Thanos 101
Before you see Avengers: Infinity War, get to know the Marvel mega-villain.
There’s no way that Avengers: Infinity War can fulfill everyone’s Thanos thirst. With that in mind, it’s time to head to the comic book shelves to learn more about the Mad Titan and what he’s all about. Forget about avenging—it’s time to read up on everything you need to know about the Marvel mega-villain. Start with these five titles first.
01Thanos Quest #1-2
This 1990 miniseries is as much an explanation of who Thanos is and what he wants, written by the character’s creator, Jim Starlin. It’s the ideal illustration of just how far he’s willing to go to to achieve his ambition. (Spoiler alert: Pretty far.)
02The Infinity Gauntlet #1-6
Almost certainly *the* Thanos comic book storyline, *The Infinity Gauntlet* shows what happens when Thanos gets ultimate power. Ready to watch your favorite superheroes get slaughtered while someone who wants to end half of all life has godlike abilities? This is where you go.
03Infinity #1-6
This was where the Cull Obsidian debuted, but there are echoes of the plot of this comic in *Avengers: Infinity War* itself—not least of which being how hard the heroes will fight when it seems that all is lost.
04Thanos Rising #1-5
For those wondering just how a small child ended up growing up into one of the most terrifying, destructive forces in the entire universe, here’s your answer.
05Thanos (2016) #13-18
As to where Thanos could go next, this six-part storyline from the just-concluded Thanos series is a fun possibility to explore. Titled “Thanos Wins,” it’s a story where that very thing has happened, but not in a way anyone expected—least of all Thanos.
