Jim Starlin’s epic saga is a trilogy of Marvel Cosmic events published at the beginning of the 1990s – that’s why The Infinity Saga is also known as The Infinity Trilogy.
Everything started when Starlin began writing Silver Surfer in 1990 (with art by Ron Lim) and started a story with Thanos that culminated in the first spin-off limited series of the trilogy. Here is the beginning of the story:
For the Mad Titan, Thanos, the Infinity Gauntlet was the Holy Grail — the ultimate prize to be coveted above all else. With it came omnipotence: the absolute control of all aspects of time, space, power, reality, mind, and soul. But his gaining of supreme might mean the beginning of a black nightmare for the entire universe. Now, on the edge of Armageddon and led by the mysterious Adam Warlock, Earth’s superheroes join in a desperate attempt to thwart this nihilistic god’s insane plunge into galactic self-destruction. Should the heroes fail, the astral gods of the universe wait to step into the fray.
What to read before the Infinity Saga?
If you want some background, Jim Starlin introduced a number of important characters and relationship elements related to the Marvel Cosmic Universe in Warlock:
- Warlock by Jim Starlin: The Complete Collection
Collects Strange Tales #178-181, Warlock #9-15, Avengers Annual #7, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2.
The quest that led to Infinity Gauntlet began in Silver Surfer! Back from the dead, Thanos is after the power to bring the rest of the universe with him on a return trip! Can the Silver Surfer, Drax the Destroyer, and others stop the cosmic iconoclast before he uses reality as a token of his affection for Death?
- Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos
Collects Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #34-38, Thanos Quest #1-2, and material from Logan’s Run #6. - Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest
Collects Silver Surfer vol. 3 #39-50, Silver Surfer Annual #3, Thanos Quest #1-2; material from Marvel Comics Presents #50- Those issues are also collected in Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus, see below.
The Infinity Saga Reading Order: Omnibus Editions
- Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
Collects Silver Surfer (1987) #34-38, 40, 44-60, Thanos Quest (1990) #1-2, Infinity Gauntlet #1-6, Cloak & Dagger (1988) #18, Spider-Man (1990) #17, Incredible Hulk (1968) #383-385, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #31-36, Quasar (1989) #26-27, Sleepwalker (1991) #7. - Infinity War Omnibus
Collects Infinity War #1-6, Fantastic Four (1961) #366-370, Spider-Man (1990) #24, Deathlok (1991) #16, Daredevil (1964) #310, Warlock And The Infinity Watch 7-10, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme 42-47, Silver Surfer (1987) #67-69, Wonder Man (1991) #13-15, Alpha Flight (1983) #110-112, Silver Sable & The Wild Pack 4-5, Guardians Of The Galaxy (1990) #27-29, Quasar 37-40, New Warriors (1990) #27, Marc Spector: Moon Knight 41-44, Nomad (1992) #7, Sleepwalker 18, Material From Captain America (1968) #408, Alpha Flight (1983) #109, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #108-112. - Infinity Crusade Omnibus
Collects Infinity Crusade (1993) #1-6, Warlock Chronicles (1993) #1-5, Warlock And The Infinity Watch (1992) #18-22, Thor (1966) #463-467, Iron Man (1968) #294-295, Avengers West Coast (1989) #96-97, Darkhawk (1991) #30-31, Cage (1992) #17, Alpha Flight (1983) #124-125, 127, Marc Spector: Moon Knight (1989) #57, Silver Surfer (1987) #83-85, Deathlok (1991) #28, Material From Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #54-56, Alpha Flight (1983) #122-123, 126, Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #104-106, Silver Sable & The Wild Pack (1992) #16-17, Deathlok (1991) #29.
The Infinity Saga Reading Order: Paperback Editions
- Infinity Gauntlet
Collects Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #1-6. - Infinity Gauntlet Aftermath
Collects Silver Surfer (1987) #60-66, Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #36, Warlock & the Infinity Watch #1-6, material from Silver Surfer Annual #5. - Infinity War
Collects Infinity War #1-6, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #7-10 and Marvel Comics Presents #108-111.
