Thanos Chronological Appearances in Marvel Comics

It has been a hard job, but the team at Geek Hut have located the full list of Thanos chronological appearances in Marvel Comics.

Following the success of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, fans have been looking to find out more about the history of Thanos.

If you were impressed by the power of Thanos in the MCU movies then you can discover the rich history of this powerful Marvel villain as he appeared in the comics.

The collecting, reviewing and publishing of each Thanos appearance is an ongoing project. We are starting from the beginning and working through each comic that features Thanos.

You can find the video list here or follow the links below to each comic book story.

Table of Contents

A Comic Book History of Thanos

We have collected together a guide to review every appearance of the Mad Titan within the Marvel comic universe.

This list spans 1972 – 2014 and collects together 282 Marvel comics which features the infamous supervillain.

Thanos Chronological Appearances in Marvel Comics: Thanos in Captain Marvel #31

Spanning epic sagas such as Infinity War, Annihilation and the Secret Wars, Thanos has been one of the major players in the Marvel Universe.


Thanos And The Cosmic Cube


Iron Man V1 #55

Beware the Bloood Brothers: First Appearance of Thanos in Marvel Comics

Iron Man V1 #55 : “Beware the Bloood Brothers” was the first appearance of Thanos in the marvel comics. It was published in February 1973. This issue also introduces the first appearance of Drax the Destroyer.

Read more about the First Appearance of Thanos here.


Captain Marvel V1 #25

A Taste of Madness

Captain Marvel V1 #25 “A Taste of Madness” offers the next glimpse of Thanos in the Marvel comics universe. Published in March 1973, The story is written by Mike Fredrich with art by Jim Starlin.

Read more about the A Taste of Madness here.


Captain Marvel V1 #26

Betrayal!

We continue our run through of every Marvel comic appearance of Thanos. Captain Marvel v1 #26 “Betrayal!” was published in May 1973. The story is written by Mike Freiedrich with Jim Starlin who also produced the artwork.

Read more about the Betrayal! here.


Captain Marvel v1 #27

Trapped on Titan

Captain Marvel v1 #27 “Trapped on Titan!” was published in July 1973. It was written by Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin with art also by Mr Starlin.

Read more about the Trapped on Titan here.


Captain Marvel v1 #28

When Titans Collide

Captain Marvel v1 #28 “When Titans Collide”, Written by Jim Starlin and Mike Frerich was Published in September 1973.

Read more about the When Titans Collide here.


Captain Marvel v1 #29

Metamorphosis!

Captain Marvel v1 #29 was published in November 1973 with story and art by Jim Starlin. In this issue we learn the origin story of Mentor and of the planet Titan.


Daredevil And The Black Widow #105

Menace from the Moons of Saturn

An important issue for discovering the origin of Moondragon, this comic gives only a short glimpse of Thanos as part of the backstory of Moondragon.


Marvel Feature #12 : The Thing and Iron Man

The Bite of the Blood Brothers

Marvel Feature #12 from November 1973 teams up The Thing with Iron Man as they encounter two of Thanos’ thugs. In “The Bite of the Blood Brothers” Iron Man encounters the return of these galactic vampires. Featuring art by Jim Starlin and Joe Sinnott with the story by Mike Friedrich.


Avengers V1 #118

To The Death!

Thanos does appear briefly in this issue, but so briefly that you may be forgiven for missing him completely. To The Death! from December 1973 is written by Steve Engleheart with art by BoB Brown, M. Esposito & F. Giacoia. Other notable appearances in this issue are Dormammu and Loki.


Avengers V1 #118

..To Be Free From Control

“..To Be Free From Control” was published in January 1974 with the story by Jim Starlin featuring art by Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. Captain Marvel cathces up with The Controller who has taken Lou Anne under his power as part of Thanos’ evil scheme.


Captain Marvel v1 #29


Daredevil #105


Marvel Feature #12 The Thing and Iron Man


Avengers V1 #118


Captain Marvel v1 #30


Daredevil #107


Captain Marvel v1 #31


Captain Marvel v1 #32


Captain Marvel v1 #32


Captain Marvel v1 #33


Avengers v1 #125


Thanos Begins His Quest for the Soul Gems


Warlock v1 #09


Warlock v1 #10


Warlock v1 #11


Warlock v1 #15


Avengers v1 Annual #007


Marvel Two-in-One Annual #002


Logan’s Run #06


Spidey Super Stories #39


The Death of Captain Marvel


Silver Surfer v3 #034


Silver Surfer v3 #035


Silver Surfer v3 #036


Silver Surfer v3 #037


Silver Surfer v3 #038


Silver Surfer v3 #040


Thanos Quest

The storyline is a continuation of events involving resurrected Starlin-character Thanos, featured in the title Silver Surfer.

