Possibly the most impactful cosmic event in the history of the Marvel Universe, THE INFINITY GAUNTLET (1991-1992) saw Thanos achieve something he’s never achieved before… success!
But that success didn’t come from nowhere. The story open after Thanos has already been given his mission by Death, confronted the Silver Surfer and obtained the Infinity Gems. And, if you want to be really pedantic, it goes back much further than that to the introduction of Thanos, his first meeting with Adam Warlock, their previous confrontation and the introduction of Nebula.
So let’s take a look back at the stories that brought us to ‘The Infinity Gauntlet’, as well as all the references made throughout the main mini-series and the tie-ins titles. You don’t need to read everything here, so we’ve marked the essential stuff so you know what you need to fully appreciate one of Marvel’s greatest events. Everything else is here to fully flesh out your understanding of this spectacular cosmic epic!
Thank you to The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe , Marvel Chronology Project , the Marvel Wiki, SuperMegaMonkey and, of course, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe for the extra assist!
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
References: Titles in [square brackets] refer to the Infinity Gauntlet tie-in they relate to.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
- Captain Marvel #31-33
- Strange Tales #178-181
- Warlock #9-11
- Avengers Annual #7
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
- Avengers #255-261
- Silver Surfer #34-38
- The Thanos Quest #1-2
- Silver Surfer #44-50
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Avengers #2 (1963) The Hulk quits the Avengers when he realises no one trusts him. 1st appearance: Space Phantom, Limbo, Stark Mansion [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Strange Tales #124 (1964) Doctor Strange travels back in time to Ancient Egypt to return Cleopatra to her own era; Strange clashes with Zota of Pergamum who banished Cleopatra into the future. 1st appearance: Zota [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Fantastic Four Annual #2 [1/4] (1964) It’s revealed that an order of Tibetan monks created Doctor Doom’s mystical armour. 1st appearance: Baron Vladimir Fortunov, Boris Karela, Danile Kurtz, Monks of Doom, Werner von Doom, Zefiro Clan, Castle Doom, Mount Doom, Doomstadt, Latveria [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Strange Tales #127 (1964) The Ancient One replaces Doctor Strange’s Amulet of Agamotto with the Eye of Agamotto. 1st appearance: Mindless Ones, Cloak of Levitation, Eye of Agamotto [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Fantastic Four #48-50 (1966) The Silver Surfer leads his master Galactus to Earth, only to turn against him when he’s moved by the actions of Alicia Masters and the Fantastic Four; Galactus releases the Surfer from his service but traps him on Earth as punishment. 1st appearance: Galactus/Galen, Ricardo Jones, Whitey Mullins, Punisher robot, Silver Surfer/Norrin Radd, Belle Thorne, Coach Sam Thorne, Wyatt Wingfoot, Zenn-Lavians, Power Cosmic, the Silver Surfer’s board, Star Sphere, Negative Barrier, Ultimate Nullifier, Metro College [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Fantastic Four #66-67 (1967) The Enclave create Him, the perfect human; Him emerges from a cocoon and quickly turns against the Enclave due to their questionable behaviour. [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Silver Surfer #1 (1968) The origin of the Silver Surfer is revealed for the first time. [Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer] | ||
| Thor #165-166 (1969) Him tries to steal Sif away from Asgard to become his mate. 1st appearance: Haag [Warlock and the Infinity Watch] | ||
| Avengers #91-97 (1971-1972) The centuries-long feud between the Kree and the Skrulls is revealed. 1st appearance: H Warren Craddock, Destiny Force, Mandroid Armour MK I, Omni-Wave Projector SHIELD Space Station [Infinity Gauntlet] | THE KREE-SKRULL WAR | |
