Avengers: Infinity War is finally out, and the reviews are pouring in from everywhere. Some include no spoilers while some are basically the script in short format. Well, this is a not a review. Yes, I will be writing up my own review for the movie, but I want to go watch it a second time in 2D where my concentration is a little more focused for a review rather than me sitting there with big eyes and mouth open.
So, I’m going to go out on a limb and say you read the title of this, so you know already what I’m going to be talking about. Yep, the reading material for anyone interested in reading about Thanos and the Infinity saga. If you are planning on going out to get these books after or before watching the movie, then be ready to spend some money. Even with getting the collected versions in graphic novels or omnibus, you will be spending 3 digits easily. If you plan on getting the original printings then you might end up near the 4 digit price range.
The 2 reasons for these books costing so much are simple.
- The stories are some of the best and most entertaining that Marvel has had over the past 40 years.
- The story of Thanos and the infinity saga has been going on since the 70’s and then 80’s and has spread through the entire Marvel Universe of titles. If you are thinking you can get 1 or 2 books to cover it all, you will be wrong by a lot. Yes, you can get a few of the graphic novels that cover the main titles, for instance you can just get Infinity War and nothing else. However, doing this might save you money, it also will mean missing out on the stories going on before and after that and there are a lot of them.
Knowing those 2 reasons, I’m going to try to help out with anyone looking for a list of what they can read. I won’t give prices for most because they will fluctuate over time. Right now Thanos and the Infinity War issues/graphic/omnibus are hot books so will be more expensive. Give it some time and maybe the price will go down, not anytime soon, but maybe after a year. This won’t help you if you want it now but like I said, you will be spending a lot of money if you are getting them all. The first appearance of Thanos will run you between $150-$5,000+. Unless you want a reprint, then you can get it for a lot cheaper, but getting a first print of Iron Man #55 with a grade of 7.0 and higher will cost a lot of money, especially right now.
If you are like me and can’t afford to shell out that amount of money, then the collected versions are the cheapest route to go. There are a few versions you can get. I will list the graphic novels first and then at the bottom I will give a reading order for you that spans everything from the first appearance of Thanos to what he’s doing today.
- Infinity Omnibus HC – this came out in 2014 with a cover price of $125. Seems expensive but it is a huge book with 1,248 pages and includes Silver Surfer (1987) 34-38, 40, 44-60; Thanos Quest 1-2; Infinity Gauntlet 1-6; Cloak & Dagger (1988) 18; Spider-Man (1990) 17; Incredible Hulk 383-385; Dr. Strange, Sorceror Supreme 31-36; Quasar 26-27; Sleepwalker 7. Take note though, if you want his book now, you will have to have some extremely good luck, (some people do, I don’t), because you will not find this book under $150, maybe if you are lucky you can find a ebay listing where no one bids on it for $125 but I doubt it. The cheapest I see of a buy now is $209, and the lowest bidding one is at $127.50 with $15 shipping with 4 days left to bid, and the cheapest of the ending soonest is at $159 with 1 day 15 hours left to bid.
- Infinity Gauntlet Slipcase Box Set – Price for this one is between $400 to $550, (maybe more depending on who you get from and shipping/taxes). This is a monster box set that covers about all of the books you would need. There are some left out such as the early appearances of Thanos and then anything after Crusade, but if you are wanting the brunt of the Infinity stories and have money to spare, this is the way to go. Here is the list of what’s in this set.