The storyline leads directly into three consecutive limited series, The Infinity Gauntlet, The Infinity War, and Infinity Crusade.


Thanos Quest # 1


Thanos Quest # 2


Rebirth Of Thanos

Silver Surfer v3 #044

Silver Surfer v3 #045

Silver Surfer v3 #046

Silver Surfer v3 #047

Cloak and Dagger v3 #018

Silver Surfer v3 #048

Silver Surfer v3 #049

Silver Surfer v3 #050

Quasar #24


Infinity Gauntlet

Thanos decides to reacquire the six Infinity Gems that he had previously used as a simple weapon. After defeating several of the Elders of the Universe and the In-Betweener, Thanos regains the gems and now has control over the six aspects of existence: Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality and Power. Ironically, now that Thanos is in possession of his “Infinity Gauntlet”, Death advises him via an intermediary she cannot speak directly to him as he is now her superior.

Infinity Gauntlet #1

Silver Surfer v3 #052

Quasar #26

Infinity Gauntlet #3

Doctor Strange #033

Silver Surfer v3 #055

Silver Surfer v3 #056

Infinity Gauntlet #4

Silver Surfer v3 #057

Silver Surfer v3 #058

Infinity Gauntlet #5

Silver Surfer v3 #059

Infinity Gauntlet #6


Spider-Man v1 #17

Quasar #30

Warlock & Infinity Watch #1

What If v2 #034 ..No One Was Watching The Watcher

Silver Surfer v3 #067


Infinity War

The Infinity War was a six issue mini series, crossing into numerous other series, including Captain America, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and even the comedy series What The…?!

The Infinity War #1

The Infinity War #2

Alpha Flight v1 #111

Warlock & Infinity Watch #07

The Infinity War #3

Warlock & Infinity Watch #08

Marvel Comics Presents #108

Marvel Comics Presents #109

Marvel Comics Presents #110

Marvel Comics Presents #111

The Infinity War #4

Quasar #38

Fantastic Four V1 #369

Wonder Man #014

Warlock & Infinity Watch #09

Quasar #39

Fantastic Four V1 #369

Wonder Man #014

Warlock & Infinity Watch #09

Quasar #39

The Infinity War #5

Quasar #40

Warlock & Infinity Watch #10

The Infinity War #6


Marvel Holiday Special 1993

What If v2 #049 ..Silver Surfer Possessed The Infinity Gauntlet


The Infinity Crusade

The Infinity Crusade is a sequel to The Infinity Gauntlet and The Infinity War, both from the same creative team. The series depicts the final battle between Earth’s superheroes and Adam Warlock’s good side.

The Infinity Crusade #1

The Infinity Crusade #2

Warlock Chron #02

Warlock & Infinity Watch #19

Silver Surfer v3 #083

The Infinity Crusade #3

Warlock & Infinity Watch #20

The Infinity Crusade #4

Silver Surfer v3 #084

The Infinity Crusade #5

The Infinity Crusade #6


Cyberspace Marvel UK

Part of the Marvel UK universe (Marvel´s British comic-line), Cyberspace 3000 explores the unknown galaxy´s in space. This takes place in the Earth-691 reality.

Guest-starring Galactus, Adam Warlock and Thanos.

Cyberspace 3000 #06

Cyberspace 3000 #07

Cyberspace 3000 #08


Blood and Thunder

Thor’s gone completely crazy, and it will take the combined might of the Infinity Watch, Silver Surfer, and Thanos to subdue him.

The Mighty Thor v1 #470

Silver Surfer v3 #088

Silver Surfer v3 #088

The Warlock Chronicles #08

Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25

The Mighty Thor v1 #471


Thanos and the Secret Defenders

Thanos assembles an elite team of cosmic villains to acquire the Oracle of Ancient Knowledge! Led by Geatar, the team also contained the Super-Skrull, Nitro, Rhino, and Titanium Man.

Secret Defenders 011

Secret Defenders 012

Secret Defenders 013


Cosmic Powers Series

Thanos kills the entire Ovin Mercenary Armies because he is bored; he than finds a possible diversion in Tyrant.

Cosmic Powers #001

Cosmic Powers #002

Cosmic Powers #003

Cosmic Powers #004

Cosmic Powers #005

Cosmic Powers #006


Quasar #59

Silver Surfer v3 #098

Rune vs Silver Surfer #1

Rune vs Silver Surfer #1

Cosmic Powers Unlimited #01

Warlock & Infinity Watch #40

Warlock & Infinity Watch #41

Warlock & Infinity Watch #42

Green Lantern vs Silver Surfer

Spider-Man Team-Up #02

Silver Surfer – Dangerous Artifacts


DC vs Marvel

DC versus Marvel Comics (issues #2–3 titled Marvel Comics versus DC) was a comic book miniseries crossover published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics from April to May 1996. The series was written by Ron Marz and Peter David, with art by Dan Jurgens and Claudio Castellini.