| Marvel Premiere #1 [1/2] (1972) Marvel Premiere #2 [1/2] (1972) Him is found on a cocoon by the High Evolutionary who gives him purpose by turning him into his champion; the Evolutionary dubs him Warlock, grants him a powerful Soul Gem and sends him to save his newly-created Counter-Earth to protect it from the Man-Beast; Warlock is also given the name Adam by the friends he makes on this new world. 1st appearance: Bruce Banner (Counter-Earth version), David Carter, Jason Grey, Reed Richards (Counter-Earth version), Colonel Barney Roberts, Eddie Roberts, Ellie Roberts, Victor von Doom (Counter-Earth version), Soul Gem, Counter-Earth New identity: Him as Adam Warlock [Infinity Gauntlet] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Defenders #2 (1972) Doctor Strange and the Defenders seek out the Silver Surfer when Strange believes he knows how to free him from imprisonment on Earth; the Surfer becomes allies with Strange, the Hulk and Namor the Sub-Mariner. [Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer] | ||
| Thor #225-228 (1974) The newest Herald of Galactus, Firelord, leads his master to Earth; following a battle with Ego the Living Planet, Galactus allows Firelord to regain his freedom when the Destroyer is offered as a suitable replacement. 1st appearance: Firelord/Pyrreus Kril [Silver Surfer] | ||
| Marvel Premiere #5 (1972) Agamotto first appears to Doctor Strange taking a humanoid form with insect eyes; this is not Agamotto’s true form and he will continue to appear in other forms, predominantly that of a giant caterpillar. 1st appearance: All-Wise Vishanti (Agamotto, Hoggoth Omnipotent Oshtur), Shadowmen of Kaa-U, Sligguth [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Iron Man #55 (1973) Drax the Destroyer summons Iron Man to help him face the threat of the ‘Mad Titan’ Thanos who intends on becoming emperor of Earth; Thanos’ father and brother – Mentor and Eros (the future Starfox) explain the serious threat Thanos represents. 1st appearance: Blood Brothers, Drax the Destroyer/Arthur Douglas, Eros, Eternals of Titan, ISAAC/Integral Synaptic Anti-Anionic Computer, Kronos/Chronos, Roclites, Thanos [Infinity Gauntlet] | THE THANOS WAR | |
| Captain Marvel #28-29 (1973) Eon grants Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) Cosmic Awareness and makes him ‘Protector of the Universe’. 1st appearance: Eon, Sui-San, Uranosian War New/revealed identity: Mentor is Alars [Quasar] | ||
| Incredible Hulk #168-169 (1973) MODOK transforms Betty Ross into the gamma-powered Harpy. 1st appearance: Bi-Beast New identity: Betty Ross Talbot as the Harpy [Hulk] | ||
| Daredevil #105 (1973) Hints of Moondragon’s origin and connection to the Eternals are revealed. 1st appearance: New identity: Madame McEvil/Heather Douglas as Moondragon [Quasar] | THE THANOS WAR | |
| Incredible Hulk #176-178 (1974) Adam Warlock is publically crucified by the Man-Beast as the “would-be Messiah of Counter-Earth”; Warlock is resurrected when he emerges from a cocoon and defeats the Man-Beast, freeing Counter-Earth. 1st appearance: ‘Glenn Talbot’/Gregori Kronski [Warlock and the Infinity Watch] | ||
| Special Marvel Edition #16 (1974) Shang-Chi battles one of his father’s deadliest assassins, Midnight; Fu Manchu trained the orphan M’Nai to become of the the world’s deadliest killers; Midnight falls from a construction crane to his death during his fight with Shang-Chi. 1st appearance: Midnight/M’Nai [Silver Surfer] | ||
| Incredible Hulk #180-181 (1974) Wolverine clashes with the Hulk when he makes his debut, igniting a sporadic feud between them. 1st appearance: Weapon X/Wolverine/Logan [Infinity Gauntlet] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Captain Marvel #31-33 (1974) Thanos reveals his love for Death as his great motivator; the human Arthur Douglas was killed by Thanos then resurrected by Kronos as Drax the Destroyer to oppose the Mad Titan; Thanos gains the incredible power of the Cosmic Cube; Rick Jones dares Thanos to prove he can defeat Captain Marvel without the benefit of the Cube, leading to his ultimate defeat. New/revealed identity: Drax the Destroyer is Arthur Douglas [Infinity Gauntlet, Quasar, Silver Surfer] | THE THANOS WAR |
| Avengers #129 (1974) Giant-Size Avengers #2 (1974) Agatha Harkness offers to train the Scarlet Witch to hone her magical abilities; Mantis is revealed to be the universe’s Celestial Madonna. New identity: Moondragon/Brandt as Celestial Madonna [Doctor Strange, Quasar] | THE CELESTIAL MADONNA SAGA | |
