For those of you who want to read about Thanos, here is a reading list:
http://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-thanos-reading-order-guide/
Thanos Reading Order (Jim Starlins Cosmic Comics!)
Thanos First Appearance, Captain Marvel, And the Cosmic Cube
Collected Issues Reading Order:
Iron Man #55
Captain Marvel #25 to #32
Avengers #125
Captain Marvel #33 to #34
Thanos Returns War w/ Adam Warlock
Collected Issues Reading Order:
Strange Tales #178 to #181
Warlock #9 to #15
Marvel Team-Up #55
Avengers Annual #7
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
Avengers vs. Thanos
A lot of readers have asked me Hey, what about the Avengers vs. Thanos trade? Where does that fit? Its a good question, and essentially, Avengers vs. Thanos will give you a combined package of 1) Thanos First Appearance + Captain Marvel & the Cosmic Cube & 2) The Adam Warlock adventures. It also adds a few oddball Daredevil issues that technically involve Thanos. If youre a purist, youll miss out on a few Warlock issues (#12 to #14), but all in all its a good trade that gets you the best of early Thanos stories!
The Death of Captain Marvel
Marvels first official Original Graphic Novel is as youd expect a Jim Starlin Captain Marvel story through and through. Aside from simply being a classic and all-time great, though, Starlin does weave some Thanos throughout, and the graphic novel can fit within the larger Thanos narrative.
Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos + Thanos Quest
Collected Issues Reading Order:
Silver Surfer #34 to #38 (series beginning in 1987)
Thanos Quest #1 to #2
Infinity Gauntlet
Note that the above link will provide a full event reading order for the early 90s Infinity Gauntlet. The comics included are based on the Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus, although I have reordered*significantly*as the omnibus*is a chronological mess. While I enjoy the Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange tie-ins, the core series is accessible on its own, and you can enjoy Infinity Gauntlet here!
Infinity Gauntlet: Aftermath
You could also pick up the Infinity Watch Vol. 1 here, which collects *Warlock & the Infinity Watch #1 to #22. Only read Infinity Watch #1 to #7 prior to Infinity War, issues #8 to #10 are tie-ins, and #11 to #17 are included in the Infinity War: Aftermath.
Infinity War
The Warlock and the Infinity Watch tie-ins are the most highly recommended Infinity War tie-ins, but if you want to play along in Marvel Unlimited (as of 8.28.16):
Infinity War Reading Order:*
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #7
Infinity War #1
Fantastic Four #366
Infinity War #2
Fantastic Four #367
Infinity War #3
Marvel Comics Presents #108 to #111
Fantastic Four #368
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #8
Daredevil #310
Infinity War #4
Guardians of the Galaxy #27 to #29
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #9
Infinity War #5
Fantastic Four #369
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10
Infinity War #6
Fantastic Four #370
Infinity War: Aftermath
Includes Warlock & The Infinity Watch #11 to #17
Infinity Crusade*Vol. 1
Collects:*Infinity Crusade #1-3, Warlock Chronicles #1-3 & 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
Thor: Blood & Thunder
Reading Order:
Thor #468
Silver Surfer #86
Warlock Chronicles #6
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #23
Thor #469
Silver Surfer #87
Warlock Chronicles #7
Warlock and the Infinity Warch #24
Thor #470
Silver Surfer #88
Warlock Chronicles #8
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25
Thor #471
Infinity Watch Vol. 2
Collects: Warlock & The Infinity Watch #26 to #42
Thanos: Cosmic Powers
Includes Secret Defenders #12 to #14, and Cosmic Powers #1 to #6.
Thanos vs Thor (Thor #18 #25)
Infinity Abyss
Thanos Ends the Marvel Universe*(Marvel Universe: The End)
2003 2004 Standalone Thanos arc*(Thanos: Redemption Thanos #1 to #12)
Id consider jumping to my modern Marvel cosmic reading order at this point through Thanos Imperative. That will fill in the*entirety*of the*Marvel Cosmic landscape around Thanos. Naturally, the mad Titan is a major player in all the events leading up to The Thanos Imperative.
Thanos and Annihilation
Its worth noting here that Annihilation sparks modern Marvel Cosmic, and although these books are inherently indebted to the one and only Jim Starlin, hes not involved directly in the saga. Nonetheless, the full Thanos narrative would not be complete without Annihilation through Thanos Imperative. You can view the full reading order here.
The Thanos Imperative
Seriously, this will be a much better read if youve been keeping up with Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy since Annihilation!
Thanos Rising
If youve been following me on Comic Book Herald for any amount of time, you know that I cant stands Thanos Rising. Nonetheless, its an in-continuity part of the Thanos narrative. The book deals with the origins of Thanos, meaning in theory, you could place it first on any reading order. Personally I think thatd be a horrible mistake, as theres no way this should define the character of Thanos.
Infinity
Pay close attention to the New Avengers #8 tie-in!
Thanos: A God Up There
Thanos Annual #1
Deadpool vs. Thanos
The Infinity Revelation
Thanos vs. Hulk
The Infinity Relativity
The Infinity Entity
The Infinity Finale
Time Runs Out! New Avengers #24 to #33
For the full reading order (which includes crossover with Avengers and Avengers World), youll want to check out the Secret Wars reading order.
Secret Wars
Ultimates: Omniversal Vol. 2
Although Ultimates Vol. 1 does not directly relate to Thanos, youre going to enjoy this second volume a whole lot more if youve read the first six issues of Ewing and Rocaforts Ultimates. Its also one of my favorite All-New All-Different Marvel series.
The Unworthy Thor
Thanos Vol. 1: Thanos Returns
For the most accurate continuity between Unworthy Thor and Thanos by Jeff Lemire and Mike Deodato, I recommend reading:
Thanos #1
Unworthy Thor #1 to #5
Thanos #2 to present
Note also that Unworthy Thor is very much a Thor story that happens to feature Thanos, rather than the other way around. Familiarity with Jason Aarons extended run on Thor will go a long way to understanding the story.