View source for The Infinity Gauntlet

{{Short description|1991 American comic book storyline}}
{{about|the 1991 comic book series|the fictional item the series is named after|Infinity Gems|and|Infinity Gauntlet (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|the 2015 comic book series|The Infinity Gauntlet (2015 comic book)|the 2010 video game|Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
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{{Infobox comic book title
| image               = Infinity Gauntlet 1.jpg
| image_size          = <!-- default 250 -->
| alt                 = The infinity gauntlet is in the middle of the cover and glare from each gem extends in four directions to the edge of the image. Thanos, Mistress Death, and Mephisto's faces are above it. It is surrounded on other sides by vignettes of various heroes featured in the story. The logo occupies the top third of the image. The text is yellow with a blue shadow.
| caption             = Cover to ''Infinity Gauntlet'' (third edition [[Trade paperback (comics)|TPB]]) (2011).<br>Art by [[George Pérez]].
| schedule            = Monthly
| limited             = Y
| Superhero           = Y
| publisher           = [[Marvel Comics]]
| startmo             = July
| startyr             = 1991
| endmo               = December
| endyr               = 1991
| issues              = 6
| main_char_team      = [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br>[[Adam Warlock]]<br>[[Mephisto (comics)|Mephisto]]<br>[[Thanos]]<br>[[Silver Surfer]]<br>[[Nebula (character)|Nebula]]
| writers             = [[Jim Starlin]]
| pencillers          = [[George Pérez]]<br>[[Ron Lim]]
| inkers              = [[Josef Rubinstein]]<br>[[Tom Christopher]]<br>Bruce N Solotoff
| letterers           = [[Jack Morelli]]
| colorists           = Max Scheele<br>Ian Laughlin
| editors             = Craig Anderson
| TPB                 = 1st Ed. [[Trade paperback (comics)|TPB]] (1992)
| ISBN                = 0871359448
| TPB2                = 2nd Ed. TPB (2006)
| ISBN2               = 0785123490
| TPB3                = 3rd Ed. TPB (2011)
| ISBN3               = 0785156593
| TPB4                = HC Edition (2010)
| ISBN4               = 0785145494
| TPB5                = [[Marvel Omnibus|Omnibus]] (2014)
| ISBN5               = 078515468X
| TPB6                = Deluxe TPB (2019)
| ISBN6               = 1302915959
| subcat              = 
| altcat              = 
| sort                = Infinity Gauntlet
| addpubcat#          = 
| nonUS               = 
}}

'''''The Infinity Gauntlet''''' is an [[American comic book]] storyline published by [[Marvel Comics]]. In addition to an eponymous, six-issue [[limited series (comics)|limited series]] written by [[Jim Starlin]] and [[Penciller|pencilled]] by [[George Pérez]] and [[Ron Lim]], [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] chapters appeared in related comic books. Since its initial serialization from July to December 1991, the series has been reprinted in various formats and editions.

The series' events are driven by [[Thanos]], a nihilist character created for Marvel by Starlin in 1973. When Starlin began writing ''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer]]'' in 1990, he and Lim began a new plot with Thanos that developed over sixteen monthly issues and a spin-off limited series before concluding in ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. Pérez was brought in to draw ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' because he had more name recognition among fans and because Lim already had a full schedule. However, after completing three issues and part of the fourth, his own busy schedule and dissatisfaction with the story led to him being replaced by Lim.

At the start of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'', the character Thanos has collected all six Infinity Gems and attached them to his [[Gauntlet (glove)|gauntlet]]. With their combined power, he becomes "[[Omnipotence|like a god]]" and sets out to win the affection of [[Death (Marvel comics)|Mistress Death]], the living embodiment of death in the [[Marvel Universe]]. When Thanos uses his powers to instantly erase half of the life in the universe from existence, [[Adam Warlock]] leads Earth's remaining heroes against him. After the Infinity Gauntlet is stolen by Thanos' villainous granddaughter [[Nebula (comics)|Nebula]], Thanos aids the remaining heroes in defeating her.

The series was a top seller for Marvel during publication and was followed by two immediate sequels, ''[[The Infinity War]]'' (1992) and ''[[The Infinity Crusade]]'' (1993). The story's events continued to be referenced in other Marvel comics for decades. ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' remained popular among fans, warranting multiple reprint editions and merchandise, with its themes and plot elements adapted into video games and animated cartoons. Most notable among later adaptations was the "[[Infinity Saga]]" of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]], which incorporated elements of the original comic story into a saga that spanned across almost two dozen connected films.

==Publication history==
===Background===
Artist and character creator Jim Starlin introduced [[Thanos]], the antagonist for the storyline, in ''[[Iron Man]]'' #55 (Feb. 1973). After providing artwork for ''[[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Captain Marvel]]'' #24-25 (Jan. 1973 & March 1973), Starlin co-wrote #26 (May 1973) with [[Mike Friedrich]], which featured Thanos (albeit in shadow) on a Marvel cover for the first time and marked the beginning of what was later coined the "First Thanos War".<ref name="DB">{{cite web |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/tradewaiter-cosmic-marvel-part-1/ |title=Tradewaiter: Cosmic Marvel, Part 1 |last=Bradley |first=Drew |date=January 14, 2013 |website=[[Multiversity Comics]] |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182214/http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/tradewaiter-cosmic-marvel-part-1/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> After collaborating with Friedrich for #27-28 (July & Sept. 1973), Starlin then assumed sole writing duties for the remainder of the sweeping cosmic saga from #29-33 (Nov. 1973 - July 1974).<ref name="Migrom">{{cite book |contribution=Introduction |contributor-last=Milgrom |contributor-first=Al |date=2002 |title=The Life and Death of Captain Marvel |author=[[Jim Starlin]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |isbn=0785108378 |contributor-link=Al Milgrom |url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/1066/life_and_death_of_captain_marvel_the_trade_paperback |access-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801193257/https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/1066/life_and_death_of_captain_marvel_the_trade_paperback |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Starlin completed one final issue, #34 (Sept. 1974), laying the groundwork for the eventual death of hero Mar-Vell before leaving the title.<ref>{{cite book |contribution=Contents |date=2009 |title=Marvel Masterworks Captain Marvel Volume 3 |author=[[Jim Starlin]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |page=v |isbn=9780785130154 |url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/21072/marvel_masterworks_captain_marvel_vol_3_hardcover |access-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004050047/http://marvel.com/comics/collection/21072/marvel_masterworks_captain_marvel_vol_3_hardcover |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1975, Starlin began writing and illustrating ''[[Strange Tales]]'', in which he made significant changes to [[Adam Warlock]] and developed the concept of the [[Infinity Gems]].<ref name="DB"/> He reintroduced Thanos first as Warlock's ally, then as his opponent in a storyline known as the "Second Thanos War" that ran until 1977.<ref name="DB"/><ref>{{cite book |contribution=Contents |date=2009 |title=Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 2 |author=[[Jim Starlin]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |page=v |isbn=9780785135111 |url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/25868/marvel_masterworks_warlock_vol_2_hardcover |access-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801193256/https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/25868/marvel_masterworks_warlock_vol_2_hardcover |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Because of their close publications dates, the two Thanos Wars are sometimes considered to be one storyline.<ref name="Migrom"/> Both are considered "cosmic" stories and led to Starlin being known as a "cosmic" writer.<ref name="DB"/><ref name="Scene4">{{cite magazine |last=Dutter |first=Barry |date=1988 |title=The Anti-Life of the Party |magazine=[[Comics Scene]] Quarterly |volume=3 |issue=4 |location=[[Iola, Wisconsin]] |publisher=[[Krause Publications]]}}</ref>

Starlin stopped doing regular work for Marvel after concluding the Second Thanos War,<ref>{{cite book |contribution=Introduction|contributor-last=Cooke |contributor-first=Jon B.|date=2009 |title=Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 2|author=[[Jim Starlin]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |page= ix |isbn=978-0785135111 |contributor-link=Jon B. Cooke }}</ref> but occasionally returned for short projects like ''The Death of Captain Marvel'' [[Marvel Graphic Novel|graphic novel]] and [[Creator ownership in comics|creator-owned work]] such as the cosmic-themed ''[[Dreadstar]]'' through the 1980s.<ref name="bio"/> He also did high-profile work for [[DC Comics]], such as ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' and ''[[Cosmic Odyssey (comics)|Cosmic Odyssey]]''.<ref name="Scene4"/> In a 1990 interview, Starlin described himself as the only writer who had been allowed to "play" with Thanos,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Salerno |first=John |date=August 1990 |title=The Thanos Quest |magazine=[[Marvel Age]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]}}</ref> although other writers had scripted some tie-in chapters of the First Thanos War.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/12/16995222/thanos-marvel-avengers-infinity-war-explained-backstory |title=The Avengers' biggest villain, Thanos, explained |date=February 12, 2018 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045337/https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/12/16995222/thanos-marvel-avengers-infinity-war-explained-backstory |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic
| writer = [[Steve Englehart]]
| penciller = [[John Buscema]]
| inker = [[Dave Cockrum]]
| colorist = 
| letterer = 
| editor = 
| story = 
| title = Avengers
| volume = 1
| issue = 125
| date = July 1974
| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] 
| location = [[New York City]]
}}</ref>

