Infinity Gauntlet Reading Order

Overview

Infinity Gauntlet (Review) is a large-scale Marvel event that deals with the consequences of Thanos' quest to achieve control of the six Infinity Gems. The event is wide in scope and brings in a number of Marvel's Earthly heroes and a number of its cosmic entities. It is also the first in a series of three famous, cosmic events; with Infinity War and Infinity Crusade following soon after.

The bulk of this event plays out in the main event series; fans can simply read this series and understand almost every aspect of the event. However, there are also a number of tie-in issues which allow readers to see certain pieces of the event from a different viewpoint.

Tie-Ins

The tie-ins to Infinity Gauntlet (Review) fall into one of two categories. These two categories are marked by the titles "Group 1" and "Group 2" in the reading order above.

1. The first group shows some background action taking place within this event. This group includes issues that show how heroes made it from one point in the event to another or show why certain decisions were made.
2. The second group mostly focuses on how the actions of the main event impact the rest of the Marvel Universe. This group includes issues that show how regular people on Earth are reacting to the event or that show how an individual hero is personally struggling with what is going on.

Before Reading

Though Infinity Gauntlet (Review) is the first in a trilogy of cosmic events, it still has a significant prelude of its own. The two-issue Thanos Quest miniseries and issues #34-38 and #44-48 of the Silver Surfer Vol. 3 series, collected across Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos (Review) and Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest (Review), help build plotlines that come to fruition in Infinity Gauntlet. All of these comics depict Thanos' return to life and his rise in power.

In addition, Infinity Gauntlet and the trilogy it kicks off heavily reference earlier events in the lives of Adam Warlock and Thanos. These include the "Thanos War" (Reading Order); Thanos' attempt to rule the world in Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Adam Warlock Vol. 2 (Review) or in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 17 (Review); and Adam Warlock's activities on Counter-Earth and his fight against the Magus, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Adam Warlock Vol. 1 (Review) and Marvel Masterworks: Adam Warlock Vol. 2 (Review).

After Reading

The direct impact of Infinity Gauntlet (Review) is addressed in the issues marked as "Epilogue" in this reading order. These issues sort out some of the aftermath from the event and further elaborate upon some lingering plot points.

Infinity Gauntlet is directly followed by Infinity War. Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1-6, collected in Infinity Watch Vol. 1, helps bridge the gap between these two events.