| Fantastic Four #155-157 (1975) Doctor Doom faces the Silver Surfer (their last conflict which Doom somehow believes he won). [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Avengers #135 (1975) Moondragon learns she was the back-up Celestial Madonna in case Mantis proved to be unworthy; Moondragon’s origin is partially revealed, though she’s unaware that it lines up with the origin of Drax the Destroyer which implies he’s her father. [Quasar] | THE CELESTIAL MADONNA SAGA | |
| Fantastic Four #164-165 (1975) The Fantastic Four face off against the former Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson) who’s now calling himself the Crusader and has apparently been driven mad; the Crusader absorbs too much energy into his ‘Light Bands’ and explodes. 1st appearance: Crusader/Thelius, Frankie Raye 1st modern appearance: Quantum Bands [Quasar] | ||
| ✔ | Strange Tales #178-181 (1975) Warlock #9-11 (1975-1976) Adam Warlock takes on a more introspective role and clashes with the Universal Church of Truth; Warlock befriends Pip the Troll and gains an ally in Gamora; Warlock first meets Thanos, joining forces with him to defeat Warlock’s future self, the Magus, who has killed millions. 1st appearance: Gamora, In-Betweener, Judans, Kray-Tor, Magus/Adam Warlock (Earth-7528), Laxidazians, Pegasusians, Pip the Troll/Pip Gofern, Sarks, Sirusites, Universal Church of Truth, Zen-Whoberis, Sanctuary, Homeworld [Infinity Gauntlet, Warlock and the Infinity Watch] | THE INFINITY EFFECT |
| Incredible Hulk Annual #6 (1977) The Enclave create their second artificial human, Paragon, and order him to kill Doctor Strange; Paragon also turns against the Enclave and returns to the cocoon to complete his evolution. 1st appearance: Paragon [Quasar] | ||
| ✔ | Avengers Annual #7 (1977) Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 (1977) Thanos murders Pip the Troll and Gamora; Adam Warlock takes their souls in to the Soul Gem’s Soulworld; Warlock is among the heroes who stand against Thanos’ plan to destroy every sun in the galaxy; Warlock is mortally wounded and killed by his past self; Thanos faces Thor in direct combat; Spider-Man clashes with Thanos for the first time; Thanos retains Warlock’s Soul Gem, leading to his own defeat when Warock’s soul emerges and transforms Thanos into stone to end his life. 1st appearance: Soulworld [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Warlock and the Infinity Watch] | THE FINAL THREAT |
| Marvel Two-in-One #61-63 (1980) The Enclave’s Paragon emerges from the cocoon in a female version of Adam Warlock’s original form, having learned of Him while in stasis; as Her, she seeks out Warlock as a mate and tries to resurrect him when she learns of his death; Her fails because Warlock’s soul is contained within the Soul Gem. 1st appearance: Beyonders (mention) New identity: Paragon as Her [Quasar] | ||
| Thor #314 (1981) Moondragon learns Drax the Destroyer is her father. 1st appearance: Shawna Lynde [Quasar] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Fantastic Four #240 (1982) The Inhumans relocate from their hideaway in the Himalayas to the Blue Area of the Moon. 1st appearance: Luna Maximoff (unnamed) [Silver Surfer] | ||
| Fantastic Four #244 (1982) Frankie Raye offers herself up to become the new Herald of Galactus. New identity: Frankie Raye as Nova [Silver Surfer] | ||
| Doctor Strange #56 (1982) Doctor Strange allows Morgana Blessing to make a documentary about him. [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Avengers #219-220 (1982) Drax the Destroyer and Moondragon end the civil war on the planet Ba-Banis, but Moondragon uses their position to gain power for herself; the Avengers free Drax from Moondragon’s control, but she rips his spirit from his body and leaves him brain-dead when he and the Avengers try to end her reign; Drax’s lifeless body is destroyed. 1st appearance: Ba-Banis [Quasar, Silver Surfer] | ||
| Secret Wars II #1 (1985) The all-powerful Beyonder comes to Earth in search of understanding. 1st appearance: Thundersword/Stewart Cadwall [Infinity Gauntlet] | SECRET WARS II | |
| ✔ | Avengers #255-259 (1985) Claiming to the granddaughter of Thanos of Titan, the space-pirate Nebula initiates a plan to take control of the Skrull Empire. 1st appearance: Gunthar, Levan, Nebula [Infinity Gauntlet] | THE WAR TO END ALL SKRULLS |
| ✔ | Avengers #260-261 (1985) Nebula is opposed by the Avengers; Nebula escapes the Avengers and the wrath of Firelord; Starfox leaves the Avengers and partners up with Firelord to hunt her down. [Infinity Gauntlet] | SECRET WARS II THE WAR TO END ALL SKRULLS |
