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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