Artist [[George Pérez]] was known for drawing comics featuring large casts. He came to prominence in the 1970s while working on Marvel's ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' before leaving the company to work for DC on comics such as ''[[New Teen Titans]]'', ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', and ''[[Wonder Woman (comic book)|Wonder Woman]]''.<ref name="STP"/> In 1984, Pérez entered into an exclusive contract with DC.<ref name="CI94"/>

===Development===
[[File:Jim Starlin 2008.jpg|left|thumb|175px|Series writer Jim Starlin in 2008|alt=refer to caption]]
In 1988, [[Steve Englehart]] was writing ''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer]]'' and one of his storylines involved the Infinity Gems and [[Death (Marvel comics)|Mistress Death]]. He asked to do a follow-up story in which Mistress Death uses Thanos to get revenge on her enemies, but [[editor-in-chief]] [[Tom DeFalco]] did not know who Thanos was. After the character was explained to him, DeFalco liked the idea so much he wanted to save it for a big summer crossover instead. At the time, he indicated he wanted to format it like "[[The Evolutionary War]]", a 1988 crossover spread across the [[Annual publication#Comic books|annuals]] of several [[ongoing series|continuing series]] instead of being contained in a limited series.<ref name="Scene4p2">{{cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Kim Howard |date=1988 |title=Saga of the Silver Spaceways |magazine=[[Comics Scene]] Quarterly vol 3 #4 |location=[[Iola, Wisconsin]] |publisher=[[Krause Publications]]}}</ref>

Because of his ties to Thanos, Starlin was invited back to Marvel to write the story.<ref name="ZSNews">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsarama.com/20517-the-birth-of-marvel-cosmic-starlin-on-warlock-gamora-more-pt-2.html |title=The Birth of Marvel Cosmic: Starlin on Warlock, Gamora, Thnaos, More pt 2 |last=Smith |first=Zack |date=March 7, 2014 |website=[[Newsarama]] |access-date=January 11, 2018 |quote="I’m not going to say who it was, but there was a writer who wanted to bring Warlock back, and I had just been doing the Silver Surfer series at that point, and they were going to let him do it unless I wanted to do it first, so I did it in self-defense. I wasn’t a big fan of this writer’s work."|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063945/https://www.newsarama.com/20517-the-birth-of-marvel-cosmic-starlin-on-warlock-gamora-more-pt-2.html |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He returned because work for him at DC declined following his controversial ''Batman'' story "[[A Death in the Family (comics)|A Death in the Family]]" (1988).<ref name="DC80s: Starlin">{{cite web |last1=Belkin |first1=Mark |title=Jim Starlin talks with Mark Belkin about DC in the 80s |url=http://www.dcinthe80s.com/2018/04/jim-starlin-talks-with-us-about-dc-in.html |website=DC in the 80s |access-date=July 13, 2021 |date=April 26, 2018 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714185333/http://www.dcinthe80s.com/2018/04/jim-starlin-talks-with-us-about-dc-in.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Inspired by the work he had recently read from [[Wilhelm Reich]], [[Carlos Castaneda]], and [[Roger Zelazny]], Starlin wanted to purposely add multiple layers to his characters instead of letting them be one-dimensional.<ref name="HRint"/> He started writing with the expectation that this would be the last Thanos story "at least for a while" and was midway through the story before deciding to make Thanos an [[antihero]].<ref name="BI82"/> He began writing ''Silver Surfer'' with #34, [[cover date]]d February 1990.<ref name="bio">{{cite book |contribution=Biographies|date=2009 |title=Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 2|author=[[Jim Starlin]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |page= 224 |isbn=978-0785135111 }}</ref> To organize various plot and character points, Starlin made notes on [[3-by-5 card]]s and pinned them to a large piece of [[plywood]] hung on his wall.<ref name="BI82"/>

His first four issues reintroduced Thanos and was seen as the first [[Act (drama)|act]] of the new Thanos storyline. Initially, Starlin and editor Craig Anderson planned for the story to remain contained within the pages of ''Silver Surfer''. However, Marvel had recently been purchased and the new owners mandated all [[intellectual property]] be exploited to maximum potential.<ref name="BI82">{{cite magazine |last=Brennanman |first=Chris |date=August 2015 |pages=68–73|title=The Infinity Saga |magazine=[[Back Issue!]] #82 |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] |publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Marvel was purchased by [[Ronald Perelman]]'s company [[MacAndrews & Forbes]] in 1989.<ref name="RandomHouseWeb">{{Cite web |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/features/comicwars/excerpt.html |title=Comic Wars |access-date=January 27, 2007 |publisher=Random House |year=2002 |author=Raviv, Dan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422072944/http://www.randomhouse.com/features/comicwars/excerpt.html |archive-date=April 22, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}} To capitalize on the excitement surrounding Thanos' return, the start of the second act was [[Spin-off (media)|spun off]] into the two-issue limited series ''[[The Thanos Quest]]'', released in September–October 1990.<ref name="BI82"/><ref name="LC"/> The plot then continued in ''Silver Surfer'' beginning with #44.<ref name="LC">{{ Cite comic | writer=Anderson, Craig | story=The Cosmic Pipeline | title=Silver Surfer | issue=41 | date=September 1990 | page=30 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> In ''Silver Surfer'' #46, Starlin reintroduced Adam Warlock and his supporting cast. He included these characters because the editors told him a different writer wanted to use them, and they would let him unless Starlin wanted to use them first. Starlin was not impressed by the other writer's work, so he wrote Warlock into his ''Silver Surfer'' story.<ref name="ZSNews"/><ref name="BI82"/> Again, Starlin and Anderson planned to conclude the story in the pages of ''Silver Surfer'', but the sales of ''The Thanos Quest'' were high enough to warrant another spin-off. After ''Silver Surfer'' #50, the plot moved to ''The Infinity Gauntlet''.<ref name="BI82"/> Because of the time required to write the double-length issues of the limited series and coordinate tie-ins, Starlin had to leave the ''Silver Surfer'' series at #52.<ref name="CS19"/>

The editorial staff did not oppose Starlin's plans to kill major characters, which he believes was partly because Anderson did not share many of the details with his peers.<ref name="HRint"/> They did, however, limit which of "their" characters could have roles in the story. For example, [[X-Men]] editor [[Bob Harras]] only allowed [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] and [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]] to appear. The rest of the X-Men cast were said to have died off-panel or were otherwise omitted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/jim-starlin-talks-thanos-infinity-gauntlet-marvel-dc-new-projects-215-ink-and-more-video |title=Jim Starlin Talks Thanos, Infinity Gauntlet, Marvel, Dc, New Projects With 215 Ink and More (Video) |last=McGloin |first=Matt |date=July 13, 2012 |website=Cosmic Book News |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063454/https://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/jim-starlin-talks-thanos-infinity-gauntlet-marvel-dc-new-projects-215-ink-and-more-video |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> This hesitancy was due in part to the relative newness of summer crossover events.<ref name="BI82"/>{{refn|group=note |Although Marvel characters had been meeting and interacting for years, these stories were typically contained within one character's comic book, annuals, or a limited series. These rarely had a direct impact on the schedule or plot of other monthly comic books. In 1985, ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' was the first limited series from Marvel featuring crossovers from regular monthly series. While the frequency of inter-title crossovers increased afterwards, ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' was the second time the ''Secret Wars II'' format had been used.<ref name="BI82"/>}}

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
|image1 = Infinity gauntlet excerpt Perez.png
|width1 =188  |height1 =168   
| alt1 = refer to caption
|image2 = Infinity Gauntlet excerpt issue 6.png
|width2 =323  |height2 =286   
| alt2 = refer to caption
|footer = Two similar images of the character Thanos from the main series. The image on the left (Thanos with Mephisto), was drawn by George Perez. The image on the right, (Thanos confronts Nebula), was drawn by Ron Lim. Management was unsure of the artistic change at the time, and some critics found the different styles jarring.<ref name="BI82">{{cite magazine |last=Brennanman |first=Chris |date=August 2015 |pages=68–73|title=The Infinity Saga |magazine=[[Back Issue!]] #82 |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] |publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref>
}}
Early in 1990, Marvel writer/artist [[Jim Valentino]] learned Pérez's contract with DC Comics was going to lapse in August. He contacted Pérez by phone to see if he would ink a cover to ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (1969 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'', a comic Valentino was currently writing and penciling. Pérez agreed, and Valentino told Anderson, who was his editor as well. Anderson passed the information to Starlin, who called Pérez and asked him to pencil ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. After working out the terms with Starlin and Anderson, Pérez agreed to the job. In a 1991 interview, Pérez speculated that he was asked because ''Silver Surfer'' and ''The Thanos Quest'' penciller [[Ron Lim]] was too busy.<ref name="CI94"/>