INFINITY GAUNTLET PROLOGUE PREMIERE HC
440 PGS. / COLLECTING SILVER SURFER (1987) 34-38, 40, 44-50;
THANOS QUEST 1-2
INFINITY GAUNTLET PREMIERE HC (NEW PRINTING)
256 PGS. / COLLECTING INFINITY GAUNTLET (1991) 1-6
INFINITY GAUNTLET CROSSOVERS PREMIERE HC
504 PGS. / COLLECTING CLOAK AND DAGGER (1988) 18,
SPIDER-MAN (1990) 17, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) 383-385,
DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME 34-35, SILVER
SURFER (1987) 51-59, QUASAR 26-27, SLEEPWALKER 7;
MATERIAL FROM DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME
31-33
INFINITY GAUNTLET AFTERMATH PREMIERE HC
344 PGS. / COLLECTING SILVER SURFER (1987) 60-66, DOCTOR
STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME 36, WARLOCK AND THE
INFINITY WATCH 1-6; MATERIAL FROM SILVER SURFER ANNUAL
5
INFINITY WAR PREMIERE HC
264 PGS. / COLLECTING INFINITY WAR 1-6
INFINITY WAR CROSSOVERS VOL. 1 PREMIERE HC
552 PGS. / COLLECTING FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) 366-368,
SPIDER-MAN (1990) 24, DEATHLOK (1991) 16, DAREDEVIL (1964)
310, WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH 7, DOCTOR STRANGE,
SORCERER SUPREME 42-44, SILVER SURFER (1987) 67-69,
WONDER MAN (1991) 13, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 110, SILVER
SABLE & THE WILD PACK 4, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (1990)
27, QUASAR 37, NEW WARRIORS (1990) 27, MARC SPECTOR:
MOON KNIGHT 41-42; MATERIAL FROM CAPTAIN AMERICA
(1968) 408, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 109, MARVEL COMICS
PRESENTS (1988) 108-111
INFINITY WAR CROSSOVERS VOL. 2 PREMIERE HC
536 PGS. / COLLECTING WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH
8-10, QUASAR 38-40, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 111-112, DOCTOR
STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME 45-47, NOMAD (1992) 7,
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (1990) 28-29, SILVER SABLE &
THE WILD PACK 5, WONDER MAN (1991) 14-15, MARC SPECTOR:
MOON KNIGHT 43-44, SLEEPWALKER 18, FANTASTIC FOUR
(1961) 369-370; MATERIAL FROM MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS
(1988) 112
INFINITY WAR AFTERMATH PREMIERE HC
352 PGS. / COLLECTING WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH
11-17, SILVER SURFER/WARLOCK: RESURRECTION 1-4, QUASAR
41-43; MATERIAL FROM MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) 112,
MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2
INFINITY CRUSADE PREMIERE HC
488 PGS. / COLLECTING INFINITY CRUSADE 1-6, WARLOCK
CHRONICLES 1-5, WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH 18-22
INFINITY CRUSADE CROSSOVERS VOL. 1 PREMIERE HC
344 PGS. / COLLECTING THOR (1966) 463-464, IRON MAN (1968)
294-295, AVENGERS WEST COAST 96-97, DARKHAWK 30, CAGE
(1992) 17, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 124, MARC SPECTOR: MOON
KNIGHT 57; MATERIAL FROM DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER
SUPREME 54-55, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 122-123, WEB OF
SPIDER-MAN (1985) 104-105
INFINITY CRUSADE CROSSOVERS VOL. 2 PREMIERE HC
352 PGS. / COLLECTING ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 125, 127; THOR
(1966) 465-467; DARKHAWK 31; SILVER SURFER (1987) 83-85;
DEATHLOK (1991) 28; MATERIAL FROM DOCTOR STRANGE,
SORCERER SUPREME 56, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) 126, SILVER
SABLE & THE WILD PACK 16-17, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) 106,
DEATHLOK (1991) 29
INFINITY GAUNTLET COMPANION PREMIERE HC
528 PGS. / COLLECTING THANOS ANNUAL 1; WHAT IF? (1989)
49, 104; WHAT THE-?! 20; AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET
1-4; INFINITY GAUNTLET (2015) 1-5; MATERIAL FROM WHAT IF:
NEWER FANTASTIC FOUR, WHAT THE-?! 24; BONUS MATERIAL
INFINITY GAUNTLET BOX SET POSTER
Now if you are wanting to buy the comics, print or digital, then you will need to be prepared for a whole lot of books. I might miss one or two tie-in books, and if I do I don’t mean to it’s just that there are so many that there might be an issue that had 1 panel in it that ends up tying into the story years later. But here is the list as far as I can find and know.
First appearance and single stories featuring Thanos
Iron Man (1968) #55
Logan ‘s Run 6
Captain Marvel (1968) 25-33
Marvel Feature (1971) 12
Daredevil (1964) #105-107
Avengers (1963) #125
Warlock (1972) #9-11, 15
Avengers Annual (1967) 7
Marvel Two -In-One Annual 2.