| Doctor Strange #71-73 (1985) While Clea fights to regain her throne from Umar, it’s revealed how her and her brother Dormammu first took control of the Dark Dimension. [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Incredible Hulk #319 (1986) Bruce Banner and Betty Ross marry. New identity: Betty Ross-Talbot as Betty Ross-Banner [Hulk] | ||
| Doctor Strange #80-81 (1986) Enitharmon the Weaver sends his apprentice Rintrah to return the repaired Cloak of Levitation to Doctor Strange, initiating their first meeting. 1st appearance: Rintrah [Doctor Strange] | THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS | |
| Silver Surfer #8-9 (1988) The Kree Supreme Intelligence is left mentally incapacitated when the Silver Surfer rips the Soul Gem from his brow; the Surfer fails to save Mantis from an attack by the Elders of the Universe and he believes she’s been killed. [Silver Surfer] | WAR OF THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Avengers #294 (1988) Under the influence of ‘Nebula’, Doctor Druid psychically mesmerises the Avengers into electing him Chairman of the team. [Doctor Strange] | FUTURES IMPERFECT | |
| Strange Tales #10 (1987) The demon Ghaszaszh Nyirh shoots out Doctor Strange’s eye. [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Silver Surfer #18 (1988) Silver Surfer Annual #1 [3/4] (1988) Silver Surfer #19 (1989) Galactus battles the In-Betweener; the Silver Surfer gets closer to Nova while still getting over the death of Mantis; the Surfer is unaware that Mantis’s consciousness shifted to a new body on Earth; the Surfer tries to instil Nova with a moral purpose; Nova becomes more attracted to Firelord. [Silver Surfer] | I DIE LIKE THE STARS | |
| Avengers #295-297 (1988) Doctor Druid ‘acts like a louse’ while he was a member of the Avengers, largely due to the influence of ‘Kang-Nebula’; Druid’s actions lead to the disbanding of the Avengers. [Doctor Strange] | FUTURES IMPERFECT | |
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (1989) Clea and Doctor Strange profess to being married by simply exchanging rings. 1st appearance: Genevieve Cross [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Quasar #2 (1989) Though unnamed, Trantra is shown as one of the previous wearers of the Quantum Bands – aka the Protectors of the Universe. [Quasar] | THE COSMIC AVENGER | |
| Silver Surfer #29-31 (1989) The Kree send the resurrected and upgraded assassin Midnight Sun to kill the Silver Surfer; Clumsy Foulup becomes the new Kree Emperor when he forms a secret alliance with the Cotati and Kree rebel Dwi-Zann. 1st appearance: Dwi-Zann [Silver Surfer] | THE KREE-SKRULL WAR II | |
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #5-8 (1989) Doctor Strange agrees to take the alien Rintrah on as his apprentice; as a form of penance, Silver Dagger surrenders his eye to Doctor Strange to replace the one Strange lost to Ghaszaszh Nyirh. [Doctor Strange, Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #11-13 (1989-1990) Morgana Blessing releases a book about Doctor Strange which strains their friendship; Strange publically dismisses the book as a work of fiction. [Doctor Strange] | ACTS OF VENGEANCE | |
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #14-18 (1990) Doctor Strange’s cryogenically frozen brother, Victor Strange, is retuned to ‘life’ as a vampire by Marie Laveau; Laveau dresses Victor as the Nazi supervillain Baron Blood; Doctor Strange releases Victor from Laveau’s control; Morgana Blessing and Victor Strange quickly begin to get close. New identity: Victor Strange as Baron Blood [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Incredible Hulk #364-365 (1989) While duking it out in a nuclear power plant, the Hulk purposely throws the Abomination into toxic waste, melting him down considerably; the Abomination’s gamma-powered healing abilities begin to restore him. New identity: Dr Phil Sterns as Madman [Hulk] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Avengers #314-318 (1990) Nebula utilises the power of the Infinity Union until the intervention of Thor and his fellow Avengers. [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Marvel Comics Presents #54-59 (1990) Silver Dagger massacres a pack of werewolves. 1st appearance: Braineaters [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Avengers Spotlight #37 (1990) Doctor Druid escapes from a time bubble and learns he was the Ancient One’s ‘test prototype’ while waiting for Doctor Strange; Druid saves the Earth from Kang-Nebula’s plan to manipulate of time and prevent the ‘Age of Heroes’. [Doctor Strange] | INTO THE TIME STREAM! | |