Although Pérez had been a writer as well as an artist at DC, he agreed to work from full scripts on ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' because he was not familiar with the current state of Marvel's characters.{{refn|group=note|Some comics are created with more collaboration between writers and artists than others. A style like the [[Marvel Method]] gives the artist more control and input into a story. A full script places more limits on the choices an artist can make.}} From the start, Pérez found this to be "a little aggravating, unnerving" because of the limits it placed on him. Starlin gave Pérez a suggested [[Glossary of comics terminology#Layout|layout]] with each script to use as a reference, but Pérez ignored them with Starlin's blessing. He exercised this freedom by giving some scenes more space, even moving some scenes to different pages.<ref name="CI94"/> Early in the collaboration, he asked Starlin to increase the number of characters appearing in the story so his return to Marvel would "knock fans' socks off".<ref name="GPS"/>

Before he had finished the interior art for the first issue, Pérez completed the pencils for the covers of the first four issues so they could be used as promotional material. Some characters however, like [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] and [[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)|Quasar]], were wearing outdated costumes on the cover of issue three and had to be redrawn, which frustrated Pérez.<ref name="CI94"/> Starlin, who wrote the scripts months in advance, also had to make minor adjustments to account for changes in these characters and [[Hulk|the Hulk]].<ref name="CS19"/>

During production, Pérez was also pencilling ''[[War of the Gods (comics)|War of the Gods]]'' for DC Comics, a Wonder Woman miniseries he described as a "highly stressful" project.<ref name="MM"/> When he began to fall behind schedule on both projects, he wanted to quit ''War of the Gods'' but was contractually bound to complete it.<ref name="GPS"/> Partly because of this stress and partly because he had become used to writing as well as drawing, he became overly critical of Starlin's scripts for ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. Specifically, he felt Starlin's story could be told in fewer pages.<ref name="GPS"/><ref name="MM"/> His lack of enthusiasm caused him to work slower, and he began to fall further behind schedule.<ref name="MM"/> In a 1994 interview, Starlin claimed Pérez was also acting at the time, and that it was a bigger contributor to the scheduling problems than the comic workload.<ref name="Grant">{{cite magazine |last=Grant |first=Paul |date=February 1994|title=Shooting Starlin|magazine=[[Hero Illustrated]] #8 |location=[[Lombard, Illinois]]|page=102 |publisher=[[Warrior Publications]]}}</ref>

When it became clear Pérez would not be able to meet the deadline for the fourth issue, DeFalco asked regular ''Silver Surfer'' penciler [[Ron Lim]] to complete issue #4.<ref name="GPS">{{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Christopher |date=February 11, 2015 |title=George Pérez, Storyteller |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yFpoBgAAQBAJ&q=perez+lim+%22infinity+gauntlet%22+stress&pg=PA88 |location=[[Mt. Laurel, New Jersey]] |publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]] |page=88 |isbn=978-1933305158 }}</ref> DeFalco suggested to Pérez that he let Lim finish the rest of the series, and Pérez agreed. Pérez understood the decision, and later said he felt Lim should have been the artist from the beginning. He inked Lim's covers for the remainder of the series to show he bore no ill will to the change.<ref name="MM"/> Although Marvel's management had feared sales would fall with Pérez's departure, sales rose with each issue Lim penciled.<ref name="BI82"/>

To replace Pérez, Lim had to leave his regular work on the monthly ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' title. He cites Pérez as an influence and found it "nerve-wracking" to supplant him. Furthermore, the large cast made it the most challenging book he had done at that point in his career. Still, he said it was "fun" to work on the design aspect of ''The Infinity Gauntlet''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Berry |first=Michael |date=January 1992 |title=Silver Gauntlets: An Interview with Ron Lim |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #5 |location=New York City|page=10 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]}}</ref>

When he saw sales figures for ''The Infinity Gauntlet'', Pérez realized he probably lost "tens of thousands of dollars" in [[royalty payment#Book publishing|royalty payment]]s by leaving the series, but he was glad he left when he learned a sequel was in development. Like Starlin, Pérez had begun the project believing it would be the last Thanos story, but management asked Starlin to write a sequel midway through ''The Infinity Gauntlet''.<ref name="CI94">{{cite magazine |last=O'Neill |first=Patrick Daniel |date=1991|title=George Perez |magazine=[[Comics Interview]] #94 |location=New York City|page=4 |publisher=Fictioneer Books |author-link=David Anthony Kraft}}</ref><ref name="MM">{{cite book |last=Nolen-Weathington |first=Eric |date=2007 |title=Modern Masters Volume 2: George Pérez |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhOPZ2u7C_YC&q=perez+lim+%22infinity+gauntlet%22+stress&pg=PA60 |location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |pages=60–61 |isbn=978-1893905252 }}</ref><ref name="Grant"/> By then, Starlin had already conceived follow-up concepts and knew it would be a trilogy.<ref name="Grant"/>

===Publication===
Marvel's marketing department "mega-hyped" the event in the months leading up to its release according to journalist [[Sean Howe]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Howe |first=Sean |date=2012 |title=[[Marvel Comics: The Untold Story]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |page=351 |isbn=978-0061992117 |author-link=Sean Howe }}</ref> One aspect of the promotion was sending [[direct market]] retailers a kit that included a letter explaining details of the series, a sign to put by their cash register, and a poster 18 inches wide by 36 inches tall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=34263110|title=Infinity Gauntlet Retailer Promo Kit/Poster|website=My Comic Shop|publisher=[[Lone Star Comics]]|access-date=December 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065049/https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=34263110|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Marvel's promotional magazine ''[[Marvel Age]]'' featured a cover story on ''The Thanos Quest'' and a Starlin interview in issue #91 (August 1990), followed by a 7-page preview of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #1 in ''Marvel Age'' #99 (April 1991). The limited series was the cover feature on ''[[Comics Interview]]'' #94 in March 1991, which included an 8-page interview with Pérez, and Starlin was interviewed about the series in ''[[Comics Scene]]'' #19 in June 1991.

Marvel initially planned to release a new issue every two weeks, but deadline problems caused it to be released monthly.<ref name="CS19">{{cite magazine |last=McAvennie |first=Michael |date=June 1991 |title=Running the Infinity Gauntlet |magazine=[[Comics Scene]] vol 3 #19 |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Starlog|Starlog Communications]]}}</ref> Issues had cover dates between July and December 1991. Each one was available in both [[Direct market|comic specialty stores]] and [[Newsagent's shop|newsstand outlets]], which included supermarkets and department stores. Although the cover artwork was identical, the edition sold in comic stores featured additional artwork celebrating Marvel's 30th anniversary in place of the [[barcode]] found on the newsstand edition.{{refn|group=note|Most comic specialty stores did not have [[barcode reader]]s at the time, and this minor difference made it easy for publishers to distinguish the two editions. Newsstands could return unsold copies for credit, but specialty stores could not.<ref name=HibbsBarcodes>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/09/28/more-on-barcodes-2/ |title=More on Barcodes |last=Hibbs |first= Brian |date=September 28, 2007 |website=[[Comics Beat]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726121319/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2007/09/28/more-on-barcodes-2/ |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref>}} Each issue was 48 pages and cover priced at $2.50 at a time when the average Marvel comic was $1.00 and 24 pages.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |date=August 2006 |title=What Price, Comics? |magazine=[[Comic Buyer's Guide]] |location=[[Iola, Wisconsin]] |publisher=[[F+W|F+W Publications]]|pages=50–51|author-link=John Jackson Miller}}</ref>

===Tie-ins===
[[File:Sleepwalker number 7.png|right|thumb|207px|''Sleepwalker'' #7: a tie-in issue indicated by the triangle icon in the top right corner. Art is by [[Bret Blevins]].|alt=The top third of issue 7 of Sleepwalker. The logo is red and black on a green background. The icon identifying the issue as crossover is blue with white text. Two sides of the triangle is formed by the top and right edges of the page. The sides are approximately one inch in length.]]
To emphasize the connected nature of Marvel's comic books, some [[ongoing series]] starring characters seen in ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' had contemporary issues showing the main plot from a different point of view or explored consequences of certain events. These issues featured a triangle in the top right corner of their covers with the text "An Infinity Gauntlet Crossover". These [[tie-in]] issues did not impact the plot of the limited series and could be skipped by readers without creating [[plot holes]].<ref name="BI82"/> ''Doctor Strange'' #36 was set after the events of the crossover and featured a triangle with the text "An Infinity Gauntlet Epilogue".

