Anyone familiar with Thanos will immediately think of his role in the legendary Infinity Gauntlet storyline. Even non-comic book readers will associate the Mad Titan with his iconic snap, thanks to the MCU's adaptation of the 1991 comic book epic. The Infinity Gauntlet, by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim, made Thanos into a top-tier Marvel villain.
Yet, few are likely to recall the events leading up to this famous saga of the Mad Titan. Before leaving his mark on the Marvel Universe, Thanos had to be reintroduced in the Jim Starlin and Ron Lim Silver Surfer storyline, "The Rebirth of Thanos."
Before his long absence from comics, Thanos was last seen in 1977's Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2, a two-part story written and illustrated by Jim Starlin. During this story, Thanos faced off against the Avengers, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, The Thing and longtime cosmic rival Adam Warlock. The Mad Titan constructed a synthetic soul stone which he used in an attempt to extinguish the stars.
Warlock was physically killed by Thanos, but his essence remained trapped within the stone. With help from Lord Chaos and Master Order, Spider-Man managed to free Warlock's essence. Bursting with cosmic energy, Warlock turned Thanos to stone. Although the Mad Titan worshipped Death, Warlock made it so that part of Thanos' consciousness remained trapped within his stone form, denying him a true death.
Thirteen years later in 1990's Silver Surfer #34, by Jim Starlin and Ron Lim, Thanos returned. This resurrection was performed by Mistress Death, the very object of Thanos' desire. Additionally, Death significantly increased the Mad Titan's power levels, since she would need him for her own goals.
Indeed, Death resurrected Thanos in order to help her correct an "imbalance" in the universe. Since there were more people currently alive than dead, Thanos was tasked with wiping out half of all life. This mission vitally establishes Thanos' motivation in 1991's Infinity Gauntlet.
"The Rebirth of Thanos" sets up much of the Infinity Gauntlet, including Thanos' main objective and certain key players in the saga. Specifically, Death tells Thanos that the only one currently standing in his way is the Silver Surfer. She's correct here, as much of the storyline focuses on the Surfer's preparation to confront Thanos. The knowledge which the Surfer acquires throughout this story makes him a vital player during the Infinity Gauntlet. The Mad Titan initially approaches the Surfer and attempts to persuade the Sentinel of the Spaceways to join him in his mission.
Ultimately, Thanos fails to convince the Surfer, although he is able to toy with the hero quite easily. For example, at the end of the storyline, Thanos manages to fake his own death quite convincingly. The Mad Titan leaves behind a body that is similar enough to his own so that the Surfer believes he has beaten Thanos. Finally able to continue his quest undisturbed, Thanos proceeds on a mission to find all six of the infinity gems. By the beginning of the Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos has acquired the gems, leaving the Surfer too late to realize that he was blindsided by the Mad Titan.
Due to the ground-breaking Infinity Gauntlet saga, Thanos is one of the most notorious villains in the Marvel Universe. Still, there is plenty of crucial build-up to this incredible story, which unfortunately goes unnoticed.