| Incredible Hulk #371 (1990) Betty Ross-Banner begins training to become a nun. [Hulk] | ||
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #34-38 (1990) Thanos is resurrected by Death in order to wipe out half the population of the universe; Thanos’ mission is discovered by the Silver Surfer who believes he’s killed the Mad Titan in battle; Thanos burns Nebula alive for claiming to be his granddaughter; Kronos resurrects the brain-dead Drax the Destroyer to oppose Thanos. 1st appearance: Geatar, Infinity Well, Thanos’ Space Throne [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer] | REBIRTH OF THANOS |
| The Thanos Quest #1-2 (1990) In order to carry out his mission more efficiently, Thanos obtains the Infinity Gems from the In-Betweener and the Elders of the Universe by any means necessary. 1st appearance: Nemesis (unnamed), First Cosmos (unnamed) New identity: Soul Gems as the Infinity Gems [Infinity Gauntlet] | REBIRTH OF THANOS | |
| Fantastic Four Annual #24 [4/4] (1991) The Super-Skrull kills Reptyl to regain his honour. [Silver Surfer] | ||
| Thor #429-430 (1991) The new Ghost Rider has his first run-in with Mephisto when the Wrecker accidentally summons the Hell-Lord during the Wrecking Crew’s clash with the Spirit of Vengeance. [Cloak & Dagger] | ||
| Alpha Flight #97-100 (1991) Her returns to Earth in order to escape the Consortium; Her fights alongside Quasar. 1st appearance: The Consortium, Scamper Jets, Alpha Flight Headquarters [Quasar] | ||
| Sleepwalker #1 (1991) The alien Sleepwalker becomes trapped in Rick Sheridan’s mind and can only escape into the real world when Rick falls asleep. 1st appearance: Alyssa Conover, Ida Epstein, Morris Epstein, Franklin Lovejoy, Rambo (dog), Rick Sheridan, Sleepwalker, Imaginator [Sleepwalker] | ||
| Alpha Flight #101 (1991) Quasar offers to act as Her’s guide on Earth. [Quasar] | ||
| Avengers #334-339 (1991) The Collector loses the majority of this collection when the Brethren crash his ship crashes on the Blue Area of the Moon; the Collector’s true form is revealed. 1st appearance: Bretheren (Thane Ector, Fool, Sybyl Dorn) [Silver Surfer] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Thor #432-433 (1991) Thor is banished for killing Loki and his power is passed to architect Eric Masterson who becomes Thor in the original’s absence. [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer] | ||
| Sleepwalker #5 (1991) Spider-Man investigates the wannabe crimelord, Crimewave; Spidey mistakes Sleepwalker for an opponent and is captured by Crimewave. [Sleepwalker] | ||
| Sleepwalker #6 (pp.1-21) (1991) Sleepwalker proves himself as an ally to Spider-Man and helps him defeat Crimewave. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| Silver Surfer #43 (1990) The Silver Surfer escapes Dynamo City, having been trapped there as part of a ruse created by Thanos. [Silver Surfer] | REBIRTH OF THANOS | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #44-45 (1990-1991) The Silver Surfer and Drax confront Thanos who uses the Infinity Gems (applied to his glove as the Infinity Gauntlet) to suck their souls into the Soulworld; Mephisto’s attempt to obtain the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos only results in the Hell-Lord becoming his lackey. 1st appearance: Infinity Gauntlet [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer] | REBIRTH OF THANOS |
| Spider-Man #17 (1991) Spider-Man dies saving a young girl and her mother; Spider-Man is taunted by Thanos in Death’s realm. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| Quasar #19-20 (1991) The discorporated Maelstrom learns of the actions of Thanos from Kronos, but chooses to initiate his own brand of chaos; Quasar continues to protect Eon from the foretold assassination attempt on his life until Maelstrom drives a wedge between them; the Presence turns against Jack of Hearts and damages his armour, causing him to explode and hurtle through space. 1st appearance: Anomaly, Weird Sisters (Beauty, Charm, Truth) [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Marc Spector: Moon Knight #26-28 (1991) Stained Glass Scarlet returns to New York and attacks people close to Moon Knight. [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Spider-Man #6-7 (1991) Spider-Man meets the new Ghost Rider for the first time when they team up against the Hobgoblin. [Cloak & Dagger] | ||
