Infinity Gauntlet — complete key issues guide

Infinity Gauntlet remains, thirty years after publication, one of Marvel's most influential crossovers in medium history. Published in 1991, this six-issue run laid the groundwork for everything the MCU would build twenty-seven years later in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. And this direct influence on global cinema has had a radical effect on key-issue valuation: some issues have been multiplied by 10, even 20, between 2015 and 2026. This guide gives you a precise map of every essential issue, its current value and long-term potential.

Infinity Gauntlet: context and importance in Marvel history

Written by Jim Starlin and drawn by George Pérez (issues 1-3) then Ron Lim (issues 4-6), Infinity Gauntlet is the conclusion of a Thanos-centered saga begun in the late 1970s. Starlin had created Thanos in 1973 in Iron Man #55, and had progressively transformed him into a cosmic antagonist of philosophical depth rare in mainstream comics.

In Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos assembles the six Infinity Gems (soul, time, space, mind, reality, power) in the gauntlet he forges to impress Lady Death. Armed with the Gauntlet, he becomes an omnipotent god and snaps his fingers to erase half of all life in the universe. The Avengers, the guardians of the universe and even the Cosmic Entities (Eternity, Galactus, Lord Chaos) unite to fight him, in vain, until Adam Warlock and Nebula's cunning tip the balance.

This tale defined the modernity of Marvel comics: cosmic spectacle, thematic depth, existential stakes. And when Kevin Feige announced that Thanos would be the MCU's main antagonist, building toward Infinity War, the key-issue market reacted immediately and massively.

The 6 main run issues: analysis and 2026 values

Infinity Gauntlet #1 (July 1991) — The founding issue

Infinity Gauntlet #1 is the mandatory starting point for any collection. It sets the chessboard: Thanos at the peak of his power, half the universe erased, the surviving heroes in shock. George Pérez's cover — Thanos brandishing the Gauntlet — is one of the most iconic in Marvel history.

In 2026, CGC values are as follows:

• CGC 9.8: $400 to $600 (standard range, excluding variants)
• CGC 9.6: $180 to $280
• CGC 9.4: $80 to $130
• Ungraded NM: $30 to $60

The market has remained solid despite some post-Endgame corrections. This issue represents the safest investment in the entire saga.

Infinity Gauntlet #2 — The confrontation begins

Issue #2 sees the first heroes charge Thanos and be defeated effortlessly. It's a narratively crucial issue but less sought-after than #1. In CGC 9.8: $150 to $250. Stable and accessible for collectors in building phase.

Infinity Gauntlet #3 and #4 — Cosmic massacre

Infinity Gauntlet #3 is perhaps the most brutal issue in the series: the Avengers and heroes of the entire universe frontally attack Thanos and are methodically eliminated one by one. Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor — all fall. It's a viscerally effective read that crystallizes Thanos's omnipotence.

Issue #4 sees the intervention of the Cosmic Entities, a battle at a level of abstraction rare in comics. These two issues are valued between $120 and $200 in CGC 9.8. Less in demand than #1 but essential for the complete run.

Infinity Gauntlet #5 and #6 — Resolution and denouement

Issue #5 sees Nebula seize the Gauntlet while Thanos is momentarily distracted — a clever twist. Issue #6 concludes with Adam Warlock recovering the Gauntlet and restoring universal order. These two issues complete the run and trade between $100 and $180 in CGC 9.8.

Essential prequels: Thanos Quest and Silver Surfer

Impossible to talk about Infinity Gauntlet without covering the issues that set the stage. These prequels are often rarer and more valuable than some of the main run issues themselves.

Thanos Quest #1 and #2 (1990) — The Gauntlet's genesis

This two-shot by Jim Starlin is the direct prequel to Infinity Gauntlet. We follow Thanos seeking and acquiring the six Infinity Gems one by one, confronting the Elders of the Universe and other cosmic guardians. It's a dense, philosophically rich story that explains Thanos's motivation and his relationship to Lady Death far better than the main run does.

