7 Best Thanos Comics of All Time, Ranked

by

As a huge movie buff, I’ve gotta say Thanos is now a seriously iconic villain. Comic book fans always knew him, of course, but the MCU really launched him into the mainstream – he’s become one of the most recognizable villains out there, period. And looking back at his whole history in the comics, he’s always been fascinating. On the surface, he seems like a pretty straightforward bad guy – a nihilist obsessed with Death who wants to wipe out half of all life – but the more you read, the more layers you discover. He’s been featured in some truly legendary comic book storylines, the kind that everyone considers all-time greats.

Thanos has appeared in many comics over the years, but a few stories really stand out as exceptional. These tales showcase Thanos at his most compelling and have become iconic. Here are seven of the very best Thanos comics, which have captivated readers for decades.

7) Eternals (Vol. 5) #1-12

Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic’s Eternals (Vol. 5) #1-12 is a standout series from the 2020s that doesn’t get enough attention. It features Thanos as the primary antagonist, who fights the Eternals before partnering with Druig to become the Prime Eternal and turn Earth’s Eternals into weapons. Gillen really gets Thanos, portraying him with the same depth and complexity that Jim Starlin did. Don’t miss the one-shot stories Eternals: Thanos Rising and Eternals: Heretic, which add even more to Thanos’s story within the main series. This run truly showcases Thanos at his best, and represents some of the character’s strongest moments in the 21st century.

6) Infinity

Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity is a standout sci-fi story arc within his Avengers/New Avengers run. This six-issue series follows the Avengers as they venture into space while Thanos launches an attack on Earth, opposed only by the Illuminati. Hickman delivers a compelling portrayal of Thanos, and the story culminates in a massive showdown with what many consider to be the most powerful Avengers team ever assembled. The collected edition provides the complete experience, including tie-in issues from Avengers and New Avengers that add even more depth to Thanos’s role. It’s a truly epic story that deserves more recognition.

5) “Thanos Wins”

Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw’s “Thanos Wins,” a six-issue comic series from 2018, quickly became a standout hit. The story throws Thanos into a bleak future where an older, even more powerful version of himself—along with the Cosmic Ghost Rider—has obliterated almost everything. This future Thanos simply wants to eliminate his younger self. What follows is a conversation between the two versions of the villain, all while the last remnants of opposition try to fight back. This series served as a major breakthrough for writer Donny Cates in the Marvel Universe, offering a compelling alternate future for Thanos, brought to life with fantastic artwork by Geoff Shaw. Even just the Cosmic Ghost Rider character makes the series worth reading, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.

4) Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10

Jim Starlin’s Adam Warlock and Infinity Watch is a fantastic, yet often overlooked, Marvel cosmic series. It features many of Starlin’s original characters and continues the story of the Infinity Gems after the events of Infinity Gauntlet. A standout issue, #10, sees Thanos teaming up with the Watch during Infinity War to battle a more powerful and ruthless version of himself, created by the story’s villain, the Magus. This issue, drawn by Angel Medina, is essentially a brutal, all-out fight between the two Thanoses, and Starlin cleverly uses captions to give readers a glimpse into the mind of the Mad Titan. Medina’s unique art style adds to the issue’s impact, making it a hidden gem that many Marvel fans are unaware of.

3) Infinity War

Infinity War is a must-read, especially for fans of its predecessor, Infinity Gauntlet. Many consider it a superior story, largely due to its compelling portrayal of Thanos. Creators Jim Starlin and Ron Lim reintroduced the Magus, a villainous future version of Adam Warlock, who aims to achieve godhood. The story sees an unlikely alliance between Warlock’s Infinity Watch and Thanos, while Earth’s heroes are drawn into the conflict. Starlin delivers a fresh and fascinating take on Thanos, and as a reader, I found myself appreciating the character in a whole new light. I first read this shortly after Infinity Gauntlet and enjoyed every moment of it.

2) Thanos Quest

Though Thanos was defeated in the early 1980s, he came back to life when writer Jim Starlin rejoined Marvel in the early 1990s. This led to Thanos Quest, a story where the villain used knowledge gained from the realm of Death to hunt down the Elders of the Universe. His goal? To collect the Infinity Gems and become a god. This story perfectly sets up Infinity Gauntlet, and it’s a fantastic showcase for Thanos. Starlin expertly focuses on his signature monster, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see Thanos use his intelligence, rather than just brute force, to defeat some of the most powerful beings in the universe. It’s a high point for the character, beautifully illustrated by artist Ron Lim, who frequently collaborated with Starlin on Thanos comics throughout the early 90s. This story is a must-read and deserves to be included in every collection of Infinity Gauntlet.

1) Infinity Gauntlet

The Infinity Gauntlet is considered Marvel’s greatest event, largely due to the compelling character of Thanos. This six-part series by Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim follows Thanos Quest and depicts the Mad Titan achieving godhood, bringing immense suffering to the universe. Issues #4 and #5 are legendary battles, and the story deeply explores Thanos’s motivations, revealing the core of the villain beneath his hatred and despair. It’s a perfect example of a large-scale comic event and is responsible for turning Thanos into the iconic figure he is today.

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/10-marvel-comics-you-need-to-read-in-2026/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-20 18:19