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #26 (1991) Doctor Strange magically puts Clea to sleep in an effort to keep her out of danger. [Doctor Strange] | ||
| Fantastic Four #347-349 (1990-1991) Spider-Man meets Ghost Rider for the second time when they’re selected by the ‘Invisible Woman’ to join the New Fantastic Four. [Cloak & Dagger] | ||
| Incredible Hulk #377, 379, 381-382 (1991) Bruce Banner and the Hulks’ personalities are combined, creating a new and more confident Banner, permanently in Hulk form; the Hulk agrees to join the Pantheon; the Abomination stalks Nadia Dornova. 1st appearance: Achilles/Helmut, Ajax, Delphi, Atlanta, Nadia Dornova, Hector, Susan Jacobson, Paris/Nathan Taylor, Ulysses/Walter Charles New identity: Bruce Banner/Hulk as ‘Professor Hulk’/’Merged Hulk’ (editorial names) [Hulk] | ||
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #29-30 (1991) Doctor Strange “snafued his sneak attack on Mephisto’s backyard”, upsetting the Hell-Lord. [Doctor Strange] |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Cloak & Dagger #14-17 (1990-1991) Cloak & Dagger investigate a series of murders which they trace to the Thule Society cult who are creating a portal to Earth for the alien Vril; Spider-Man joins the fight; Thule has been tricked into opening a doorway for Mephisto… 1st appearance: Avandalia, Anna Johnson [Cloak & Dagger] | THE EYE OF FORCE SAGA THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| Cloak & Dagger #18 (1991) Mephisto continues his scheme, updating Thanos on his activities; Ghost Rider joins the fray and helps overcome Mephisto and the Eye of Force. | THE EYE OF FORCE SAGA THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| Cloak & Dagger #19 (1991) Cloak and Dagger and pulled into the dinner party from Hell. [Cloak & Dagger] | THE EYE OF FORCE SAGA | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #46-48 (1991) In the Soulworld, the Surfer and Drax encounter Adam Warlock who agrees to help them face Thanos when the time is right and returns them to their bodies; Drax heads for Titan while the Silver Surfer visits Galactus to ask him to undo the tampering to his soul; Thanos makes the planet Galactus is about to consume disappear before is eyes in a display of his infinite power. [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer] | REBIRTH OF THANOS |
| Marc Spector: Moon Knight #29-30 (1991) Without fully recovering from his injuries, Moon Knight stops Stained Glass Scarlet from burning down New York. [Infinity Gauntlet] | ||
| Quasar #21-23 (1991) Quasar’s anger gets the better of him at his father’s funeral; Maelstrom reveals himself as Quasar’s foe and an agent of Oblivion, Eon’s enemy; Maelstrom chops off Quasar’s hands to obtain his Quantum bands; Quasar dies, prompting the Ghost Rider to avenge him; Moondragon is revealed to have been working alongside Quasar in disguise in order to get closer to him; Maelstrom kills Eon and gains Cosmic Awareness, using it and the Quantum bands to reverse the direction of the universe; Quasar gains an energy form from Infinity. [Infinity Gauntlet, Quasar] | ||
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #49 (1991) Thanos delays the Silver Surfer’s voyage to Earth by creating a creature to block his path. [Infinity Gauntlet] | REBIRTH OF THANOS |
| Quasar #24 (pp.1-13) (1991) Incredible Hulk #383 (p.1-12) (1991) Silver Surfer #51 (1991) Doctor Strange and the rest of Earth’s mystics hold off the universe’s destruction; the Hulk heads to New York to protect Nadia Blonsky from the Abomination; Nova recalls her recent conversation with the Silver Surfer. 1st appearance: Infinity (full), Quantum Zone | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #50 (1991) Thanos animates the stone golem that was his original body, using it to delay the Silver Surfer even further; the circumstances surrounding the death of the Silver Surfer’s father are revealed; the Surfer narrowly defeats the Thanos Golem and falls to Earth, crashing through the window of Doctor Strange’s house. [Infinity Gauntlet, Silver Surfer] | REBIRTH OF THANOS |
