Modern Thanos Key Issues: Silver Surfer #34, Thanos Quest, Infinity Gauntlet and Cosmic Ghost Rider

Thanos was created by Jim Starlin and first appeared in Iron Man #55 in February 1973 — that is a Bronze Age key, not a Silver Age one; there are no Silver Age Thanos issues. The character vanished from continuity in the mid-1970s before making a definitive comeback in 1990. This guide covers that modern era: from Silver Surfer #34 (1990) and The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) through to Thanos vol. 2 (2017–2018). These issues directly inspired Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019, with Josh Brolin as Thanos), whose combined worldwide box office exceeds $4.8 billion.

This guide sticks to the verifiable: eBay medians from our estimator (eBay.fr + eBay.com, June 2026) and records documented by auction houses and specialist press. Issues with fewer than 15 eBay listings receive no precise median. Thanos Quest and The Infinity Gauntlet are not indexed in our tool — sale figures for those series come from third-party sources.

Modern Thanos key issue ranking (eBay data and documented records, June 2026)

Silver Surfer #34 and Avengers #125 have reliable eBay medians. Thanos Quest #1 and The Infinity Gauntlet #1 are not covered by our estimator; figures cited come from documented sales. Silver Surfer #44 has only 12 listings: no median cited.

Silver Surfer #34 (1990): the Mad Titan's resurrection

Published in February 1990, Silver Surfer #34 opens the "Rebirth of Thanos" arc and marks the character's return to Marvel continuity, thirteen years after his death in Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 (1977). Written by Jim Starlin with pencils by Ron Lim and inks by Tom Christopher, the issue sees Mistress Death resurrect Thanos for a mission that will lead directly to The Infinity Gauntlet. Issues #34 through #38 form a complete narrative block, often collected in the Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos trade paperback. This is the unavoidable entry point into the modern Thanos saga.

Our estimator returns a median of €19 across 55 listings — a solid volume that reflects an active market. The blended median is naturally pulled down by ungraded and mid-grade copies; a CGC 9.8 or 9.6 would command significantly more, though no public record has been confirmed to date. Ron Lim's cover is one of the most recognisable images of Marvel's cosmic era.

Thanos Quest #1–2 (1990): collecting the Infinity Gems

Thanos Quest is a two-issue prestige-format mini-series published in August–October 1990. Written by Jim Starlin with art by Ron Lim, it follows Thanos as he travels the universe to wrest the six Infinity Gems from their custodians — the Elders of the Universe. It is the essential bridge between the return established in Silver Surfer #34 and the full-scale event of The Infinity Gauntlet: without Thanos Quest, the Gauntlet cannot exist. Issue #1 features a wraparound cover by Ron Lim that is particularly popular with collectors.

Our estimator does not cover this series. Based on documented sales, the record for a high-grade copy of Thanos Quest #1 is cited at ~$500 (source: sellmycomicbooks.com). Heritage Auctions has offered a CGC 9.9 copy — one of only a handful at that grade — though the final price is not publicly accessible without a Heritage account. In mid-grade, these issues remain relatively affordable, making them attractive for collectors who want to complete the cosmic saga without breaking the bank.

The Infinity Gauntlet #1 (1991): the event that redefined Marvel

Published from July to December 1991, The Infinity Gauntlet is a six-issue mini-series written by Jim Starlin, pencilled by George Pérez on the early issues and Ron Lim on the later ones. The story — Thanos, made omnipotent by the six Infinity Gems, erases half of all life in the universe to impress Mistress Death — directly inspired the structure of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019, worldwide gross: $2.799 billion). It is one of the most frequently recommended Marvel reads for MCU fans new to the source material.

Our estimator does not cover this series. The documented record sale for a high-grade copy of The Infinity Gauntlet #1 is cited at ~$1,400 (source: sellmycomicbooks.com). CGC 9.8 copies appear regularly in dealer listings and on eBay, typically at a significant premium. In ungraded mid-grade condition the issue remains accessible — the CGC 9.8 tier is where the value premium concentrates.

Thanos #13 (2018): first appearance of Cosmic Ghost Rider

Published in January 2018 as part of Thanos vol. 2, issue #13 is written by Donny Cates with art by Geoff Shaw. It falls within the "Thanos Wins" arc, which projects the reader into a dystopian future where Thanos has conquered everything. The issue introduces Cosmic Ghost Rider — Frank Castle, the Punisher, who became a Ghost Rider-powered cosmic herald in Thanos's service — a character that immediately became an editorial phenomenon and earned its own ongoing series in 2018. Cates's run is now considered one of the most significant modern Thanos arcs, and issue #13 appears regularly on key-issue watchlists.

Our estimator does not cover this series. A CGC 9.8 copy of the regular edition (Geoff Shaw cover) sold for around ~$395 based on 2022 data (source: sellmycomicbooks.com); variant covers — notably the Albuquerque edition — can reach substantially higher levels. As with all modern keys, value is concentrated in high-grade certified copies and remains sensitive to the character's future prominence in the MCU.