Marvel Comics’ original Infinity Saga ran as a trilogy from 1990 to 1993. The cosmic event kicked off with the return of Thanos in pages of Silver Surfer and Thanos Quest, before escalating to 1991’s Infinity Gauntlet, 1992’s Infinity War, and 1993’s Infinity Crusade.
Almost thirty years, the Infinity Saga stands the test of time as one of Marvel’s most iconic and memorable stories. The creative partnership of Jim Starlin and Ron Lim expertly told a Marvel Universe story nearly unlimited in scope, and defined Thanos and the Marvel cosmos for decades in the process. It comes as no surprise to readers that Infinity Gauntlet and the surrounding trilogy would serve as inspiration for the biggest feature film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Related Reading Orders:
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For readers looking to experience the Infinity Saga for the first time, or simply in a coherent reading order for the whole wild ride, a few notes:
First, I’m careful to designate the ’90 to ’93 trilogy as the “original” because the “Infinity” label has been used frequently in the Marvel Universe since this time. Most commonly, “Infinity” has been used to designate Thanos comics written by creator Jim Starlin, for example in the early 2000’s with Infinity Abyss. There have also been two brand new Infinity trilogies started in the 2010’s with Starlin taking Thanos in new directions via original graphic novels.
For the fullest, absolute most complete view of all things Marvel Infinity, I recommend checking out the complete Thanos reading order.
Additionally, I’m basing the complete Infinity Saga guide off of Marvel’s mega slipcase boxset that collects 12 premium hardcover collections in one mega $500 package. As you’d suspect, a fair percentage of these comics are collected elsewhere (linked below), or are available digitally on Marvel Unlimited, but there’s also a vast swath of crossover comics that aren’t anywhere else at time of publication (April 2018).
Below, I’ll identify where to find these comics, what order to read them, and which parts of the complete Infinity Saga are already in Marvel Unlimited. Enjoy the comics!
Infinity Index:
Prelude to Infinity Gauntlet
Infinity Gaunlet
Infinity Wars
Infinity Crusades
Infinity Gaunlet Continued
Prelude to Infinity Gauntlet
Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos
Collects: Silver Surfer (1987) 34-38, Thanos Quest #1 To #2, Silver Surfer #40, #44-50
The slipcase Infinity Gauntlet Prologue includes Silver Surfer issues 40 and #44 to #50, which are not in Marvel Unlimited at time of box set release.
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest
Collects: Silver Surfer (1987) 39-50, Annual 3; Thanos Quest 1-2; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 50
Infinity Gauntlet Reading Order
Collects: Infinity Gauntlet #1 To #6
Collects: Cloak And Dagger (1988) 18, Spider-Man (1990) 17, Incredible Hulk (1968) 383-385, Silver
Surfer (1987) 51-59, Quasar 26-27, Sleepwalker 7, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, #31-35
Reading Order:
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
Note that the omnibus includes all three entries up to this point, plus the oddball one off tie-ins like Sleepwalker #7 and Spider-Man #17. To my knowledge the Infinity Gauntlet crossovers are otherwise uncollected. Unfortunately the omnibus editions are long out of print, and run up to a few hundred dollars for used copies.
The Hulk and Doctor Strange tie-ins are available in Marvel Unlimited at time of slipcase release, but the remaining crossovers are not.
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gauntlet
Collects: Silver Surfer (1987) 51-66, Annual 4
In this collected epic paperback, you can get at the majority of Silver Surfer tie-in issues in this epic collection. Issues #60 to #66 are in Marvel Unlimited.
Collects: 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 Reading Order
Collects: Infinity War #1 To #6
Infinity War Crossovers Vol. 1 Premiere
Collects: 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) #109 to 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, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 108-111
As far as I can tell, the Infinity Wars crossovers are not otherwise collected.
Series included in Marvel Unlimited (at time of box set release): Fantastic Four, Warlock and the Infinity Watch, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America, and Marvel Comics Presents.
Reading Order:
Infinity War #1
Alpha Flight #109
Referenced as a tie-in in Infinity War #1, but truly just includes 1 page of overlap. For absolute wild completists only.
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #7
Same as Alpha Flight, except Warlock and the Infinity Watch has a far more significant role to play throughout the event!