These two issues became extremely sought-after after Infinity War. In CGC 9.8, Thanos Quest #1 regularly reaches $300 to $500. The #2 sits in the same range. Their print run is more limited than Infinity Gauntlet's (they were special one-shots), making them naturally rarer in top condition.

Silver Surfer #34-38 and #44 — Thanos's rise to power

Starlin's Silver Surfer series sets the stage for Infinity Gauntlet. Silver Surfer #44 is particularly crucial: it's in this issue that Thanos appears for the first time in possession of the complete Gauntlet with all the gems. It's technically the first appearance of the Gauntlet as we know it.

In CGC 9.8, Silver Surfer #44 can exceed $800 — more than any issue of the main Infinity Gauntlet run. It's the saga's grail for serious collectors. Issues 34-38 are also sought-after for Thanos's narrative progression, valued between $80 and $200 in CGC 9.8 depending on the issue.

Warlock and the Infinity Watch — The immediate sequel

Published immediately after Infinity Gauntlet, this 42-issue run sees Adam Warlock and his allies (Pip the Troll, Gamora, Drax, Moondragon, and Thanos himself) watch over the dispersed Infinity Gems. It's a solid read but key issues remain affordable. Issue #1 is valued around $40-80 in CGC 9.8.

Infinity War and Infinity Crusade: sequels and their key issues

Jim Starlin made Infinity Gauntlet the first part of a trilogy. The two sequels have had varied fortunes on the collector market.

Infinity War #1-6 (1992)

Infinity War sees the Magus, an evil version of Adam Warlock, threaten the universe with his own fake Infinity Gauntlets. The story is more complex and less linear than Infinity Gauntlet. Visually, Ron Lim handles the entire run. The quality is there even if the saga is not unanimously praised.

Values remain well below Infinity Gauntlet: Infinity War #1 in CGC 9.8 sits around $80 to $150. Other issues hover between $40 and $80 in CGC 9.8. The market is more stable because less tied to direct MCU adaptations.

Infinity Crusade #1-6 (1993)

The third part of the trilogy is the most divisive. The Goddess, another fragment of Warlock's soul, manipulates the most pious heroes of the Marvel universe. The story is judged too mystical and fragmented by many readers. Values reflect this relative disinterest: Infinity Crusade #1 in CGC 9.8 rarely exceeds $60 to $90.

Infinity #1-6 (2013) by Jonathan Hickman — Not to be confused

Jonathan Hickman published his own mega-event titled Infinity in 2013, which puts Thanos back in play in a different narrative context. Not to be confused with Infinity Gauntlet. This Hickman run is worth reading but its key issues don't compete with those of Starlin's original saga. Infinity #1 trades between $15 and $40 in CGC 9.8.

The Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame effect on values

The 2014 announcement that the MCU was heading toward Infinity War triggered a first buying wave. The film's April 2018 release caused a historic peak: Infinity Gauntlet #1 CGC 9.8 went from $80 in 2015 to over $500 in 2019. Endgame (2019) confirmed this plateau.

Since 2020, the market has progressively corrected. The most accessible issues (CGC 9.4 and below) have lost 20 to 30% of their peak value. In contrast, CGC 9.8 copies — particularly #1 — have remained robust, because demand from institutional investors and premium collectors has not slackened.

In 2026, expert consensus is that the Infinity Gauntlet market is mature and stable, with little risk of major downside correction but also little opportunity for spectacular near-term rises, barring unforeseen MCU announcements.

CGC values by issue: 2026 summary table

Iron Man #55: Thanos's first appearance

No Infinity Gauntlet guide would be complete without mentioning Iron Man #55 (February 1973), which marks the very first appearance of Thanos (and Drax the Destroyer). This issue is in a class of its own: it's a Bronze Age key issue that has benefited from an astronomical valuation after the MCU.

In 2026, an Iron Man #55 in CGC 9.0 trades between $3,000 and $5,000. In CGC 9.8, the rare known copies have sold between $15,000 and $25,000. This issue is reserved for the most financially invested collectors, but it remains the absolute holy grail of any Thanos/Infinity collector.

How to build your Infinity Gauntlet collection in 2026

FAQ Infinity Gauntlet — collector questions