The special crossover series pitted Marvel Comics superheroes against their DC counterparts in battle. The outcome of each battle was determined by reader ballot, which were distributed in advance to comic book stores.

DC vs Marvel #02

DC vs Marvel #03

DC vs Marvel #04


Thanos and Ka-Zar

Ka-Zar Annual 1997

Ka-Zar #04

Ka-Zar #05

Ka-Zar #06

Ka-Zar #07

Ka-Zar #08

Ka-Zar #09

What If v2 104 ..The Impossible Man Obtained The Infinity Gauntlet

Ka-Zar #10

Ka-Zar #11

What If v2 112 ..New York Had Become Ka-Zar’s Savage Land..Forever


X-Man & Hulk Annual 1998


Thanos and Thor

Thor v2 – #021

Thor v2 – Annual – 2000

Thor v2 – #022

Thor v2 – #023

Thor v2 – #024

Thor v2 – #025


Captain Marvel v3 #17

Captain Marvel v3 #18

Captain Marvel v3 #19


Avengers – Celestial Quest #001

Avengers – Celestial Quest #002

Avengers – Celestial Quest #003

Avengers – Celestial Quest #004

Avengers – Celestial Quest #005

Avengers – Celestial Quest #006

Avengers – Celestial Quest #007

Avengers – Celestial Quest #008


Marvel Universe – Millennial Visions 2001

Deadpool #64


The Infinity Abyss

The series centers on the Thanosi, five failed genetic experiments by the Titan Thanos, with each being a clone of his DNA and modelled on other beings, including the characters Professor X; Doctor Strange; Gladiator; Iron Man and Galactus.

Obsessed with nihilism and a desire to end the universe, the five Thanosi – called X; Mystic; Warrior; Armor and Omega – attempt to kill the original Thanos by creating a black hole in space.

Infinity Abyss #1

Infinity Abyss #2

Infinity Abyss #3

Infinity Abyss #4

Infinity Abyss #5

Infinity Abyss #6


Marvel Universe – The End # 01

Marvel Universe – The End # 02

Marvel Universe – The End # 03

Marvel Universe – The End # 04

Marvel Universe – The End # 05

Marvel Universe – The End # 06


Thanos #01

Thanos #02

Thanos #03

Thanos #04

Thanos #05

Thanos #06

Thanos #07

Thanos #08

Thanos #09

Thanos #10

Thanos #11

Thanos #12


Great Lakes X-mas Special


Annihilation

Annihilation is a 2006 crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics, highlighting several outer space-related characters in the Marvel Universe. The central miniseries was written by Keith Giffen, with editor Andy Schmidt.

Thanos visits the intergalactic prison, the Kyln. With the help of Star-Lord, he defeats the Beyonder. Thanos also befriends Skreet, a chaos mite, and enslaves a former herald of Galactus, the Fallen One.

Annihilation – Prologue #01

Annihilation – Silver Surfer #01

Annihilation – Super Skrull #01

Annihilation – Nova #01

Annihilation – Ronan #01

Annihilation – Silver Surfer #02

Annihilation – Super Skrull #02

Annihilation – Nova #02

Annihilation – Ronan #02

Annihilation – Silver Surfer #03

Annihilation – Super Skrull #03

Annihilation – Nova #03

Annihilation – Ronan #03

Annihilation – Silver Surfer #04

Annihilation – Super Skrull #04

Annihilation – Nova #04

Annihilation – Ronan #04

Annihilation – The Nova Corps Files

Annihilation #01

Annihilation #02

Annihilation #03

Annihilation #04

Annihilation #05

Annihilation #06

Annihilation Saga


Black Panther 030

What If – Annihilation

Eternals #001

What If – Newer Fantastic Four #01

Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #02

Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #03

Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #04

Deadpool #015

Tails of the Pet Avengers #001

Guardians of the Galaxy #24

Guardians of the Galaxy #25


The Thanos Imperative

The Thanos Imperative is a six-issue comic book limited series published in 2010 by Marvel Comics. It was written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, and was bookended by two one-shot comics, Ignition and Devastation

While the Guardians of the Galaxy watch over the newly resurrected[6] and imprisoned Thanos and Nova pursues the false Quasar, the Magus and the Universal Church of Truth tear open the Fault.

The Thanos Imperative – Ignition

Thanos Sourcebook

The Thanos Imperative #01

The Thanos Imperative #02

Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet #01

Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet #02

Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet #03

Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet #04

Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet #05

Heroic Age – Villains

The Thanos Imperative #06

The Thanos Imperative – Devastation #01