Summary

Thanoshas become one of the most iconic villains in Marvel Comics history , having made a name for himself within cartoon strip lore long before his inclusion body in the MCU . While that ’s the pillow slip now , it was n’t always , as Thanos was originally piddling more than a scoundrel - of - the - hebdomad for just one ofthe found Avengers , with initially no real plan to develop him into a more serious or lasting role beyond that .

So , for a character from such humble beginnings , how did Thanos become perhaps the most recognizable supervillain since Darth Vader ? Well , it was n’t an light journeying , to be sure , nor was it one that happened in a full-strength line . Thanos had to go through difficult quests , casual retcons , and plenitude of defeats to become the superstar fans know and lie with today . Here are the Top 10 most crucial Thanos moments that define the fibre .

10Iron Man Debut

Thanos made his first appearance inInvincible Iron Man#55 by Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich . While the comedian presented Thanos as a unnerving foeman - one which Iron Man may not have survived without the avail of Drax the Destroyer - he was far from being the ecumenical threat fans live him as today , as he needed to do a bit more in his villainous life history to earn that title .

9Thanos Quest

speak of earning his nefarious position , Thanos Questby Jim Starlin and Ron Lim is just how Thanos did so . This plot line introduced Thanos ’ mete obsession with the Infinity Gems , and his elevation from baddie - of - the - week to a worldwide menace . InThanos Quest , Thanos gazes into the Infinity Well , and learns that he need to collect the six Soul Gems ( as the Infinity Stones were then know ) in monastic order to gain the power to kill half the universe for the sole aim of pleasing his one true love , Mistress Death . This storyline also introduce Thanos to Adam Warlock , a cosmic frenemy who would play a major part in his overarching account .

8Infinity Gauntlet

Infinity Gauntletby Jim Starlin and George Pérez is Thanos ’ ultimate success coming off of Thanos Quest . He did what he set out to do by collecting the Infinity Gems and then using them to kill half of all life story in the existence with the snap of his finger . The conflict following that second - which occurred in the very first outlet - was one for the ages , as it really put into perspective how small-scale the Avengers and all the heroes of Earth really were in comparison to true power . And , for the first time in his vocation , that ‘ unfeigned power ’ was Thanos himself .

7Infinity Watch

6Introduction of Thane

Thane is the Inhuman Word of Thanos who made his introduction inNew Avengers#10 by Jonathan Hickman and Mike Deodato . For obvious reasons , Thane ’s very existence is substantial to Thanos , as he ’s his biological son as opposed to Thanos ’ adopted child like Nebula and Gamora , who Thanos only take under his wing to practice for warfare and conquest . In fact , Thanos was n’t even aware of Thane ’s world until the Inhuman / Eternal made his macrocosm known . This newfangled character reference offered buff more insight into Thanos ’ account while also presenting a challenger to Thanos ’ proverbial ( and quite literal ) throne .

5Eternals Retcon

Thanos is no stranger to origin retcons . InInvincible Iron Man#55 , he ’s introduced as a Titan , a backwash of purplish - skinned beings from the lunar month , Titan . However , it was later explained that Thanos was in reality an Eternal who was birth with Deviant Syndrome , giving him his unique coming into court . Then , there was the final and official retcon that cemented Thanos ’ history inEternalsVol . 5 # 12 by Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic . In that comic , it ’s explained that Thanos was n’t an unceasing anomalousness who was deport with the Deviant Syndrome despite sustain two unadulterated - blooded Eternal parents , he was a product of the deliberate nuclear fusion reaction of ageless and Deviant DNA . This retcon made Thanos ’ appearance - and even his creation - seem much more designed rather than a seemingly random turn of lot .

4Thanos Rising

2013’sThanos Rising#1 by Jason Aaron and Simone Bianchi showed the original origin of Thanos ( the one that was retconned in the comic above ) , but more than that , it revealed exactly how Thanos became so enamored with Death . WhileEternals#12 confirmed that his compulsion with Death was mostly due to an affected assortment of his dual blood , the original account was a bit more twisted , and boarderline predatory . The go embodiment of Death had been postdate Thanos in unlike forms all his animation , twisting him from the splendid pacificist he was as a nipper / young adult , to the cosmically homicidal frantic Titan fans know him as today . While the Eternals retcon enlighten up why he looks the way he does , and why he finds more comfort in Death than with his fellow Eternals ( since he ’s technically not really one of them ) , that does n’t change the involvement of Death herself in Thanos ’ animation since he was a child , leave a crisscross on him that would last the respite of his life .

3Learning the Truth About His Parents

EternalsVol . 5 did more than just explain Thanos ’ looks and his compulsion with Death , but also presented him with a shocking and infuriate truth : his parents are still active . Worse yet , his parents are active and they would never die so long as the Earth exists . This was a important moment in Thanos ’ life and character , as it was a traumatic realization that the parents who hated him - and even taste to bolt down him - would essentially always be in his living . Plus , it depict him not as a maniacal supervillain , but as little more than a frightened child , try a comfort in Death that he never institute with his parents , all while their unending lives brood ever present over his full existence .

2Raising Gamora

Thanks in part to the MCU and the outstanding characterization by Zoe Saldana , Gamora has become one of the most placeable Marvel Comics submarine to date , and her history with Thanos is one of the most entrancing aspect of her eccentric . Since the early days of herGuardians of the Galaxyadventures , fans get it on that she was the adopted girl of Thanos who was raised to be the not bad assassin in the extragalactic nebula . However , fan would n’t learn the inside information of their history until 2019’sThanosVol . 3 # 1 - 6 by Tini Howard and Ariel Olivetti . This storyline reveals that Magus ( a benighted version of Adam Warlock ) will one day be Thanos ’ great threat , which is why he trained Gamora to be the deadliest assassinator there is , as it was her task to kill Magus on Thanos ’ behalf when the time came . This account add together depth toThanos ’ decision to upraise Gamoraand his compulsion with making the deadliest warrior in the world .

1Thanos Wins

While this storyline takes place in an alternative world , Thanos Winsby Donny Cates and Geoffrey Shaw is arguably the great exhibition of Thanos ’ true , destructive power . Thanos solos the entire universe in this volume , violent death or otherwise enslaving iconic Marvel Comics characters like the Hulk and the Punisher ( Cosmic Ghost Rider ) , and bringing the integral cosmos to destroy . Thanos Winsgives Thanos everything he thought he want throughout his total Marvel Comics chronicle , efficaciously making it the culmination of every plot line in which he appeared .

While Thanos has been through far more than these mere handful of moments , the Top 10 on this lean are absolutely contributing factors to howThanoswent from being anIron Manvillain - of - the - week to perhaps the most recognisable and memorable supervillain in Marvel Comics history .

Palpatine, Vader, and Momin

Far Side, cowboys with hands in the air (foreground) Union soldier giving general

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Top 10 Thanos Moments.

Thanos' first appearance.

Thanos Quest.

Thanos wielding the Infinity Gauntlet in Infinity Gauntlet comic

Adam Warlock.

Thanos' son, Thane.

Thanos learning his true origin.

Thanos Rising.

Thanos and his parents.

Guardians of the Galaxy’s Gamora.

Thanos Wins.