Unlike other crossovers such as ''[[Armageddon 2001]]'' (the competing 1991 crossover from DC Comics) which featured tie-ins from a large majority of their publisher's comics, ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' only had tie-ins from titles which were obviously connected to the event or from series which needed a boost in sales.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kraft |first=David Anthony |date=January 1991 |title=War of the Gods |magazine=[[Comics Interview]] |location=New York City|page=34 |publisher=Fictioneer Books |author-link=David Anthony Kraft}}</ref> According to Pérez, Marvel's stance toward the tie-ins for its low-selling titles was "do it or else".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kraft |first=David Anthony |date=January 1991 |title=War of the Gods |magazine=[[Comics Interview]] |location=New York City|page=31 |publisher=Fictioneer Books | author-link=David Anthony Kraft}}</ref> Starlin remained uninvolved, allowing writers to choose for themselves which story elements they wished to use.<ref name="BI82"/>

{| class="wikitable" width=75%
|+ '''Issues featuring the triangular icon on their covers'''
! Title
! Issue(s)
! Cover date
! Writer
! Artist
|-
| ''[[Cloak and Dagger (comics)|Cloak and Dagger]]'' (vol. 3)
| #18
| June
| [[Terry Kavanagh]]
| Dave Cross and Sam Delarosa
|-
| ''[[Doctor Strange (comic book)|Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme]]'' (vol. 3)
| #31–36
| July–December
| [[Roy Thomas|Roy]] and [[Dann Thomas]]
| [[Tony DeZuniga]]
|-
| ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (vol. 2)
| #384–385
| August–September
| [[Peter David]]
| [[Dale Keown]]
|-
| ''[[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)|Quasar]]''
| #26
| September
| [[Mark Gruenwald]]
| [[Dave Hoover]]
|-
| ''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer]]'' (vol. 3)
| #51–59
| July–November
| [[Jim Starlin]] (51–52) <br>[[Ron Marz]] (53–59)
| [[Ron Lim]] and [[Tom Christopher]]
|-
| ''[[Sleepwalker (comics)|Sleepwalker]]''
| #7
| December
| [[Bob Budiansky]]
| [[Bret Blevins]]
|-
|}

===Collected editions and reprints===
The miniseries was collected in a [[Trade paperback (comics)|single softcover edition]] released in 1992, a time when publishers only collected popular storylines,<ref>
{{cite book |last1=Gabilliet |first1=Jean-Paul |date=2005 |title=Of Comics And Men |page= 99 |publisher=University of Mississippi Press |isbn=1604732679 |quote=single volumes reprinting material previously published as popular comic books were a phenomenon that dated to the beginning of the 1980s. }}</ref> to coincide with the release of ''[[The Infinity War]]''. It featured new cover artwork by Pérez and was enhanced with a foil logo. Later printings of this edition had alternate cover artwork from different artists and no enhancement. The suggested retail price was $19.95, five dollars more than the total retail cost of the individual issues it contained.

In June 2006, Marvel issued a second softcover collected edition to coincide with [[Keith Giffen]] and [[Andrea Di Vito]]'s ''[[Annihilation (comics)|Annihilation]]'', another cosmic-level crossover starring Thanos and the Silver Surfer. This edition used the cover art from issue #1 and had a [[trade dress]] matching the first edition collections of ''The Infinity War'' and ''[[The Infinity Crusade]]'' which were released shortly thereafter. The month of release, it sold approximately 2,500 copies and was the 33rd best-selling comic collection according to [[Diamond Distribution]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2006/2006-06.html| title=Comic Book Sales Figures for June 2006| last=Miller| first=John Jackson| website=[[The Comics Chronicles]]| access-date=January 23, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064146/http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2006/2006-06.html| archive-date=February 9, 2018| url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Marvel also released a ''Silver Surfer'' collection subtitled "The Rebirth of Thanos" in 2006 which included four of the lead-in issues of ''Silver Surfer'' and both issues of ''The Thanos Quest''.

A hardcover edition was released in July 2010 as the 46th entry in the ''[[Marvel Premiere Classic]]'' line. Like other volumes in this line, it was available with two covers.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://media.comics.ign.com/media/841/841932/img_3739057.html | title=''Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt'' Premiere HC Variant Cover | work=[[IGN]] | access-date=January 18, 2018 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005228/http://media.comics.ign.com/media/841/841932/img_3739057.html | archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref> The standard cover featured a cutout of Thanos from the cover of issue #4 on a black [[Paint sheen|matte]] background with the title in metallic red ink. The [[variant cover]], available only to comic specialty stores, featured the cover art for issue #1 reduced 50% against a black and red background. The variant edition identifies itself as #46 on its spine.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/marvel_premiere_classic/marvel_premiere_classic_variant_index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020155956/http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/marvel_premiere_classic/marvel_premiere_classic_variant_index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 20, 2011 | title=Marvel Premiere Classic presented in variant volume order | work=Collected Comics Library | access-date=January 18, 2018 }}</ref>

In 2011, a third edition softcover was released. The first printing reused the artwork from the standard cover of the ''Premiere Classic'' edition. Later printings reverted to the cover of issue #1. Sales of the collection spiked after Thanos appeared in a [[post-credits scene]] of the 2012 film ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', causing ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' to be the highest selling graphic novel in 2018.<ref name="Dominguez2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/infinity-gauntlet-best-selling-graphic-novel-2018/ |title=The Infinity Gauntlet Was 2018's Best-Selling Graphic Novel |last=Dominguez |first=Noah |date=January 14, 2019 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203065059/https://www.cbr.com/infinity-gauntlet-best-selling-graphic-novel-2018/ |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2014, Marvel released a 1,248 page [[Marvel Omnibus|omnibus edition]] of ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. In addition to the limited series, the hardcover also included the lead-up issues of ''Silver Surfer'', ''The Thanos Quest'', and the marketed tie-ins. It also included additional issues of ''Incredible Hulk'', ''Quasar'', ''Silver Surfer'', and ''Spider-Man'' which had not been advertised as tie-ins, but were connected to the story. Comic book stores and the book market both offered a regular edition featuring the cover to ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #1, but comic shops could also order a [[Variant cover|variant edition]] with cover art by Starlin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cheapgraphicnovels.com/home.php?cat=2806&page=3 |title=Omnibus Editions |website=Cheap Graphic Novels |access-date=December 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063752/http://www.cheapgraphicnovels.com/home.php?cat=2806&page=3 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The first issue of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' was included in the initial wave of Marvel's "True Believers" line in April 2015. Consisting solely of reprints offered at a discount price, comic books in this line are meant to introduce newer readers to the most popular titles in Marvel's history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsarama.com/23234-marvel-launches-true-believers-1-line-of-1-issue-reprints.html |title=Marvel Launches $1 True Believers 'Best Of' Line |date=January 15, 2015 |website=[[Newsarama]] |access-date=December 15, 2017 }}</ref> A new printing was paired with a "True Believers" reprint of ''Silver Surfer'' #34 in April 2018.

In March 2018, Marvel released an ''Infinity Gauntlet'' [[slipcase]] set of 12 hardcover books. Material began with ''Infinity Gauntlet Prologue'' and included all three ''Infinity'' crossovers, their tie-ins, intervening material, and a 528-page "companion" hardcover.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/SEP170982 |title=Infinity Gauntlet Box HC Slipcase Set |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Previews World |publisher=[[Diamond Distribution]] |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063640/https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/SEP170982 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The ''Infinity Gauntlet Prologue'' was released independently of the set at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=45886145|title = Infinity Gauntlet Prologue HC (2018 Marvel) comic books|author=<!--not stated-->|website=MyComicShop.com|publisher=[[Lone Star Comics]]|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

A deluxe paperback was released in February 2019. It contained the miniseries and additional content discussing the creation of the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2019/02/06/the-infinity-gauntlet-deluxe-edition-tpb-review/|title=The Infinity Gauntlet Deluxe Edition TPB Review|website=Adventures in Poor Taste|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/2445429/the-infinity-gauntlet-deluxe-edition-tp|title=The Infinity Gauntlet Deluxe Edition TPB Review |website=League of Comic Geeks|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