- Infinity War Aftermath
Collects Warlock & The Infinity Watch #11-17, Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection #1-4, Quasar #41-43; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #112, Marvel Holiday Special #2, Marvel Swimsuit Special #2. - Infinity Crusade, Vol. 1
Collects Infinity Crusade #1-3, Warlock Chronicles #1-3, and Warlock and the Infinity Watch #18-19. - Infinity Crusade, Vol. 2
Collects Infinity Crusade #4-6, Warlock Chronicles #4-5 & Warlock and the Infinity Watch #20-22.
The Infinity Saga Reading Order: Issue by Issue
Infinity Gauntlet
- Infinity Gauntlet #1
- Incredible Hulk #383
- Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme (1988) #31
- Quasar (1989) #26-27
- Infinity Gauntlet #2
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #32
- Infinity Gauntlet #3
- Silver Surfer (1987) #52-54
- Infinity Gauntlet #4
- Incredible Hulk #384
- Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme (1988) #33
- Silver Surfer (1987) #55-58
- Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme (1988) #34-35
- Infinity Gauntlet #5
- Silver Surfer (1987) #59
- Infinity Gauntlet #6
- Incredible Hulk #385
- Sleepwalker #17
- Silver Surfer (1987) #60
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #36
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992) #1-6
Infinity War
- Infinity War #1
- Fantastic Four #366
- Spider-Man (1990) #24
- Daredevil #310
- Nomad (1992) #7
- Deathlok (1991) #16
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #42
- Silver Surfer (1987) #67
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #43
- Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #7
- Infinity War #2
- Alpha Flight#110
- Silver Surfer (1987) #68-69
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #44
- Fantastic Four (1961) #367
- Infinity War #3
- Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #108-111 (4th stories)
- Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #4
- New Warriors (1990) #27
- Wonder Man (1991) #13
- Fantastic Four #368
- Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #8
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #41-42
- Quasar #38
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #45
- Infinity War #4
- Alpha Flight #111
- Silver Sable and The Wild Pack #5
- Guardians of the Galaxy (1990) #27-29
- Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #9
- Wonder Man (1991) #14
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #43
- Quasar #39
- Infinity War #5
- Sleepwalker #18
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #46-47
- Fantastic Four (1961) #369
- Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #10
- Wonder Man #15
- Infinity War #6
- Fantastic Four (1961) #370
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #44
- Alpha Flight #112
- Quasar (1989) #40
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992) #11-17
- Warlock / Silver Surfer: Resurrection #1-4
Infinity Crusade
- Infinity Crusade #1
- Iron Man #294-295
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992) #18
- Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #54
- Alpha Flight #122
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #56
- Terror Inc. #13
- Thor #463
- Avengers West Coast (1989) #96
- Thor #464
- Warlock Chronicles #1
- Infinity Crusade #2
- Web of Spider-Man #104
- Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #55
- Thor #465
- Alpha Flight #123-124
- Darkhawk (1991) #30
- Warlock Chronicles #2
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch #19
- Cage (1992) #17
- Web of Spider-Man #105
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #57
- Infinity Crusade #3
- Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #56
- Avengers West Coast (1989) #97
- Darkhawk (1991) #31
- Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #16-17
- Warlock Chronicles #3
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch #20
- Silver Surfer Vol. 3 #83
- Infinity Crusade #4
- Warlock Chronicles #4
- Silver Surfer (1987) #84-85
- Infinity Crusade #5
- Deathlok (1991) #28
- Web of Spider-Man #106
- Warlock Chronicles #5
- Thor #466
- Warlock and the Infinity Watch #21-22
- Infinity Crusade #6
- Deathlok (1991) #29
- Thor #467
After the Infinity Saga
The conclusion of Infinity Crusade directly leads into another crossover: Thor: Blood and Thunder. The story of Warlock and The Infinity Watch continued in:
- Infinity Watch Vol. 2
Collects Warlock Chronicles #6, Warlock And The Infinity Watch #26-42.
As for Jim Starlin, he didn’t become the architect of the next massive Marvel Cosmic Universe (the reading order is here), but he still wrote in 2002 a new miniseries titled Infinity Abyss with Warlock and Thanos. It’s collected in:
- Thanos: Infinity Abyss
Collects Infinity Abyss #1-6.