Fantastic Four #366
Spider-Man #24
Captain America #408
Cap #408 is a particularly strange place to start reading Infinity War, as it doubles as part 6 of the completely bonkadoodles “Cap-Wolf” story. Nonetheless, prior to Cap’s transformation back to human, non-werewolf Steve Rogers, a dark version of the hero shows up per Infinity War crossover regulations. Amazingly, D-Man is also attacked by his doppleganger.
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
Guardians of the Galaxy #27
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
Details battle started in Infinity War #3
Daredevil #310
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #45
Infinity War #4
Alpha Flight #111
Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #5
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
Collects: Warlock & 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, Marvel Swimsuit Special 2
Largely in Marvel Unlimited.
Infinity Crusades Reading Order
Collects: Infinity Crusade 1-6, Warlock Chronicles 1-5, Warlock And The Infinity Watch 18-22
Infinity Crusade Crossovers Vol. 1 Premiere
Collects: 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
Series included in Marvel Unlimited at time of release: The Warlock Chronicles, Warlock and the Infinity Watch, Thor, Iron Man, Cage.
Reading Order:
Infinity Crusade #1
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #18
Iron Man #294
Iron Man #295
Thor #463
Thor #464
Avengers West Coast #96
Alpha Flight #122
Terror Inc. #13
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #56
Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #54
Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #55
The Warlock Chronicles #1
Infinity Crusade #2
Warlock Chronicles #2
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #19
Thor #465
Avengers West Coast #97
Cage #17
Web of Spider-Man #104
Web of Spider-Man #105
Darkhawk #30
Alpha Flight #123
Alpha Flight #124
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #57
Infinity Crusade #3
The Warlock Chronicles #3
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #20
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #56
Darkhawk #31
Sable & The Wild Pack #16-17
Silver Surfer #83
Infinity Crusade Crossovers Vol. 2 Premiere
Collects: 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 Crusade #4
Warlock Chronicles #4
Silver Surfer #84 to #85
Infinity Crusade #5
Warlock Chronicles #5
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #21
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #22
Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #106
Thor #466
Infinity Crusade #6
Deathlok #29
Thor #467
Infinity Gauntlet Continued
Collects: 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;
Note that the 2015 Infinity Gauntlet five issue miniseries is a Secret Wars (2015) tie-in.
The story continues in Marvel’s latest Infinity events titled Infinity Countdown and Infinity Wars!
Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus collects more than what you have listed, it seems Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos, Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest, and Infinity Gauntlet #1 To #6 are all unnecessary purchases because they’re all included in the Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
this is a nice comprehensive guide that i bumped into but i was looking for a way to type into the marvel unlimited search a certain keyword that would allow all of this to show up so i dont have to look for them manually… any help with that would be appreciated.
Hi,
Hulk #383 ist bevor Infinity Gauntlet #1, there is a scene with Doctor Strange and the Silver Surver and Wong is presnt, so bevor the snap.
Best
Jana
Never mind, I should finish the comic before Posting a coment. Sorry
Hi, I thhinnk that silver surfer 52 should be after infinity gauntlet 1 and before infinity gauntlet two because it happens before infinity gauntlet 2
If you have them in single issues then yes. Look up each one individually and check prices online. Hipcomics is where I’d check. If you have an original Infinity gauntlet issues I’d like to buy them from you
Would all these together as a collection be worth anything?
If you have them in single issues then yes. Look up each one individually and check prices online. Hipcomics is where I’d check. If you have an original Infinity gauntlet issues I’d like to buy them from you
I noticed that the reading order for Infinity crusade leaves out a few books, is the list cut short? (Missing Infinity Crusade 4-6, Warlock Chronicles 4-5, and Infinity Watch 21-22) (maybe more are missing in the second half of the list?)
It looks like the second half of the Infinity Crusade was left off this list. I’m reading through the slipcase edition right now and I see the Crusade Crossovers vol. 2 starts with Doctor Strange #56 and Alpha Flight #125, but they aren’t ordered above, just referenced as being presented in vol. 2. Not to mention any of Infinity Crusade #4 and on.
The missing chunk has been restored!
Is there any info on the upcoming Infinity Wars storyline? Like a reading order with tie-ins? Thanks!!!
Hey Chad, yeah. Infinity Countdown 2018 just finished whichis leading up to the new Infinity War Prime Issue #1 sometime this or next week. Catch up, so far the entire Infinity Countdown has been very good. Don’t forget to catch up with the All-New GOTG Vol 1 & 2 first and the comics in between. I loved the movie, but dare I say I actually enjoyed the Countdown even more.. It’s not like the old comics anymore, very modern, modern humor and concepts.