20 best superhero comics to read after Infinity War

19. The Infinity Gauntlet

Given how much the marketing material for Avengers: Infinity War has stressed the ultimate confrontation between the Avengers (and everyone else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, apparently) and Thanos, Infinity Gauntlet is a darn important comic to turn to in the search for backstory. In fact, this story arc is so important that it became the basis for all future crossover arcs in Marvel and, arguably, the larger world of comics.

In this 1991 six-issue limited series, writer and artist Jim Starlin returned to Marvel after introducing Thanos nearly 20 years earlier. By the way, he also helped introduce the character of Drax the Destroyer. Though movie Drax is arguably different from the comics version, you still might want to send a thank you card or good thoughts in Starlin’s direction.

At any rate, Starlin had been working towards the high point of a major comics story cycle featuring Thanos. Infinity Gauntlet is that climax. In the story, Thanos has finally collected all six of the Infinity Stones and fixed them to the fabulous and titular gauntlet. Now, with the combined force of all these jewels, Thanos is primed to rule the universe.

Thanos might be excited about this prospect, but practically no one else is jumping up and applauding the idea. It’s not like a bloodthirsty nihilist god is reassuring. Indeed, it’s so upsetting that most of the Marvel superheroes team up to fight the newly powerful Thanos. What happens next is a gloriously knock-down, drag-out fight staged in the cosmos, complete with some very excellent Captain America moments.