Infinity Gauntlet

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Lore & Background

The Infinity Gauntlet storyline was driven by Thanos, a character created by Jim Starlin for Marvel in 1973. Starlin began writing Silver Surfer in 1990, developing a new plot with Thanos over sixteen monthly issues and the spin-off limited series The Thanos Quest before concluding in The Infinity Gauntlet. George Pérez was brought in to draw the limited series because of his name recognition and because Ron Lim was already busy, but after completing three issues and part of the fourth, Pérez was replaced by Lim due to his own schedule and dissatisfaction with the story. At the start, Thanos has collected all six Infinity Gems and attached them to his gauntlet, using their combined power to win the affection of Mistress Death, the living embodiment of death in the Marvel Universe. When Thanos erases half of all life, Adam Warlock leads Earth's remaining heroes against him. After Nebula steals the gauntlet, Thanos aids the heroes in defeating her.

In Their Own Story

The series' events begin with Thanos having already collected all six Infinity Gems and attached them to his gauntlet. He uses their combined power to instantly erase half of the life in the universe from existence. Adam Warlock then leads Earth's remaining heroes against Thanos. The Infinity Gauntlet is stolen by Thanos' villainous granddaughter Nebula, after which Thanos aids the remaining heroes in defeating her. The storyline was a top seller for Marvel during publication and was followed by two immediate sequels, The Infinity War (1992) and The Infinity Crusade (1993). Its events continued to be referenced in other Marvel comics for decades, and elements were adapted into the "Infinity Saga" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Reader's Guide

The Infinity Gauntlet is a six-issue limited series written by Jim Starlin, with pencils by George Pérez for the first three issues and part of the fourth, then Ron Lim. It was serialized from July to December 1991. The story is the culmination of a plot that began in Silver Surfer #34 (February 1990) and continued through The Thanos Quest (September–October 1990) and Silver Surfer #44-50. Key characters include Thanos, Adam Warlock, Mistress Death, and Nebula. The gauntlet itself is a device that holds the six Infinity Gems, granting god-like power. The series has been reprinted in various formats and editions, and its themes and plot elements were adapted into video games, animated cartoons, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Infinity Saga."

Did You Know?

• The Infinity Gauntlet limited series was serialized from July to December 1991.
• George Pérez was brought in to draw the series because of his name recognition, but was replaced by Ron Lim after three issues and part of the fourth.
• Thanos uses the gauntlet to instantly erase half of the life in the universe from existence.
• The Infinity Gauntlet was followed by two immediate sequels: The Infinity War (1992) and The Infinity Crusade (1993).
• Elements of the story were adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 'Infinity Saga,' spanning almost two dozen connected films.