
- She holds her own against two of the best fighters on Earth.
- She uses her environment, kicking Natasha into the dirt and nearly impaling her.
- She shows a level of combat IQ that explains why she’s a General.
Her death, however, is polarizing. Getting tossed into the path of a giant Thresher—those massive rolling saw-blades—is a visceral way to go out. Some fans felt it was a "cheap" end for a character of her caliber. But in the context of the movie, it was poetic. She was killed by the very machinery of war she helped unleash. Scarlet Witch using her powers to fling Proxima into the blades was a callback to the beginning of the movie; Wanda finally got her revenge for the attack in Edinburgh.
Comparing the Movie to the "Infinity" Comics
To understand the full scope of Proxima Midnight Infinity War, you have to look at what was left on the cutting room floor. In the comics, she is significantly more powerful.
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- The Spear's True Power: In the books, her spear can turn into light that never misses. If it touches you, you're dead. Period.
- The Siege of New York: While Ebony Maw took the lead in the movie's NYC attack, in the comics, Proxima was a central figure in the destruction of the city.
- Her Relationship with Thanos: The movie portrays her as a "daughter," similar to Gamora or Nebula. In the comics, the relationship is more like a cult leader and his most devoted zealot. There’s less "family" and more "fanaticism."
The movie version is "nerfed," but it had to be. If Proxima were as powerful as her comic counterpart, the movie would have ended in fifteen minutes with everyone dead. The MCU version is a balanced take that fits into a heist-style narrative where the stakes are high but the heroes still have a fighting chance.
What Proxima Midnight Represents in the MCU
She represents the cost of Thanos' "mercy." Think about it. Proxima was likely taken from a conquered world, her family murdered, and her mind warped until she became a weapon. She is what Nebula could have been if Nebula hadn't found her way out.
She's the dark reflection of the Avengers. While Cap and the team fight for individual lives, Proxima fights for a "greater good" that involves mass murder. She is the ultimate soldier—obedient, effective, and completely devoid of empathy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the character after seeing her in Proxima Midnight Infinity War, here is how to get the most out of the lore:
- Read "Infinity" by Jonathan Hickman: This is the definitive Black Order story. It’ll give you a whole new respect for how dangerous Proxima can be when the writers aren't trying to save the Avengers.
- Watch the "What If...?" Series: Proxima makes appearances in alternate timelines that show different facets of her combat style.
- Analyze the Edinburgh Fight Frame-by-Frame: Pay attention to how she uses the spear to parry. It’s some of the best weapon choreography in the MCU, showing that she isn't just swinging blindly; she’s using leverage and reach to keep the heroes at bay.
- Check out the Marvel Legends Figures: For collectors, the Proxima Midnight figures are actually some of the most detailed in the "Build-A-Figure" lines, capturing the iridescent sheen of her armor that’s hard to see in the dark movie scenes.
Proxima Midnight wasn't meant to be the main villain. She was a hurdle. But as hurdles go, she was one of the most lethal the Avengers ever cleared. Her presence in Infinity War raised the stakes by proving that Thanos didn't just have an army; he had a family of monsters who were just as committed to his twisted vision as he was.
To truly understand the impact of the Black Order, look at the silence after she dies. There's no mourning from Thanos. No pause. She was a tool to him. And that, more than her spear or her strength, is the real tragedy of Proxima Midnight. She gave everything to a father who viewed her as replaceable.
Next Steps for Deep Lore:
- Research the "Black Quadrant," the orbital base where Proxima lived.
- Compare her fighting style to Corvus Glaive's to see how they complement each other as a duo.
- Look into the "Three-Point Landing" trope and how Proxima subverts it during her entry into the Wakandan battlefield.