==Plot==
Resurrected by Mistress Death to correct a perceived imbalance between life and death, the Mad Titan [[Thanos]] first encounters the Silver Surfer, and subsequently fakes his own death to proceed without interference.<ref>{{ Cite
comic | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[Tom Christopher]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor= Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[Silver Surfer]] | volume=3 | issue=34-38 | date=February - June 1990  | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> Thanos decides to reacquire the six [[Infinity Gems]] that he had previously used as a simple weapon. After defeating several of the [[Elders of the Universe]] and the [[In-Betweener]], Thanos regains the gems and now has control over the six aspects of existence: Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality and Power. Ironically, now that Thanos is in possession of his "Infinity Gauntlet", Death must advise him via an intermediary - she cannot speak directly to him as he is now her superior.<ref>{{ Cite comic  | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[John Beatty (illustrator)|John Beatty]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor=Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[The Thanos Quest]] | issue=1-2 | date=August - November 1990 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref>

When the Silver Surfer learns that Thanos is still alive and confronts him, Thanos traps the Silver Surfer's soul inside the Soul Gem.<ref>{{ Cite comic  | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[Tom Christopher]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor=Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[Silver Surfer]] | volume=3 | issue=44 | date= December 1990 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> On "Soul World", the Silver Surfer encounters former enemy of Thanos, [[Adam Warlock]]. Warlock returns the Surfer to his body and promises to help defeat Thanos.<ref>{{ Cite comic  | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[Tom Christopher]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor=Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[Silver Surfer]] | volume=3 | issue=46-47 | date= February - March 1991 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> The Surfer races to Earth to warn super-team the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] about the coming threat.<ref>{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[Tom Christopher]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor=Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[Silver Surfer]] | volume=3 | issue=50 | date= June 1991 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> Demonic entity [[Mephisto (comics)|Mephisto]] senses the power in the Infinity Gauntlet and offers to instruct Thanos in its use, while secretly waiting for an opportunity to steal it for himself.<ref>{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Ron Lim]] | inker=[[Tom Christopher]] | colorist= | letterer= | editor=Craig Anderson | story= | title=[[Silver Surfer]] | volume=3 | issue=45 | date= January 1991 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref>

Angry at Mistress Death's rejection, Thanos creates a shrine in her image, and then traps and burns [[Nebula (character)|Nebula]] – who pretended to be his "grand-daughter" – as an offering. When still rejected, Thanos in a fit of rage destroys several stars and then remembers the reason Mistress Death wanted him. With only the snap of his fingers, Thanos eliminates half of all living beings in the universe. The Surfer warns [[Doctor Strange]] about Thanos and encourages him to summon Earth's heroes.<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[George Pérez]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein]] and [[Tom Christopher]]| colorist = Max Scheele| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 1| date = July 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref> Cosmic entities [[Galactus]] and [[Epoch (Marvel Comics)|Epoch]] seek the source of the sudden imbalance, while Warlock and companions [[Gamora]] and [[Pip the Troll]] leave Soul World and occupy recently dead humans on Earth, reviving and altering the bodies to match their former appearance. Warlock appears before Doctor Strange and claims Thanos can only be defeated if Earth's remaining heroes unite under his command.<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[George Pérez]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein]]| colorist = Max Scheele| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 2| date = August 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref>

Warlock meets with a group of cosmic entities, who, despite the reluctance and withdrawal of the [[Living Tribunal]] and [[Eternity (Marvel Comics)|Eternity]], agree to attack Thanos. The combined heroes attack while Warlock and the Surfer observe, with Thanos almost defeated after heeding Mephisto's advice to limit his power to demonstrate his devotion to Death, until [[Dr. Doom]], a part of the team working against Thanos, arrogantly tries and fails to steal the gauntlet, to which Thanos then knocks Doom throughout all of space and kills most of the heroes.<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[George Pérez]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein|Joe Rubenstein]]| colorist = Max Scheele & Ian Laughlin| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 3| date = September 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[Ron Lim]] & [[George Pérez]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein]] & Bruce N Solotoff| colorist = Max Scheele| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 4| date = October 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref>

After the heroes fail, the cosmic entities attack, with Mephisto and Mistress Death also joining in the assault on Thanos. Thanos, however, traps all the entities in [[Stasis (fiction)|stasis]] and changes the shrine to feature himself instead of Mistress Death. Believing he has defeated all of his enemies, Thanos separates his consciousness from his body and assumes an [[astral form]] taking the place of Eternity. Nebula uses this opportunity to steal the now-discarded Infinity Gauntlet. After restoring herself, Nebula banishes Thanos to drift through [[interstellar space]], but he is rescued and brought to Earth by Doctor Strange. Warlock advises Thanos that whilst in Soul World he was able to examine the Titan's soul. Courtesy of his bond with the Soul Gem, Warlock knew Thanos would eventually lose the Infinity Gauntlet because, at his core, Thanos felt himself unworthy of the power. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Thanos agrees to help Warlock, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer oppose Nebula.<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[Ron Lim]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein]]| colorist = Ian Laughlin & Max Scheele| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 5| date = November 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref>

Thanos tricks Nebula into restoring the universe to its prior condition, inadvertently reverting into a burn victim in the process. Nebula wills herself back to health before Thanos can retrieve the gauntlet, but during this distraction Warlock returns to Soul World and uses his connection to the gem to create disharmony between the other gems. This causes Nebula to remove the gauntlet, which an emerging Warlock claims for himself. Preferring death to imprisonment, Thanos apparently dies in a suicide bomb blast. The heroes have reservations about Warlock keeping the gauntlet, but he returns them to Earth. Warlock then travels 60 days into the future to visit an unnamed planet where Thanos is living as a farmer. Thanos advises Warlock he has given up his quest for power and plans to lead a quiet, introspective life.<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Jim Starlin]]| penciller = [[Ron Lim]]| inker = [[Josef Rubenstein]]| colorist = Max Scheele & Evelyn Stein| letterer = [[Jack Morelli]]| editor = Craig Anderson| title = The Infinity Gauntlet| issue = 6| date = December 1991| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]| location = [[New York City]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
===At release===
''The Infinity Gauntlet'' was an instant success and became one of the most influential storylines in comics from the 1990s.<ref name="HRint">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/infinity-gauntlet-comic-behind-avengers-3-941769 |title='Infinity Gauntlet': The Story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Secret Weapon |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=October 27, 2016 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122151/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/infinity-gauntlet-comic-behind-avengers-3-941769 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Both of the nationwide comic distributors at the time ([[Diamond Comic Distributors|Diamond Distribution]] and [[Capital City Distribution]]) reported each issue was one of their top ten sellers for the month of its release.<ref>
*{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=June Top 10|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #1 |page=72 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=June 1991}}
*{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Diamond's Top 100 for August 1991|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #2 |page=96 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=October 1991}}
*{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Diamond's Top 100 for September 1991|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #3 |page=102 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=October 1991}}
*{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Diamond's Top 100 for October 1991|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #4 |page=82 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=December 1991}}</ref> When Capital City released their top 100 best selling single issues of 1991, ''Infinity Gauntlet'' issues fell between the 42nd and 64th positions. Aside from the first issue of ''[[The Punisher War Zone (1992 series)|The Punisher War Zone]]'', all of the higher ranked entries were issues of ''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]'', ''Robin II: The Joker's Wild!'', or the X-Men franchise.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=1991 in Review: Top 100|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #7 |page=79 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=March 1992}}</ref> ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'', a comic magazine known for embracing [[speculation]] in the comic market,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.comichron.com/2011/01/print-age-of-wizard-ends.html |title=The print age of Wizard ends |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |website=[[The Comics Chronicles]] |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127190039/http://blog.comichron.com/2011/01/print-age-of-wizard-ends.html |archive-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> listed ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #1 as the ninth "Hottest Book" in September 1991, and two lead-in issues of ''Silver Surfer'' were ranked sixth and tenth.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The 10 Hottest Books |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #3 |page=101 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=November 1991 }}</ref> The first issue's resale value rose above its $2.50 cover price in the back issue market, plateauing around $9 or $10 in late 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Wizard Market Watch|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #7 |page=83 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=March 1992}}</ref><ref>
* {{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Price Guide |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #16 |page=150 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=December 1992}}
* {{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Price Guide|magazine=[[Comic Buyer's Guide]] Price Guide |publisher=[[Krause Publications]] |date=January 1994 }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|name=first|Because there are numerous price guides for comics and they do not always agree, a precise date and value for the plateau cannot be determined.}}