Infinity Gauntlet storyline
Cloak and Dagger #18
Spider-Man #17
Silver Surfer #49 to #51
Infinity Gaunlet #1
Incredible Hulk #383
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #31
Quasar #26
Quasar #27
Infinity Gauntlet #2
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #32
Infinity Gaunlet #3
Silver Surfer #52
Silver Surfer #53
Silver Surfer #54
Infinity Gauntlet #4
Incredible Hulk #384
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #33
Silver Surfer #55
Silver Surfer #56
Silver Surfer #57
Silver Surfer #58
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #34
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #35
Infinity Gaunlet #5
Silver Surfer #59
Infinity Gaunlet #6
Sleepwalker #7
Incredilbe Hulk #385
SIlver Surfer #60
Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #36
Infinity War storyline
Infinity War #1
Alpha Flight #109
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #7
Fantastic Four #366
Spider-Man #24
Captain America #408
Deathlok #16
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #42
Silver Surfer #67
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #43
Infinity War #2
Fantastic Four #367
Silver Surfer #68
Silver Surfer #69
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44
Quasar #37
Infinity War #3
Marvel Comics Presents #108
Marvel Comics Presents #109
Marvel Comics Presents #110
Marvel Comics Presents #111
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #8
Fantastic Four #368
Alpha Flight #110
New Warriors #27
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #4
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #41
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #42
Wonder Man #13
Infinity War Crossovers Vol. 2 Premiere
Collects: Warlock And The Infinity Watch 8-10, Quasar 38-40, Alpha Flight (1983) 111-112, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme 45-47, Nomad (1992) 7, Guardians Of The Galaxy (1990) 28-29, Silver Sable & The Wild Pack 5, Wonder Man (1991) 14-15, Marc Spector: Moon Knight 43-44, Sleepwalker 18, Fantastic Four (1961) 369-370; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 112
Nomad Vol. 2 #7
Quasar #38
Daredevil #310
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #45
Infinity War #4
Alpha Flight #111
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #5
Guardians of the Galaxy #27
Guardians of the Galaxy #28
Guardians of the Galaxy #29
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #9
Wonder Man #14
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #43
Quasar #39
Infinity War #5
Sleepwalker #18
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #46
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #47
Fantastic Four #369
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10
Wonder Man #15
Infinity War #6
Fantastic Four #370
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #44
Alpha Flight #112
Quasar #40
Between Infinity War and Infinity Abyss
Thor #468
Thor (1966) #470
Silver Surfer Vol. 3 (1987) #88
Warlock Chronicles (1993) #8
Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #25
Thor (1966) #471
Secret Defenders (1993) #11-14
Quasar (1989) #59
Cosmic Powers (1994) #1-6
Silver Surfer Vol. 3 (1987) #98: See Silver Surfer.
Cosmic Powers Unlimited (1995) #1
Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #40-42
Lunatik (1995) #1:
Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #2
Silver Surfer: Dangerous Artifacts one-shot
Captain Marvel, Vol. 2 (1995) #5:
X-Man/Incredible Hulk Annual 1998
Deadpool Vol. 3 (1997) #33
Thor Vol. 2 (1998) #21-25 & Annual 2000
Captain Marvel Vol. 3 (1999) #17-19
Avengers: Celestial Quest (2001) #1-8
Infinity Abyss
Infinity Abyss (2002) #1-6
Deadpool Vol.3 (1997) #62-64
Thanos (2003) #1-12
She-Hulk #12-13
Annihilation
Drax the Destroyer #1-4
Annihilation Prologue
Annihilation: Nova #1-4
Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4
Annihilation #1-6
Annihilation: Super Skrull #1-4
Annihilation: Ronan #1-4
Annihilation #1-6
Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1-2
Annihilation: The Nova Corps Files
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2008) #24-25
Thanos Imperative Ignition #1-6
After annihilation
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 (2013) #18-20
Avengers Assemble (2012) #1-8
Guardians Of The Galaxy Infinite Comic (2013) #3
Thanos vs Hulk (2014) #1-4
Deadpool vs. Thanos (2015) #1-4
X-Factor (1986) #246
Thanos vs. Hulk (2014) #1-4
Thanos: The Infinity Revelation (2014) OGN
Age of Ultron (2013) #10
Thanos: The Infinity Relativity (2015) OGN
The Infinity Entity #1-4
Thanos: The Infinity Finale (2016) OGN
Infinity
Thanos Rising #1-#5
Avengers #14
Avengers #15
Avengers #16
Avengers #17
Infinity #1
New Avengers #8
Infinity: Against the Tide #1 & #2 (Marvel Infinite Digital Comics)
Nova #8 – #9
Avengers #18
Avengers Assemble #18
Captain Marvel #15
Thunderbolts #14-#15
Mighty Avengers #1-#3
Infinity: The Hunt #1 – #4
New Avengers #9
Infinity #2
New Avengers #10
Thunderbolts #16
Avengers #19
Infinity #3
Captain Marvel #16
Avengers Assemble #19
Infinity: Heist #1
Thunderbolts #17 – #18
Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #3 – #4
Avengers #20
Infinity #4
Avengers #21
Avengers Assemble #20
New Avengers #11
Infinity: Heist #2 – #4
Fearless Defenders #10
Secret Avengers #10 – #11
Infinity #5
Avengers #22 & #23
Guardians of the Galaxy #8 – #9
Infinity #6
New avengers #12
Wolverine and X-Men Annual #1
Inhumanity #1
Inhumanity: The Awakening #1
Inhumanity #2
Inhumanity: The Awakening #2
Avengers A.I. #7
Avengers Assemble #21
Avengers Assemble #22
Avengers Assemble #23.INH
Inhumanity: Superior Spider-Man #1
Mighty Avengers #4
Mighty Avengers #5.INH
Avengers Assemble #24
Avengers Assemble #25
Indestructible Hulk #17.INH
Indestructible Hulk #18.INH
Indestructible Hulk #19.INH
Indestructible Hulk #20
Uncanny X-Men #15.INH
New Avengers #13
Inhuman #1
Iron Man #20.INH