| Silver Surfer #52 (p.1) (1991) The Silver Surfer lies still after crashing into Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum. | INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| ✔ | The Infinity Gauntlet #1 (pp.1-27) (1991) Thanos continues to try to impress Death and win her affections; while also busy holding the universe together to counter Maelstrom’s actions, Doctor Strange aids the fallen Silver Surfer. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET |
| Quasar #24 (pp.14-22) (1991) Maelstrom taunts Thanos; Infinity reveals to Quasar that she gave him his energy form. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| Quasar #25 (1991) Quasar defeats Malestom and saves the universe by channelling the power of Infinity; Quasar returns to his restored physical body and uses the Quantum Bands to create a new costume for himself. [Quasar] | ||
| Quasar #26 (pp.1-11) (1991) Quasar returns to Earth and enters the Eonverse. | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET | |
| ✔ | The Infinity Gauntlet #1 (pp.27+) (1991) The Infinity Gauntlet continues… | THE INFINITY GAUNTLET |
The story continues in THE INFINITY GAUNTLET (1991-1992)
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus | Cloak and Dagger #18 Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #31-36 Incredible Hulk #383-385 Infinity Gauntlet #1-6 Quasar #26-27 Silver Surfer #34-38, 40, 44-60 Sleepwalker #7 Spider-Man #17 Thanos Quest #1-2 Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 |
| Thanos Wars: The Infinity Origin Omnibus (2019) | Avengers #125 Avengers Annual #7 Captain Marvel #25-34 Daredevil #105 Iron Man #55 Logan’s Run #6 Marvel Feature #12 Marvel Team-Up #55 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Strange Tales #178-181 Warlock #9-15 |
| Adam Warlock Omnibus (2023) | Avengers Annual #7 Fantastic Four #66-67 Incredible Hulk #176-178 Incredible Hulk Annual #6 Marvel Premiere #1-2 Marvel Team-Up #55 Strange Tales #178-181 Marvel Two-in-One #61-63 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Thor #165-166 Warlock #1-15 |
| Avengers Epic Collection: The Final Threat (vol.9, 2014) | Avengers #150-166 Avengers Annual #6-7 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Super-Villains Team-Up #9 |
| Avengers Versus Thanos (2013) | Avengers Annual #7 Captain Marvel #25-33 Daredevil #105-107 Iron Man #55 Logan’s Run #6 Marvel Feature #12 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Warlock #9-11, 15 |
| Avengers: The Legacy of Thanos | Avengers #255-261 Avengers Annual #14 Fantastic Four Annual #19 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin – The Complete Collection (2016) The Life and Death of Captain Marvel (2002) | Captain Marvel #25-34 Iron Man #55 Marvel Feature #12 Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel |
| Captain Mar-Vell Omnibus vol.1 (2022) | Captain Marvel #1-33 Iron Man #55 Marvel Super-Heroes #12-13 Not Brand Ecch #9 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Solo Omnibus (2016) | Avengers #219-220 Avengers Annual #7 Captain Marvel #27-33, 43-44, 58-62 Incredible Hulk #271 Incredible Hulk Annual #5 Iron Man #55 Marvel Premiere #61 Marvel Preview #4, 11, 14-15 Marvel Spotlight #1-2, 6-7 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Rocket Racoon #1-4 Starlord – The Special Edition #1 Strange Tales #180-181 Tales to Astonish #13 Warlock #9-11, 15 |
| Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Return of Thanos (vol.5, 2022) | Silver Surfer #24-38 Silver Surfer: The Enslavers |
| Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest (vol.6, 2022) | Marvel Comics Presents #50 Silver Surfer #39-50 Silver Surfer Annual #3 Thanos Quest #1-2 |
| Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos (2006) Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos Premiere Edition (2010) | Logan’s Run #6 Silver Surfer #34-38 Thanos Quest #1-2 |
| Warlock by Jim Starlin Gallery Edition (2021) Warlock by Jim Starlin – The Complete Collection (2014) | Avengers Annual #7 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 Strange Tales #178-181 Warlock #9-15 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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