The debut issue of the follow-up series, ''[[Warlock and the Infinity Watch]]'', was the top recommendation from ''Wizard'' for December 1991.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 1992 |title=Picks From the Wizard's Hat |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #5 |location=New York City|page=68 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]}}</ref> It led directly into the first sequel, ''The Infinity War'', which began in June 1992. The next sequel, ''The Infinity Crusade'', began in June 1993. The tie-ins to ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' also sold well, leading the editors who had put limits on characters appearing in ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' to request their books tie in to its sequels.<ref name="HRint"/> Although both sequels sold well, they were viewed by critics like ''Wizard''{{'}}s Pat McCallum as being motivated by sales rather than storytelling because of their excessive tie-ins and slow narratives.<ref name="Patty M">{{cite magazine |author=Pat McCallum |date=August 1992 |title=Collecting Comics in the 90s|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #12 |location=New York City|page=61 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]}}</ref>

===In later years===
By the end of the decade, interest in the continuing story dwindled, with sequels poorly received by fans,<ref name="Patty M"/> and ''Warlock and the Infinity Watch'' canceled in 1995.<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[John Arcudi]]| penciller = [[Mike Gustovich]]| inker = [[Keith Williams (comics)|Keith Williams]]| story = Win, Lose, Draw!| title = Warlock and the Infinity Watch| volume = 1| issue = 42| date = July 1995| publisher = Marvel Comics| location = New York City}}</ref> The same year, Marvel moved the Infinity Gems from their main continuity to an alternate universe called the [[Ultraverse]], a property Marvel acquired when it bought [[Malibu Comics]]. The Ultraverse comics were then canceled in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://observationdeck.kinja.com/the-sad-strange-story-of-the-ultraverse-1705430650 |title=The Sad Strange Story of the Ultraverse |date=May 19, 2015 |website=Observation Deck |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122156/https://observationdeck.kinja.com/the-sad-strange-story-of-the-ultraverse-1705430650 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> By 1998, ''Wizard'' was no longer listing ''Infinity Gauntlet'' in its monthly price guide.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Price Guide |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] #81 |page=171 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] |date=May 1998 }}</ref> The first edition of the paperback collection saw its last printing in 1999.

The iconography of the gauntlet remained popular, however. When Marvel partnered with fellow [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] subsidiary [[ESPN]] to create promotional images for the [[2010–11 NBA season]], the October 22, 2010 issue of ''[[ESPN: The Magazine]]'' included an advertisement showing [[Kobe Bryant]] wearing the gauntlet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comicsalliance.com/espn-marvel-nba-season-promotional-mashups/ |title=ESPN and Marvel Promote New NBA Season with Infinity Gauntlet Kobe Bryant |last=Mendelson |first=Brandon |date=October 15, 2010 |website=[[ComicsAlliance]] |publisher=[[Townsquare Media]] |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063637/http://comicsalliance.com/espn-marvel-nba-season-promotional-mashups/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> When [[IGN]] released an unranked list of the all-time best comic book events in 2011, ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' was included and was noted for being "a template on which all future cosmic events were based".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/30/the-best-comic-book-events?page=2 |title=The Best Comic Book Events |last=Esposito |first=Joey |date=May 30, 2011 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013225938/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/30/the-best-comic-book-events?page=2 |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Its lasting appeal is often attributed to Pérez's artwork<ref name="STP">{{cite web |url=https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/23/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-1/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522150653/http://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/23/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-1/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |title=Five Things To Keep In Mind While You Read Infinity Gauntlet – Part 3 |last=Mitchell |first=B |date=March 25, 2015 |website=Surreal Time Press |access-date=January 11, 2018 }}</ref> and Starlin's unusual treatment of classic heroes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/27/https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/23/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-1/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522150653/http://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/23/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-1/ |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |title=Five Things To Keep In Mind While You Read Infinity Gauntlet – Part 4 |last=Mitchell |first=B |date=March 26, 2015 |website=Surreal Time Press |access-date=January 11, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/27/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-5/ |title=Five Things To Keep In Mind While You Read Infinity Gauntlet – Part 5 |last=Mitchell |first=B |date=March 27, 2015 |website=Surreal Time Press |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063317/https://surrealtimepress.com/2015/03/27/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-you-read-infinity-gauntlet-part-5/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/06/7-best-comics-to-read-for-avengers-infinity-war |title=7 Best Comics to Read for Avengers: Infinity War |last=Huckabee |first=Tyler |date=March 6, 2018 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306180423/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/06/7-best-comics-to-read-for-avengers-infinity-war |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

When Thanos made a [[cameo appearance]] in the 2012 film ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', there was renewed interest in ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. This was further heightened in October 2014 when the title of the third and fourth ''Avengers'' films were revealed to be ''[[Avengers: Infinity War|Infinity War – Part I]]'' and ''[[Avengers: Endgame|Infinity War – Part II]]''.<ref name="Oct2014Event">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/22573-marvel-announces-black-panther-captain-marvel-inhumans-avengers-infinity-war-films-cap-thor-3-subtitles.html |title=Marvel Announces Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Inhumans, Avengers: Infinity War Films, Cap & Thor 3 Subtitles |last=Siegel |first=Lucas |website=[[Newsarama]] |date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028211803/http://www.newsarama.com/22573-marvel-announces-black-panther-captain-marvel-inhumans-avengers-infinity-war-films-cap-thor-3-subtitles.html |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/movies/23546/marvels_the_avengers_head_into_an_infinity_war |title=Marvel's The Avengers Head Into an Infinity War |last=Strom |first=Marc |website=[[Marvel.com]] |date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030071034/http://marvel.com/news/movies/23546/marvels_the_avengers_head_into_an_infinity_war |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref group=note>The films were later renamed ''Avengers: Infinity War'' and ''Avengers: Endgame''.</ref> As the 2018 release of ''Infinity War'' neared, several comic news websites produced articles explaining the storyline and speculating on which elements would be included in the adaptation.<ref>Such as
* {{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/infinity-gauntlet-comic-behind-avengers-3-941769 |title='Infinity Gauntlet': The Comic Behind 'Avengers 3' |date=October 20, 2016 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group |access-date=January 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122151/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/infinity-gauntlet-comic-behind-avengers-3-941769 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1582519/how-closely-avengers-infinity-war-will-follow-the-comics-according-to-kevin-feige |title=How Closely Avengers: Infinity War Will Follow The Comics, According to Kevin Feige |website=[[CinemaBlend]] |date=November 8, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063910/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1582519/how-closely-avengers-infinity-war-will-follow-the-comics-according-to-kevin-feige |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/mcu-ruined-infinity-gauntlet/ |title=What's Glove Got To Do With It: 15 Ways The MCU Ruined The Infinity Gauntlet |last=Bjork |first=Juliette |date=December 2, 2017 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063630/https://www.cbr.com/mcu-ruined-infinity-gauntlet/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-infinity-gauntlet-15-things-you-never-knew/ |title=The Infinity Gauntlet: 15 Things You Never Knew |last=Stephenson |first=Brad |date=February 2, 2017 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064149/https://www.cbr.com/the-infinity-gauntlet-15-things-you-never-knew/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-avengers/feature/a834693/infinity-war-avengers-gauntlet-differences-source-material/ |title=Why Avengers: Infinity War won't be anything like its source material |last=Armitage |first=Hugh |date=August 3, 2017 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065146/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-avengers/feature/a834693/infinity-war-avengers-gauntlet-differences-source-material/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/12/16995222/thanos-marvel-avengers-infinity-war-explained-backstory |title=The Avengers' biggest villain, Thanos, explained |last=Polo |first=Susana |date=February 12, 2018 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223050942/https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/12/16995222/thanos-marvel-avengers-infinity-war-explained-backstory |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/one-detail-from-the-infinity-gauntlet-comic-that-probab-1823902873 |title=One Detail From the Infinity Gauntlet Comic That Probably Won't Make It Into Avengers: Infinity War |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=March 19, 2018 |website=[[io9]] |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043151/https://io9.gizmodo.com/one-detail-from-the-infinity-gauntlet-comic-that-probab-1823902873 |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/7/8560555/marvel-infinity-stones-avengers-infinity-war-movie |title=Marvel's master plan: The complete novice's guide to Infinity Stones |last=Miller |first=Ross |date=May 7, 2015 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033702/https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/7/8560555/marvel-infinity-stones-avengers-infinity-war-movie |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The renewed attention from the films made the paperback collection of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' the best-selling graphic novel in 2018.<ref name="Dominguez2019"/>

Not all evaluations were positive – in a 2013 review for ''[[Multiversity Comics]]'', Drew Bradley felt the story was "only great" if read in its entirety. At the time of his article, the collected edition of Act One was out of print, with much of Act Two not been reprinted in any form. Bradley felt the story would not live up to its hype if readers skipped the lead-in material.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/tradewaiter-cosmic-marvel-part-2/ |title=Tradewaiter: Cosmic Marvel, Part 2 |last=Bradley |first=Drew |date=January 21, 2013 |website=Multiversity Comics |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063257/http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/tradewaiter-cosmic-marvel-part-2/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Writing for ''[[Digital Spy]]'', Hugh Armitage complained about the comic's lack of real consequences, calling it "essentially [...] a really bizarre love story".<ref name="DS17">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-avengers/feature/a834693/infinity-war-avengers-gauntlet-differences-source-material/ |title=Why Avengers: Infinity War won't be anything like its source material |last=Armitage |first=Hugh |date=August 3, 2017 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065146/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-avengers/feature/a834693/infinity-war-avengers-gauntlet-differences-source-material/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Legacy in comics===
Aside from its immediate spin-off and sequels, the events of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' have impacted storylines in later comics, including ''Thanos'' in 2003,<ref>{{ Cite comic
 | writer=[[Jim Starlin]] | penciller=[[Jim Starlin]] | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=Thanos | volume=1 | issue=1 | date=December 2003 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> ''Avengers'' (vol. 4) in 2011,<ref>{{ Cite comic  | writer=[[Brian Michael Bendis]]  | penciller=[[John Romita Jr]] | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=Avengers | volume=4 | issue=12 | date=June 2011 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> and ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' in 2016.<ref>{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Jonathan Hickman]] | penciller=[[Esad Ribic]] | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=Secret Wars | volume=2 | issue=8 | date=February 2016 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref> Several of these later stories have downplayed the power of the gauntlet, often showing someone possessing it being beaten by a more powerful opponent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/gods-more-powerful-than-infinity-gauntlet/ |title=15 Marvel Gods That Are More Powerful Than The Infinity Gauntlet |last=Buesing |first=Dave |date=December 11, 2017 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064151/https://www.cbr.com/gods-more-powerful-than-infinity-gauntlet/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The storyline from ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' has been revisited by other comic books in the years since its release. The series ''[[What If (comics)|What If...?]]'', which explores alternate outcomes to important events in the Marvel Universe, featured several issues in which different characters stole the gauntlet from Thanos or obtained it in another fashion.<ref>
*{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Ron Marz]] | penciller=[[Scott Clark (artist)|Scott Clark]] | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=What If...? | volume=2 | issue=49 | date=May 1993 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}
*{{ Cite comic | writer=Thomas Virkaitis | penciller=Gregg Schigiel | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=What If...? | volume=2 | issue=104 | date=January 1998 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}
*{{ Cite comic | writer=Paul Tobin | penciller=[[Patrick Scherberger]] | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=What If? Newer Fantastic Four | volume=1 | issue=[[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] | date=February 2009 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}
*{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Jason Henderson]] | penciller=Sana Takeda | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=What If? Dark Reign | volume=1 | issue=[[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] | date=February 2011 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]]
 }}</ref> Beginning in August 2010, writer [[Brian Clevinger]] and artist Brian Churillathe retold the story for a younger audience in the four-issue limited series ''Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet'' as part of the [[Marvel Adventures]] imprint. He used the basic framework of the story, but purposefully wrote it in a fashion that did not invite comparisons to the original, with which he did not believe he could compete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/04/16/the-avengers-vs-the-infinity-gauntlet-once-more |title=The Avengers Vs. The Infinity Gauntlet Once More |last1=George |first1=Richard |last2=Schedeen |first2=Jesse |date=April 16, 2010 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064405/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/04/16/the-avengers-vs-the-infinity-gauntlet-once-more |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> During the 2015 crossover ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'', a five-issue limited series by [[Gerry Duggan (writer)|Gerry Duggan]] and Dustin Weaver [[The Infinity Gauntlet (2015 comic book)|reused the title]] and featured similar elements.<ref>{{ Cite comic | writer=[[Gerry Duggan (writer)|Gerry Duggan]] | penciller=Dustin Weaver | inker= | colorist= | letterer= | editor= | title=The Infinity Gauntlet | volume=1 | issue=1–5 | date=July 2015 - January 2016 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref>

==Merchandise==
During initial publication, Tenacity Incorporated offered a licensed black T-shirt featuring [[cover art]]work from the series. It was available exclusively through ads placed in Marvel comics. The front side had the cover artwork from issue four, and the back had the cover artwork from issue three.<ref>{{ Cite comic | story=Ad | title=The Infinity Gauntlet | issue=2 | date=August 1991 | page=10 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | location=[[New York, NY]] }}</ref>

Although no contemporary toys were created for the series, several Thanos [[action figure]]s have been created in the years since that include the Infinity Gauntlet either as an accessory or as part of the sculpt, such as the 12 inch [[Marvel Select]] toy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel--action-figures--marvel-select-thanos-action-figure|title=Marvel Select Thanos Action Figure|publisher=[[Diamond Distribution]]|website=Diamond Select Toys|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063933/https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel--action-figures--marvel-select-thanos-action-figure|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and the 2 inch [[Super Hero Squad]] toy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jestergoblin.com/?tag=super-hero-squad-wave-19|title=super hero squad wave 19|website=Jester Goblin|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063715/http://jestergoblin.com/?tag=super-hero-squad-wave-19|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2011, a [[Marvel Universe (toyline)|Marvel Universe toyline]] two-pack included Thanos, Warlock, an Infinity Gauntlet accessory for Warlock, and a reprint of ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #3.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/marvel-universe-greatest-battles-two-packs-thanos-adam-warlock-gambit-mr-sinister/|title=Marvel Universe 'Greatest Battles' Two-Packs to Pair Thanos and Adam Warlock|date=December 9, 2011|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209020839/http://comicsalliance.com/marvel-universe-greatest-battles-two-packs-thanos-adam-warlock-gambit-mr-sinister/|archive-date=December 9, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref group=note>The Thanos in this two-pack is a [[repaint]] of a previous release that included an Infinity Gauntlet as well.</ref> Some toy sets have incorporated the series logo on their packaging, such as the 2009 [[Minimate]] set with Thanos, Warlock, Mephisto, and [[Drax the Destroyer]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minimatedatabase.com/pack.php?i=610|title=The Infinity Gauntlet Box Set|website=Minimate Database|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064050/http://www.minimatedatabase.com/pack.php?i=610|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> or the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] exclusive set with Marvel Universe editions of Thanos, Mistress Death, [[Starfox (comics)|Eros]], Nebula, and a wearable Infinity Gauntlet made of foam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2014/05/22/hasbro-marvel-comic-con-toy-exclusive/9442319/|title=Hasbro throws down the (Infinity) Gauntlet at Comic-Con|last=Truitt|first=Brian|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209071535/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2014/05/22/hasbro-marvel-comic-con-toy-exclusive/9442319/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A variety of licensed merchandise shaped the like Infinity Gauntlet has been created as well, including a [[coin bank]] and [[earring]]s from [[Think Geek]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/collect-coins-not-infinity-gems-with-a-thanos-gauntlet-bank/ |title=Collect Coins, Not Infinity Gems, With A Thanos Gauntlet Bank |last=Liszewski |first=Andrew |date=October 18, 2015 |website=[[Gizmodo]] |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122139/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/collect-coins-not-infinity-gems-with-a-thanos-gauntlet-bank/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-infinity-gauntlet-earrings/|title=ThinkGeek's Infinity Gauntlet Earrings|date=September 16, 2017|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064201/https://www.cbr.com/marvel-infinity-gauntlet-earrings/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> a [[bottle opener]] from [[Diamond Select Toys]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pulse.therpf.com/yes-this-is-an-infinity-gauntlet-bottle-opener|title=Yes, This is an Infinity Gauntlet Bottle Opener|last=Plantamura|first=Dean|date=June 13, 2015|website=RPF Pulse|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122124/https://pulse.therpf.com/yes-this-is-an-infinity-gauntlet-bottle-opener|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> a [[coffee mug]] from [[Entertainment Earth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sciencefiction.com/2016/05/11/review-entertainment-earth-exclusive-infinity-gauntlet-mug/|title=Review: Entertainment Earth Exclusive Infinity Gauntlet Mug|date=May 11, 2016|website=Science Fiction|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063928/http://sciencefiction.com/2016/05/11/review-entertainment-earth-exclusive-infinity-gauntlet-mug/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and an [[oven mitt]] from [[Loot Crate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/3/11852380/infinity-gauntlet-destroyed-utterly-by-pizza-rolls|title=Infinity Gauntlet utterly destroyed by hot pizza rolls (update)|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=June 3, 2016|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|access-date=January 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064651/https://www.polygon.com/2016/6/3/11852380/infinity-gauntlet-destroyed-utterly-by-pizza-rolls|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
[[Capcom]] adapted the storyline into two [[video game]]s shortly after its release. The first, ''[[Marvel Super Heroes (video game)|Marvel Super Heroes]]'', was a fighting game released as an [[Amusement arcade|arcade game]] in 1995 before being [[porting|ported]] to [[Sega Saturn]] and [[PlayStation]] in 1997.<ref name=ssm>{{cite news|last=Leadbetter|first=Rich|title=Review: Marvel Super Heroes|work=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=24|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=October 1997|pages=70–71}}</ref> The second, ''[[Marvel Super Heroes In War of the Gems]]'', was a beat 'em up released in 1996 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7429 |title=Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems |publisher=[[AllGame]] |access-date=December 21, 2015 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210231745/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7429 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 }}</ref>

After the animated television series ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'' introduced an "Infinity Sword" in its first season, its second season (2010–2011) loosely adapted ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. [[Griptonite Games]] released a tie-in video game, ''[[Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet]]'', for several [[Computing platform|platforms]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101116006032/en/THQs-Marvel-Super-Hero-Squad-Infinity-Gauntlet |title=THQ's Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet Swoops into North American Retail Stores Today |date=November 16, 2010 |website=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway]] |access-date=December 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209192234/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101116006032/en/THQs-Marvel-Super-Hero-Squad-Infinity-Gauntlet |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In October 2011, [[WizKids]] announced they would adapt ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' into an organized play tournament for their [[collectible miniatures game]] ''[[Heroclix]]'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/21180/wizkids-plans-infinity-gauntlet |title=WizKids Plans Infinity Gauntlet |date=October 5, 2011 |website=[[ICv2]] |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063615/https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/21180/wizkids-plans-infinity-gauntlet |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Vendors who wanted to participate qualified for free game kits by purchasing a minimum amount of new Heroclix [[booster pack]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heroclix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/infinity-gauntlet-solicitation.pdf |title=The Infinity Gauntlet comes to HeroClix! (pdf) |date=October 2011 |website=[[Heroclix]] |publisher=[[WizKids]] |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907141646/http://heroclix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/infinity-gauntlet-solicitation.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It began in January and a new round was held once a month through August. At each round, players received a special game piece for participating and winners received limited edition pieces based on characters from the storyline. The eight participation pieces could be combined to create Thanos' shrine to Death and featured all of the gems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmiccomics.vegas/latest-news/infinity-gauntlet-finale/ |title=Infinity Gauntlet Finale |date=July 31, 2012 |website=Cosmic Comics |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065153/http://www.cosmiccomics.vegas/latest-news/infinity-gauntlet-finale/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> At the time of release, it was the largest Heroclix tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cosmiccomics.vegas/events/the-infinity-gauntlet-is-here/ |title=The Heroclix Infinity Gauntlet is Here! |date=April 1, 2012 |website=Cosmic Comics |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209070656/http://www.cosmiccomics.vegas/events/the-infinity-gauntlet-is-here/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2014, the early episodes of the second season of the animated cartoon ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' adapted the storyline.<ref name=vty>{{cite news|last1=Khatchatourian|first1=Maane|title=Disney XD Renews Marvel's 'Avengers Assemble,' 'Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.'|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/disney-xd-renews-avengers-hulk-marvel-cartoons-1201269592/|access-date=July 28, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100348/http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/disney-xd-renews-avengers-hulk-marvel-cartoons-1201269592/|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It also included elements from the Thanos-centric 2013 crossover comic series ''[[Infinity (comic book)|Infinity]]'' written by [[Jonathan Hickman]] and penciled by [[Jim Cheung]], [[Jerome Opeña]], and Dustin Weaver, such as Thanos' allies, the [[Black Order (comics)|Black Order]].<ref name="Avengers World">{{cite episode|title=Avengers World|series=[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]|network=[[Disney XD]]|season=2|number=26|airdate=September 20, 2015}}</ref>

Capcom released ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite]]'' for [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Microsoft Windows]] in September 2017. While it features elements from the series, it is not a direct adaptation.<ref>
*{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-officially-announced/1100-6445942/ |date=December 3, 2016 |access-date=December 3, 2016 |last=Hussain |first=Tamoor |website=[[GameSpot]] |title=Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite Officially Announced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415143422/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-officially-announced/1100-6445942/ |archive-date=April 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-release-date-set-for-september/|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=June 23, 2017|last=Wilde|first=Tyler|website=[[PC Gamer]]|title=Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite release date set for September|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623181627/http://www.pcgamer.com/marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-release-date-set-for-september/|archive-date=June 23, 2017|url-status=live}}
*{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201706/13135301.html|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=June 23, 2017|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|title=『マーベル VS. カプコン：インフィニット』公式リリース到着、日本での発売日は9月21日(1/2)|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613073105/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201706/13135301.html|archive-date=June 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> To coincide with the game's release, Capcom held a global tournament series called "Battle for the Stones".<ref name=Battle>{{cite web|url=https://compete.kotaku.com/official-marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-tournament-will-gi-1818547675|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=September 25, 2017|last=Walker|first=Ian|website=[[Kotaku]]|title=Official Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Tournament Will Give Six Players Special Powers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920142957/https://compete.kotaku.com/official-marvel-vs-capcom-infinite-tournament-will-gi-1818547675|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The winner of the tournament received a cash prize and a light-up Infinity Gauntlet trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://compete.kotaku.com/marvel-pros-reaction-to-winning-is-fantastic-1821168434|date=December 10, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2017|last=Van Allen|first=Eric|website=[[Kotaku]]|title=Marvel Pro's Reaction To Winning Tournament Is Fantastic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211000014/https://compete.kotaku.com/marvel-pros-reaction-to-winning-is-fantastic-1821168434|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://compete.kotaku.com/this-weekends-marvel-vs-capcom-trophy-is-a-light-up-in-1821150667|date=December 9, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2017|last=Van Allen|first=Eric|website=[[Kotaku]]|title=This Weekend's Marvel vs. Capcom Trophy Is A Light-Up Infinity Gauntlet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209194645/https://compete.kotaku.com/this-weekends-marvel-vs-capcom-trophy-is-a-light-up-in-1821150667|archive-date=December 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

An Infinity Gauntlet [[Theatrical property|prop]] with gems was included in the 2011 film ''[[Thor (film)|Thor]]'' as an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] for fans before [[Marvel Studios]] decided the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|''Avengers'' films]] would adapt ''The Infinity Gauntlet''. A [[post-credits scene]] in ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'' (2015) showed Thanos with a gauntlet without gems, and the one from ''Thor'' was stated to have been a fake in ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' (2017).<ref name="/FilmFeige">{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/thor-ragnarok-spoiler-questions/|title=Kevin Feige Answers Your Lingering 'Thor: Ragnarok' Spoiler Questions|last=Sciretta|first=Peter|publisher=[[Slash Film|/Film]]|date=November 6, 2017|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107110118/http://www.slashfilm.com/thor-ragnarok-spoiler-questions/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2018 film ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' drew inspiration from ''The Infinity Gauntlet'' and depicts Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones and using them to kill half of the universe.<ref name="ThanosMotivations">{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/thanos-avengers-infinity-war-infinity-gauntlet-story |title=Kevin Feige on How Closely Thanos' 'Infinity War' Arc Will Mirror 'Infinity Gauntlet' |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=April 24, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428103959/http://collider.com/thanos-avengers-infinity-war-infinity-gauntlet-story |archive-date=April 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Influences">{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/03/16/avengers-infinity-war-marvel-comics-connections/|title=Russo Brothers Reveal Marvel Comic Influences on 'Avengers: Infinity War'|last=Outlaw|first=Kofi|publisher=[[ComicBook.com]]|date=March 16, 2018|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420070743/http://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/03/16/avengers-infinity-war-marvel-comics-connections|archive-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Setchfield |first=Nick |date=July 2018 |title=Reviews: Avengers: The Infinity War |magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]] #301 |page=96 |location=[[United Kingdom]] |publisher=[[Future plc]]}}</ref> Its 2019 sequel, ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'', focuses on the Avengers' attempts to undo Thanos' actions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yamato |first1=Jen |title='Avengers: Endgame's' Karen Gillan tells all about Nebula's surprising redemption (and Marvel future) |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-avengers-endgame-spoilers-nebula-karen-gillan-20190510-story.html |newspaper=[[LA Times]]|date=May 10, 2019 |access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/avengers-infinity-war-marvel-gauntlet-comics-story/ |title=Avengers: Endgame - Different Versions of Marvel Comics|website=[[Den of Geek]]|date=November 18, 2019 |access-date=August 8, 2020}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|40em|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix5/infinity_gauntlet_event.htm|The Infinity Gauntlet}}
*{{gcdb series|id=4245|title=Infinity Gauntlet}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=storyarc|id=277|title=Infinity Gauntlet (storyline)}}

{{Marvel events}}
{{Marvel Cosmic}}
{{Thanos}}
{{Silver Surfer}}
{{Jim Starlin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Infinity Gauntlet, The}}
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